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Lockhart stormed into his study and slammed the door behind him. He ordered the servants not to allow anyone to disturb him. However, it didn’t stop his mother and brother from following him. He sat behind his desk, glancing at the notes his secretary had left for him. At least, the man had the common sense to make himself scarce.
Throughout the remaining ride, he had learned more about Grace than since she had arrived. All because his brother held the ability to engage Grace in a lively discussion that focused on her. It only compounded his guilt and made him more irritable. Not to mention jealous. It had never bothered him before when Cameron flirted with one of his conquests. But with Grace, he wanted to deck his brother for making Grace smile.
Even now, the bastard smirked at him.
“Sod off,” Lockhart growled.
Cameron chuckled. “Not yet. I want to witness the set-down Mother is about to deliver your way.”
Lockhart closed his eyes, attempting to control his irritation before dealing with his mother. He opened his eyes to find she had moved in front of the desk, with her hands on her hips and her foot tapping with suppressed fury. It would appear he was not too old for his mother to discipline him.
Lockhart focused on the notes again to avoid the oncoming lecture. “There is no need, Mother. I am aware of the nature of my actions.”
“I highly doubt that. If so, you would not have subjected Grace to the humiliation she now suffers from. At least your brother had the good sense to help ease her discomfort from what Grace shared with me,” Lady Lockhart began.
Cameron stretched out his legs, crossing his feet at the ankles. “It was no trouble, Mother. Grace is a delightful companion.”
Lady Lockhart turned her head to smile at Cameron. “Yes, she is. The children love her.” She turned back to Calum with a snarl. “Explain yourself.”
Lockhart sighed. He didn’t want to defend his actions and argue with his mother. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts. Thoughts that centered on Grace. His brother’s flirtation had caused him to see Grace in a new light. It only fueled his need to claim her for his own and damn any consequences that stood in his way.
“I can see why they do. If I had a governess like Grace, I would have worshipped at her feet,” Cameron baited Calum since he stayed silent.
“Miss Penrose,” Calum gritted between his teeth.
“Did you know the heathens remind Grace of her younger siblings? I suppose they are the reason she is so patient. It is a shame Calum has dismissed Grace. We must help Grace find another position because Grace deserves our help.” Cameron ignored how Calum expected him to address Grace as Miss Penrose.
Lady Lockhart squeezed Cameron’s shoulder. “Yes, my dear. Grace talks about her family often. She even shares her letters from home with us. You are kind to want to help her. ‘Tis a shame your brother does not hold the same kindness. I do not understand where I failed with him.”
Lockhart slammed his hand on the desk, sending papers flying. “I am not the villain in this scenario. I gave Miss Penrose every opportunity to succeed in this position. Even allowing her to disregard my orders so she could pursue her own agenda. However, she failed the children when she allowed them to fool her into believing they were innocent souls who never caused trouble. She even involved herself in their hijinks, demonstrating her failures. I will not discuss how I saved her reputation when rumors of her past circulated throughout England and Scotland.”
Lady Lockhart pounded her fist on the desk. “You are well aware of how she is innocent of those rumors that tarnish her reputation. Unless you have proven them to be true because of your behavior toward Grace. Your actions today have shown the servants how they might be true. I shudder to imagine the damage you have caused by sacrificing her sweet nature for Lady Fyfe’s forgiveness. The lady will destroy Grace and her friends to seek her revenge.”
Cameron rose, wrapped his arm around his mother’s shoulder, and guided her to sit in the chair. “Calm down, Mother. Do not upset yourself over Calum’s actions. I am sure he regrets his behavior and will sort this matter out immediately. After all, it is the least Grace deserves.”
“Her name is Miss Penrose, and you will address her as so,” Calum roared before storming out of the study.
He left the same way he entered, his need to be alone stronger than ever. It would appear his family considered him the villain and Grace the defenseless victim who needed rescuing. Why would they not mind their own damn lives? Did they not understand that he wanted to be Grace’s hero?
“Should I have cried at the end of my lecture?” Lady Lockhart inquired, smiling at her son’s departure.
Cameron leaned against the desk. “No. Your bite of anger hit the right dramatic pitch needed to express your disappointment.”
Lady Lockhart nodded, delighted with her performance. “You pulled off your infatuation with Grace to perfection.”
He offered his mother a devious smile. “She is a delightful creature.”
Lady Lockhart frowned, shaking a finger at her son. “She is for Calum. Do not forget that.”
“Ah, a little healthy competition never hurt Calum. Plus, I believe my brother needs more of a push to see how perfect Grace is for him.”
She sighed. “I fear you may be right.”
Calum winked. “I usually am.”
Lady Lockhart shook her head at her son’s arrogance, a trait he and her eldest son had inherited from their father, a trait that had caused the dilemma they now faced. While her husband’s arrogance had won her heart in the end, she feared it would be her son’s downfall in trying to win Grace’s heart. She only hoped he realized that, if he didn’t set it aside, it would destroy his chances. Because Grace was a unique lady who deserved the man underneath the arrogance. Calum was a loving gentleman when he desired to be so.
However, sometimes the mind and heart worked against one another.
~~~~~
WHEN THEY RETURNED, Lockhart abandoned Grace in the foyer without a word of apology. Cameron offered her a charming smile with a wink and Lady Lockhart, who had awaited their return, patted her hands in a sign of reassurance. She offered Grace a few kind words before she followed her sons.
Grace untied the ribbon under her chin, pulled off the bonnet, tugged her gloves off, and unbuttoned her coat.
“Allow me to help, Miss Penrose.” Lucy helped Grace off with her coat. “I shall return these to your bedchamber.”
Grace frowned. “That is no bother. I can ...”
Lucy bustled up the staircase before Grace could stop her. While the maid assisted with kindness, it unsettled Grace. She didn’t want the servants treating her differently because Lockhart had ordered them to earlier.
“Would you like a plate prepared since you missed luncheon?” Douglas asked.
Another offer of special treatment made Grace want to hide away in her bedchamber. Also, eating a bite would only make her sick because her nerves were tied in knots, a common occurrence lately while dealing with Lord Lockhart.
“No, thank you. I need to see to the children.” Grace twisted her hands in front of her.
“They are in the nursery, working on their lessons.”
“Then the tutor has arrived,” Grace responded wistfully.
“No, Miss Penrose. They are following your instructions.”
Grace’s spirits lifted. “Excellent. I shall check on their progress.” Grace paused on the second step and turned. “Have I received a letter from Lady Courtland?”
Douglas offered her a sympathetic look Grace did not understand. “No, miss.”
Grace nodded and climbed the stairs. Her friend was in the throes of marital bliss, and her sister had arrived for a visit. Also, the children needed constant attention. However, it was out of character for Vivian not to respond to a friend in dire need of assistance.
Grace stopped outside the nursery and bit her bottom lip as she debated writing Vivian another request. It had only been less than a day since Lady Lockhart sent her letter off. She must remain patient for her friend to respond.
Grace was only ruffled and impatient because of Lockhart. She couldn’t forget the intense stare they shared in the carriage. It stirred feelings in Grace she didn’t believe she held for the marquess. It brought her emotions too close to the surface, making Grace aware that her feelings for Lockhart ran deeper than a mere infatuation. The gaze revealed an emotion she feared to consider. Because if she focused too closely and admitted her true feelings, then she must deal with the heartache too.
Grace hurried into the nursery to escape her thoughts. She came to a halt in the eerie quietness. All the children sat around the table, either reading or writing out the answers to the questions she had prepared earlier this morning for their lessons.
Unsure of where the older two lads were in their education, Grace had constructed a series of questions for them to answer to help her gauge the level she needed to teach them. Finlay and Hugh held serious expressions while they wrote out their answers.
Grace’s gaze shifted toward the other children. The twins read from their books, with Geordie peeking over to see which page Gayre was on like he usually did. However, Effie struggled with her lessons because she kept swiping at the tears falling off her plump cheeks.
“Oh, dear heart, why the tears?” Grace lifted Effie off the chair and settled her on her lap.
Effie wrapped her arms around Grace’s neck, squeezing hard enough to choke her. Grace loosened Effie’s hold and rubbed her back, waiting with patience for Effie to answer.
“You left without saying your farewells.” Effie hiccupped.
“Geordie told her Calum ordered you to leave this morning,” Gayre explained, shooting her twin a glare.
“Well, he did,” Geordie whined.
“We overheard the servants talking about how Calum demanded you leave with him,” Hugh explained further.
“More like bully,” Finlay muttered.
The dear children’s display of affection showed their concern, and it warmed Grace’s heart. It was one of the many reasons she loved them so. However, she didn’t want to be the cause of any rift in their family. So she must explain their brother’s actions this morning in a positive spin, regardless of how he had behaved. There was no need to draw any more questions than needed, especially from these bright children. Also, because children held the capability of seeing the real reason behind one’s actions better than the parties involved.
Grace rubbed Effie’s back in a calming motion and softened her tone while explaining her absence this morning. “Lord Lockhart was in a rush this morning to depart and spoke harshly with his demands. He wanted to call on Lady Fyfe and her daughter to offer them a formal apology for the scare we caused them yesterday before the storm arrived.”
“Lady Fyfe is a cow,” Geordie blurted.
“Geordie, it is impolite to voice such an opinion of another person,” Grace reprimanded. Even though she held the same opinion about the lady.
Geordie pouted. “Well, ‘tis the truth.”
Grace frowned at him. “Lord Lockhart requested I join him to offer my apology to them for allowing you children to play in such an unorthodox manner. While Lord Lockhart handed you the punishment for cleaning the mess in the garden away, my punishment was to make my apologies to Lady Fyfe and her daughter.”
“That seemed highly unfair since you already received your punishment when Calum dismissed you,” Finlay stated.
His statement brought forth another outburst of tears from Effie. Gayre joined her sister, throwing her arms around Grace and crying too. Grace comforted them the best she could without offering them false platitudes. Because the end result was the same. She would leave soon.
“Also, the cow deserved it for what she said ...”
“Hugh!” Finlay interrupted, shaking his head at his brother to stay silent.
“Why can Hugh call her a cow but I cannot?” Geordie complained.
“Because I am older.” Hugh puffed out his chest.
Grace groaned at the need to deflect an argument before it spun out of control. While she wondered why Hugh believed Lady Fyfe deserved to be hit with a mud ball, she didn’t wish to upset the children any more than they already were.
“Life will throw you many unfair experiences, and it depends on how you handle them. Do not look at my dismissal with sadness but as an opportunity to meet someone different who will have an influence over how you will prosper. Also, you have not lost me as a friend. I will write to you after I leave if you would like.”
“I doubt Calum will allow it.” Finlay glared at the doorway as if his brother stood there.
Grace doubted it too. She should never have mentioned it. “I will speak with your mother about it and seek her permission,” Grace promised.
Gayre jumped off Grace and clapped her hands. “Mama will not refuse.”
Effie joined Gayre with her excitement, twirling them around in circles. Grace smiled at their joy, relieved they had moved past the tears. However, their brothers did not share the same feelings if their pensive expressions were anything to go by. Finlay and Hugh crossed their arms across their chests, wearing frowns at the situation. While Geordie tried imitating his brothers, he struggled with the frown when he kept glancing at his sisters, smiling at their gaiety.
Grace should address their behavior. However, she needed to direct the young children’s attention back to their lessons. Finlay and Hugh were older, and she couldn’t fool them so easily with her explanation. Also, she didn’t want to encourage any ill feelings toward Lord Lockhart. They would have many issues in their future they would disagree upon. She refused to be one of them.
“Shall we see what you have accomplished in my absence?” Grace asked, picking up Effie’s arithmetic lesson.
Educational lessons were much simpler to explain than the unfairness of life.
Especially one’s own.