Grace, who’d been taking a sip of tea, made a choking sound, which she turned into a cough. She held her hand over her lips, pitching her voice so that only he could hear. “I’ve never been modest with you and you know it. If I had, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
He slapped her back a few times. “I beg to differ. It is not a mess.”
Patience’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry. I was unable to hear either of you.”
“Grace said the tea went down the wrong way. Isn’t that right, love?”
“Yes, thank you for your help,” she replied primly before turning to Patience. “I have at least one friend in Town who knows I had a tendre for Matt when I first came out.” Grace gave him a sidelong glance. “I think, with the proper placement of that knowledge, Matt’s plan might work.”
That was news! Matt had trouble keeping his jaw from hanging open. “When was this, and why did I never know about it?”
“Six years ago. You even danced with me and were very charming.”
Charming and not in the market for a wife. What a fool he’d been. He searched her face. “Tell me about it.”
Grace’s cheeks and neck turned a vibrant shade of deep rose. “Maybe later, but not now.”
Taking her hands, he said, “I’ll hold you to that.”
She gazed into his eyes, and it was all he could do not to kiss her right there in front of Patience. “Two weeks.”
His stepmother cleared her throat, and Grace jerked her eyes away from him.
“Three,” Patience countered.
“Very well. Three, and not a day longer.” Three very long weeks. “Grace, do you agree?”
She hesitated a moment before answering. “Yes.”
He didn’t trust that she wouldn’t find some reason to put it off longer. There must be a way to wed her sooner.
“It might work,” Patience said. “Particularly after you followed Grace out of the ballroom the other evening, and the way you look at her. I must say, calling Lady Evesham to attend to her was inspired.” Patience took a sip of tea. “Grace, how do you intend to chaperone your sister while Matt is pursuing you?”
Grace picked up her cup. “My aunt Lady Herndon is sponsoring Charlotte. When we tell her, she will be more than happy to help. She’s had a difficult time accepting my decision not to marry.”
“Very well”—Patience smiled with relief—“we may bring this off after all.”
Grace leaned forward a bit. “Would you like to dine with us this evening?”
“I would, my dear, but I think I shall use this evening to find out what the girls have been up to instead. Worthington, though, should dine with you.”
High voices and stomping feet echoed through the house.
Patience rose. “I shall extract my four from the menagerie and take them home.” She took Grace’s hands. “I am very happy you will be joining our family. You do understand my concerns?”
Clearly relieved that the conversation had gone well, Grace smiled. “Indeed, I do. For I have the same ones. As you said, any scandal would affect Charlotte as well. Which I cannot allow.”
“You have a lady that is your companion, I believe?”
“My cousin, Jane Carpenter.”
“Good. If Worthington plans to haunt your house, which he should, we must ensure the gossips know you are not alone.”
“I am aware of that.”
The children entered the morning room in mass. Patience blinked as though stunned, then said, “Louisa, Augusta, Madeline, and Theodora, come with me.”
“But Mama, we’ve decided to dine together,” Louisa said.
