‘How can you keep us in the dark? What happened?’ Heather whined, pouting.
‘I do not know if you should be a part of this, Miss Grace. You could be in danger,’ Mrs Merriweather said with concern.
‘I will be careful, I promise,’ Grace reassured her, though she knew Mrs Merriweather was not convinced.
‘But we could help!’ cried Heather, pouting even more.
‘And I would have personally found your help invaluable, poppet, but it is not up to me. His Grace insisted upon it.’
This seemed to satisfy Heather—reluctantly.
‘Fine. But I think His Grace is taking advantage of your kind-heartedness,’ she said sharply, causing Grace to feel a pang of doubt. Was he manipulating her into helping him? She shoved the thought aside.
‘Let us go down,’ she said.
The ladies had arranged to visit a renowned dressmaker’s shop, and Lord Gerrard and Lord Harry had agreed to escort them. It was a merry party, with the gentlemen offering their attentions and making outrageous remarks that had the ladies blushing as they browsed swathes of fabric. However, after an hour, Lord Harry’s leg began to ache, and he bowed out, resting in the carriage.
The ladies exclaimed their sympathies, but he took it in good humour.
‘Alas, ladies, I would stay with you till the end of time, but my leg doth protest too much.’
His limp had worsened, likely due to the pain he was in.
‘I shall take some rest and then secure us a luncheon at The Parlour. Shall I meet you all there at one o’clock?’
Judging by Lady Jane’s and Lady Elizabeth’s reactions, The Parlour was a welcome suggestion, and they readily agreed.
After Lord Harry’s departure, the conversation naturally turned to him.
‘Such a shame about his leg,’ Lady Elizabeth remarked. ‘Otherwise, he would be quite the catch among the ladies. He cannot even dance or ride properly.’
‘How did he injure it?’ Grace could not help but ask.
‘It is a bit of a mystery,’ Lady Elizabeth said. ‘He was sleepwalking as a child and fell down the stairs. Edward found him unconscious in the morning, and the doctor did not set it properly, I suppose. He has walked with a cane ever since.’
Perplexed, Grace asked, ‘Why is that a mystery?’
‘Oh, well, I suppose because I thought he would have woken up from the pain. Edward did not find him until morning. And where on earth were all the servants? They always seem shifty when I ask about it. Also, I have never heard of him sleepwalking before or since. As I understand it, sleepwalking is usually a recurring problem. Is that not right, Gerrard?’
‘How should I know, sis? You are the expert on these things!’ He shrugged, then frowned thoughtfully. ‘Now you mention it, it does seem a little odd. Perhaps he was under some stress at the time. I know Eton can be tough when you do not fit in.’
He stopped rather abruptly, as though reminded of something he should not have said. Attempting to change the subject, he asked, ‘What is your theory?’
Lady Elizabeth looked thoughtful. ‘I think the brothers must have quarrelled, and in the process, Harry got hurt. They did not want to tell their father, so they made up the sleepwalking story.’ She turned to Grace. ‘Edward has a bit of a short temper. He is much better now, but as an adolescent, he was worse.’
‘Really? Why would they want to hide something like this from their father?’ asked Grace.
‘Uncle was not a forgiving man. He was strict and wanted them both to behave perfectly,’ she replied. ‘They probably did not want to be punished.’
She was losing interest in the topic as a lovely cerulean silk scarf caught her attention.
Grace, however, wanted to know more about the brothers.
She turned to Lord Gerrard. ‘Did you and Lord Harry attend Eton together?’
‘Oh yes, we are the same age,’ he replied.
‘Why did you think he might be stressed at such a young age?’
