Busy didn’t begin to describe it. With the children and Charlotte’s activities, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Grace collapsed at the end of the Season. “Yes, my brothers and sisters, except Charlie, who is at school, will be here. My aunt Herndon is sponsoring Charlotte. I want to thank you for arranging the introduction to Madame Lisette. We have an appointment to-morrow morning.”
A servant silently entered and Phoebe motioned for the tea to be set before her. “Wonderful. All the ladies in my family give her their custom. I know your mother admired Madame Fanchette.”
“Yes, though she retired last year. Nevertheless, I’m happy to make the change. You and your sisters are always so well dressed.”
Phoebe pointed to the teapot and Grace nodded. “Allow yourselves to be guided by Madame, and I promise you’ll be delighted with the results. Shall you set up your stable?”
Charlotte’s eyes lit up. “Yes. My favorite hack is being brought down, and Grace taught me to drive.” She clasped her hands together. “I am to have my own phaeton and pair.”
Phoebe handed Grace a cup. “Famous. Who will help you buy the horses?”
Grace drew her brows together slightly. “I think my uncle Herndon might help, although, I have not had an opportunity to ask him.”
“If you will trust me, I can take care of it for you.” Phoebe glanced at Charlotte, including her in the conversation. “I happen to know of a well-matched pair of grays that are going up for sale. Marcus and I shall escort you to the carriage maker.”
The pressure on Grace’s shoulders and the ache in her head eased. “Yes, thank you. That will suit us perfectly. Do you not agree, Charlotte?”
“Yes. I’d love to have a pair of matched horses, and grays are so elegant.”
Phoebe narrowed her eyes a little then said to Charlotte, “Would you like to look at the latestLa Belle Assemblée? It is in the parlor next to this one down the corridor.”
Charlotte cast a sidelong look at Grace.
“Yes, my dear. Go if you’d like.”
“Well, if you wouldn’t mind,” her sister said shyly. “I would like to see it. Ours is a few months old.”
Phoebe pointed to the corner. “Tug on the bell-pull and the footman will show you to the room.”
Once Charlotte was gone, Phoebe turned to Grace, concern lurking in her eyes and took her hand. “Now, tell me what is wrong.”
Chapter Six
Tears started in Grace’s eyes, and her voice trembled. “I am not sure I should tell anyone. I—I don’t know what you will think of me. In fact, I wouldn’t blame you if you cut my acquaintance. Oh, Phoebe, I’ve done something so stupid and incredibly wrongheaded.”
Phoebe tightened her grip on Grace’s hands, holding them firmly. “My dear, dear friend, we’ve known each other since we were children. Even if it turns out that I do not agree with what you’ve done, I’d not turn from you.”
Grace regarded her friend. The burden of her secret was weighing on her much more than she ever thought it would, and she really didn’t have anyone else she would even consider telling. “I am in love.”
Phoebe’s laugh was a musical tinkle. “Grace, falling in love isn’t the end of the world. It complicates things for you, to be sure. Yet there must be something that could be worked out.”
Removing her hands from Phoebe’s, Grace hid her face in them for a moment, before finally meeting Phoebe’s steady gaze. “You don’t understand. He doesn’t know who I am.”
Phoebe tilted her head, puzzled. “I think you’d best start at the beginning.”
Grace nodded. If nothing else, maybe she would feel better if she could talk about it. She told her friend about the night at the inn, and when she burst into tears, Phoebe held Grace until she was calm enough to continue. “I thought, if I could have just the one night, I’d know what it was all about, and never being able to marry wouldn’t bother me so much.”
“Grace, are you—?”
That was the only blessing. She wasn’t breeding. “No.”
Phoebe let out a sigh of relief. “Well that is something at least.” She rubbed her forehead. “All of this makes much more sense now. My dear, there is no easy way to tell you what I’m about to say . . . Worthington is searching for you.”
Grace sat up with a start. Why would he do that and what if it got out? “Oh no. He can’t be. This is terrible. Phoebe, how do you know?”
She handed Grace another cup of tea. “He came to see Marcus when I was on morning visits and described you. Marcus, of course, has never seen you, so he was unable to help him. Later he gave me Worthington’s description. I knew who it was immediately. Worthington is a very good artist and has an eye for detail. I just couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out why he wanted to find you.”
Grace’s chest tightened, and she had trouble breathing. The thought that he wanted her as his mistress was too horrible to consider. “Why—why is he searching for me?”
