CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Bethwalked into the Brookvale reading with Grace and Nick. She loathed and detested these nights, being forced to sit on a hard chair while some bore read poetry in a terrible voice. Not that she disliked poetry, far from it, but it was all in the delivery.
“You look lovely, Beth, but tired. Is something wrong?”
“No indeed, just as you say, weary.” She smiled at her cousin’s wife, trying to appear as she always did.
So different from the woman she had first encountered on the day of their wedding, Grace had blossomed in her marriage to Nick. Then, she had been timid, badly dressed, and scared of the life she was now forced to live. All that had soon changed.
“And you, Grace. I did not want to start a discussion with Nick near about your health,” Beth said, shooting her cousin a look. “But now he’s talking to someone else, I can ask how you are feeling?”
“He is quite tiresome in his protectiveness.” Grace sighed. “But I cannot take him to task as he gets so hurt.”
The Countess of Attwood wore cream with emerald trim. Thick lace covered a satin underskirt, the dress was loose at the front, falling from the bodice, and Beth could barely see signs of her pregnancy. Her hair was in a soft style, an emerald bow at the back, and she looked beautiful.
“It is gratifying to see my cousin brought to his knees by the prospect of his first progeny, Grace. But I will thank you not to tell him that.”
“I always find it amusing how much siblings and cousins enjoy seeing each other brought low by something.” Grace laughed. “Nothing serious,” she added, “but there is usually great delight in it.”
“Having no siblings or cousins close, you have yet to experience it. Also there is the fact Nick and I have not always been close, so allow me this now that we are.”
“Of course, and secretly I am enjoying him being off-balance also. The mighty earl is humbled by the thought of his unborn child.”
“I think it fair to say it is not just the prospect of the child, Grace; there is also the fact that he worries about you.”
“I know, and I have tried to explain that I am fine, but you know Nick.”
“That I do.” Beth looked at her cousin. “If he is worrying about you, however, he is not worrying about me, which is a nice change. For so long we were strangers, and now that we are not he is extremely diligent in his duties toward me.”
“You mean he is bossy and nosy.”
“That also.” Beth laughed. “But it is nice that he cares.”
“Nice for you both to have each other,” Grace said, patting her hand. “And I do feel a great deal better now the nausea has passed, Beth, and had to come tonight to support you, as Nick said you have been inundated with morning callers since the betrothal.”
“It is not real, Grace, you know that also, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I must admit that I think you and Leo would be happy together, and you certainly make a lovely couple.”
Shock held Beth momentarily speechless.
“You cannot be serious. We can barely be in the same room without yelling at each other.”
“Yes, that is odd, don’t you think? I wonder why that occurs.” Grace looked at Beth.
“Pardon?”
“Why do you and Leo always argue? There has to be a reason, surely.”
“Well... ah, of course.”
“And?”
“Why does my cousin look like a cornered rabbit, Grace?” Nick joined the conversation.
“I was just asking her why she and Leo always argued, and that I thought they would make a wonderful married couple should they choose to remain betrothed.”
“Good lord, stop, Grace!” Beth could not believe her ears. “I will never choose to stay betrothed to him, nor he to me.”
