Chapter 10
Grace linked her arm through Adrian’s as they left Hollystone Hall’s stable. The morning hunt had been a great success, and it seemed that all the planned events for the holiday season were going off splendidly. There was not much left for Grace to do other than enjoy being a guest and hope that the charity ball would bring in funding to support their cause.
“You are pensive this morning, Grace,” Adrian noticed. “What has you so troubled?”
“Nothing at all. I am perfectly well,” she answered through clenched lips.
“If this is your ‘well’, I have no idea how you will enjoy the rest of the entertainments this coming week. Christmas is two days from now, and I know how much this holiday means to you. You appear as if the gloomy day is a reflection of your mood,” Adrian slowed their pace to allow others to go ahead of them. “Is Miranda getting on your nerves again? I swear that girl will be the death of me. I must watch her every move to ensure she is behaving herself. As you know, that is no easy task.”
“Miranda has nothing to do with how ill at ease I am feeling of late,” Grace answered in a huff while the echo of Nicholas’s angry words warred inside her head. Why had she not just blurted out that she was not married? Such a statement would surely put an end to their disagreement. But she had been just as hot-headed as him and obviously not thinking clearly. The memory left a bitter taste in her mouth.
How ironic that the man continued to interrupt her dreams and fill every waking moment. Grace could in no way discount how he made her feel, even after he had spoken to her in such a manner. She did not think she could ever forgive him, let alone forget him.
“Gracie?” Adrian spoke her name, bringing her out of her thoughts of Nicholas.
She gazed at her brother with what must have been a sheepish expression. “Sorry. I am just out of sorts.”
“And just which gentleman has you so frazzled? Do I need to call the devil out for taking advantage of my sister?” he asked with brow furrowed, clearly distressed on her behalf.
“No!” Her answer echoed in the winter wind, and she cast her eyes downward as they continued to walk. “I mean, there is no need. I do not believe the gentleman and I have anything further to discuss.”
“You are very defensive, and I can see you are upset. Tell me, who is the cad, or will you keep me guessing?” His stare was serious before he gave her a hug of assurance.
A heavy sigh left her. “Lord Nicholas Lacey.”
“The chap from the library?”
“Yes.” A simple answer was all she could muster as the man of her musing rushed by her without even acknowledging her presence. It was almost as if he knew he had been the topic of their hushed discussion.
“I do not understand then. You are both eligible to wed, although I do know he has a daughter. You would become an instant mother if you were to wed. Is this the problem?”
“His daughter has nothing to do with the problems between Nicholas and me.”
“Then what is it? Did you discover that you do not get along? I do not know anyone of our acquaintance that does not like you, Gracie. You are one of the sweetest women I know,” Adrian confided with a smile.
She gave a brief laugh, the first one that felt natural and not forced in days. “You have to say that. You are my brother.”
“It keeps me in your good… graces,” he said, winking.
“Yes, but unfortunately therein lays the problem.”
“I think you lost me. What does our being related have to do with you possibly finding a husband with Lord Nicholas?”
“He thinks you and I are wed,” she whispered so no one overheard such a startling confession.
Adrian’s laughter burst forth to show his amusement. “You must be joking.”
“I am delighted that you find the situation so hysterical that you cannot contain your merriment.” Grace began to hasten her stride. “I assure you this is no laughing matter to me. I attempted to rectify the misunderstanding with him, but he would not listen long enough for me to explain.”
“This is most amusing.”
“Not to me, Adrian,” Grace stated a bit forcibly.
Her brother studied her for another moment. “What are you not telling me, Grace?” he inquired through clenched teeth.
Grace began to shuffle her feet. She may as well tell him the truth of the matter. “I… made the mistake of… going to his room to give him my explanation,” she answered in a rush.
Adrian’s face flushed red. “You what?” he roared.
“Hush, you idiot. Do you wish the whole household to hear that you are upset with me? Believe me, I regret such a foolish decision on my part. It was my error in judgment. Let the issue rest, Adrian. Nicholas Lacey means nothing to me. There is no need to defend my honor.”
Adrian leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “I shall abide by your wishes, Grace, although I still feel I should be calling the man out. Go change, and meet me in the billiards room this afternoon. There is to be a tournament, and you can be my good luck charm.”
“I hardly think my being by your side will bring you luck, Adrian.”
“Better you than Miranda. Can you imagine her trying to distract the players and win her wager with you at the same time?” Adrian declared in disgust. “I wish the two of you never made that stupid bet in the first place. I have put my foot down and ordered her to call it off, but she continues to defy me.”
Grace did not reply and instead made her way to her room to change, apprehension lingering in the air. How many more times in the next week would she be forced to remain in the same room as Nicholas Lacey?
Nicholas lined up his shot at the billiard table while conversations of no import swirled around the room. He studied the red ball left on the table and adjusted his shot. Pulling back his arm, he took aim—
“There you are at last, Gracie darling,” Adrian de Courtenay announced loudly.
—and completely missed the play. His stick only managed to nick the cue ball. Hushed sniggers accompanied his mistake. He stood, and there she was, standing in the entryway to the room, looking splendid in a gown of deep forest green. Her glorious hair was pulled up into a pleasing array of femininity that complemented her features, a bit of peacock feather in her headdress bringing out the color of her dress.
“Uncle Nicholas, you missed,” his niece Alice stated, as though he could not see for himself he had just lost the game.
He shook hands with the winner of the round, not even attempting to remember his name. Making his way toward his nieces, he reached for a glass of brandy from a passing servant and suppressed the urge to down the liquor in a single gulp. He attempted to look anywhere but upon Grace to divert his attention from the woman who appeared to fill up every corner of the room just by being in it.
“He is so handsome,” Celia whispered to Alice with a dreamy look upon her face.
Nicholas scowled, wondering just to whom his youngest niece was referring. The girl was only seventeen, just two years older than Blanche, and certainly too young for ogling gentlemen.
“There are many handsome gentlemen here this afternoon, Celia. Just who has grabbed your attention?” Alice glanced around the room.
“Lord de Courtenay, of course,” Celia responded with a dreamy sigh.
Nicholas cringed. Just what had these young women been up to the past several days while he had been contemplating the sorry state of his life?
“He is too old for you, dear sister. Besides, Father would never allow it. You know how he continues to say his baby girl will not wed at such a young age,” Alice retorted. “Father barely thinks I am ready and forgets, sometimes, that I am twenty. If he continues to decline the offers for my hand, I shall be labeled a spinster and never have the opportunity to marry.”
“I am not that young, nor is he too old. Besides, what does a person’s age have to do with anything? When you fall in love, age should not matter.”
Eh gads! If Nicholas had to listen to Celia list the merits of Grace’s husband, he would surely go insane. He had had enough.
He took both young women by the arms. “Let us go find Blanche and the others who are practicing their singing to entertain the children at the orphanage tonight,” he stated before whispering in Celia’s ear, “You, young lady, will stay clear of Lord de Courtenay. He is already spoken for, and that is his lady.”
Celia frowned. “Are you sure? I am positive Elinor said that─”
“I really do not wish to discuss the de Courtenays. Now let us see if we can find the children.”
Nicholas walked past the lady of his musings, but he swore he could smell the faintest hint of Grace’s perfume long after he had left the room.