Jane eyes sparkled with laughter. “None of the girls could be called biddable, my dear, including you.”
“No, I think it’s in the blood.” Grace grinned and picked up another letter. “Oh look, it’s from Charlie.” She read his hastily scratched missive. “He’s doing well and thinks I shall be happy with his marks this term. He asks if he may come to London during the holiday. Well of all the chuckleheads. Where else should he go?”
Her cousin gave a laugh, shook her head, then left Grace alone with her correspondence. Yet other than reading a few letters from friends with whom she maintained a large correspondence, she accomplished nothing else. She turned in her chair and gazed out of the window at the rosebushes. Many of them were still covered in frost and sparkled under the midday sun.
She shouldn’t have done it. She’d thought if only she could experience it once, she’d be satisfied to live out her life as a spinster. Now she was anything but content. Every time she thought of him, her body tingled and she imagined his hands stroking and teasing her. And it was not only the lovemaking. And it wasn’t simply the way he made her body feel, she’d so enjoyed talking with him throughout the day and evening. They agreed on almost everything. When they had differed, he’d listened to her point of view respectfully and even agreed she had good reason to think as she did. She would miss that more than his touch.
She had to stop thinking about him. Going to Town early would be a good change. She could settle Charlotte’s wardrobe and forget Worthington.
Grace reached out for a piece of elegant pressed paper and dipped her pen in the standish.
My Dearest Aunt Almeria,
Charlotte and I are so looking forward to our visit with you. An opportunity to have Charlotte’s entire wardrobe for the Season made by Madame Lisette has arisen. Therefore I do most earnestly hope you will not mind if we come a bit earlier ...
Yet even as she wrote her aunt with plans for their visit, the emptiness inside her wouldn’t leave.
Chapter Four
Dawn had still not broken when Matt awoke. He grinned to himself. Soon he would be an engaged man. Finally, he understood the looks of love and possession he’d seen in his friends’ faces when they glanced at their wives. That was exactly what he wanted with his lady. Later, after the sun had made an appearance, he’d discover her name and how soon they could wed. Reaching for her, his hand found nothing but a cold, empty sheet. He listened for any sign of her in the chamber, but there was nothing. Hmm, she must have gone to her room, but why? There was no one in the inn but them. Perhaps she was concerned about servants. Although none of them seemed to appear until called.
Rising, he donned his dressing gown, walked down the corridor, then opened the door to her chamber. Empty. Nothing to even indicate she’d been there.
The clock on the mantel showed five o’clock. He went back to his room and tugged the bell-pull. In a few minutes, the boots brought hot water for him to shave.
Matt waited until the water was poured into the basin. “The lady who was here last evening, is she downstairs?”
“I dunno, my lord. Ain’t seen no lady,” the lad mumbled, and left.
Matt finished dressing and descended the stairs. His groom, Mac, was in the common room eating. “Where are the others?”
Mac finished chewing and swallowed. “Gone, my lord. Their coach ain’t in the yard.”
Something wasn’t right. Why would she have left and not told him? “Be ready to leave in half an hour.”
He looked around for the landlord and, not finding him, entered the parlor. Covered dishes set on the table, with one place setting. He wished he was sharing the meal with her and conversing as they had the night before.Hell. He wanted to be in a warm bed with her next to him.
Mr. Brown knocked on the door before entering. “My lord, you was wishful of seeing me?”
Now Matt would get some answers. “Yes, I want to know the lady’s name.”
The innkeeper opened his eyes wide. “What lady, my lord?”
Matt bit the inside of his lip and tried to keep from losing his temper. “The lady who was here last night. The one I shared dinner with.”
The landlord started backing out of the parlor, shaking his head. “Weren’t no lady here, my lord.”
Matt choked back an angry response. Losing his temper would do him no good. He must attempt to reason with the innkeeper. “I can understand she would not want it known she was here alone and without her maid. But you may tell me who she is. I plan to marry her, and I need to know her direction.”
“I’d like to help you, my lord, but I can’t.” The man closed the door.
Matt stood so quickly his chair crashed to the floor, but by the time he got to the hall, the innkeeper had prudently taken himself off.
“You there.”
The young woman glanced at Matt wide-eyed. “Yes, sir?”
“Where is Brown?”
