“So, I may pass?” William asked. He took the lolling tongues as a yes, and stood.
Peering around a line of hedges, he sighted a round-faced kitchen maid seated in the sun, shucking peas. He was in luck. Maids were generally quite willing to part with information for a few spare coins.
Adopting an expression that proclaimed he was wealthy enough to walk where he wished, William strode around the corner. Several of the pups followed. “Good afternoon.”
The young woman looked up with a start. She set the bowl aside, standing. “You don’t belong here.”
William was a bit taken aback by the hard edge to her country lilt. Obviously, a show of rank was needed. Being country bred, she likely didn’t recognize the quality of his clothing, or attitude. Perhaps he should have gone with charm instead of command, but he was loath to flirt with any woman who wasn’t Lanora.
“I beg your pardon? Have you any notion to whom you speak?”
She tipped her head to the side, looking him up and down. Her eyes went wide. “Are you Lord William, then?”
“I am.”
The young woman stepped forward and slapped him.
The force of the blow turned his head. Country bred, indeed. William rubbed his jaw. “Have we met?”
“How dare you kiss Lanora and then stand her up? What game are you playing? Do you know how hard her aunt and I have worked to convince her to even consider the notion of wedding?”
William felt he was missing something. He considered her for a long moment. A common kitchen maid. That’s what she appeared to be. Yet… “Grace?”
Table turned, she gave him a look of surprise. “I am.”
“Lanora’s dearest friend, who suggested she kiss me?”
Grace blushed. “Before I learned about your bloody awful list of names.”
Lanora’s dearest companion was a kitchen maid? She truly didn’t have any friends. No wonder she didn’t wish them to meet. She was likely embarrassed, just as she would be of William if he ever told her the whole truth. Fear snaked through him. She would find out eventually. If he won her now, would she leave him then? He didn’t care. He couldn’t give her up.
“I have an explanation for the list.”
“That you need a wealthy bride to secure your fortune. So I heard.”
“That is not the whole of it,” William snapped, angered Lanora had shared so much. Grace must truly be her dear friend. Had Lanora told her everything?
“Oh, she said you tried to explain it all away. I’m sure you can be very convincing, my lord, especially when you’re kissing a girl.”
“She told you about our second kiss, then?” Her betrayal cut, angered him. “I suppose you had a good laugh over my declaration of love?”
Her jaw went slack. She looked almost as flabbergasted as Lanora had. “Your what?” she squeaked.
William rocked back on his heels, reining in his hurt. He pushed a hand through his hair. “My declaration of love.”
Grace shook her head. She sank back down onto the bench. A terrier jumped up beside her. Absently, she patted the shaggy head. “No wonder she was so upset. I haven’t seen Lanora cry like that since she realized her father was never going to let her join him in Egypt.”
The image of a young Lanora, dreams of salvaging what little family remained to her shattered, lodged in his heart. The sting of her betrayal disappeared.
Grace shot him a suspicious glance. “At first, I thought you’d done more to her than kiss her. I was ready to hunt you down, if you don’t mind me saying.”
“Not at all. I’m happy to know someone would have.” He meant it. At least someone cared what happened to Lanora, aside from him. “May I?” he added, seating himself on the other side of the bowl of peas. A dog plopped down by his feet.
“You love her?” Grace repeated, scrutinizing him.
William eased back against the bench, mindful of his bandaged side. “I do.”
“You only just met her.”
