‘You must come and spend time with her.’
Grace wanted nothing more than to see Charlotte again. She had longed for it, ached for it, and yet now that the prospect was close, her heart trembled at the thought. ‘It has been a long time. I doubt she will remember me.’
‘Then you will have to remind her.’
Grace nodded, pressing her palms together in the hope that it would stop the tears that were threatening to escape. ‘I thank you, Emily. You have been most kind.’
‘Not at all, Grace. You are family now.’
‘Ace,’ said Kate, snapping upright, causing everyone to jolt slightly in surprise.
‘No. Grace.’
Kate grinned, a look that was not at all ladylike. ‘On occasions, Charlotte refers to someone called Ace. I am wondering if perhaps that is you.’
Her heart hurt at the prospect. ‘It is possible.’
‘Have you ever travelled with her on a boat?’ Kate leaned forward, studying Grace as if she were a museum exhibit.
‘Yes. I… um… I brought her over to England.’ There was a lot more to that story, but she wasn’t ready to share it yet.
Kate nodded, pleased. ‘Ah, we wondered who came with her. You have crossed the Atlantic more than once then?’
‘Yes, three times. Have any of you ever travelled by packet ship?’
‘Goodness me, no,’ said Kate, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and the other two women shook their heads. ‘I would not get on a boat for all the money in the world. Was it terrifying?’
‘There were certainly times when I thought the end was nigh. I am not in a hurry to get back on one. But…’ She looked out onto the streets they were trundling down. ‘To see another country is exciting.’ She didn’t want to discuss her past too much. There was a lot she needed to tell this family, but now that she had this connection, she had time to reveal more. She did not have to face the worst of it yet.
Fortunately, they did not press her for further details. Instead, they began a lively discussion of all the places Sophia was going to visit with her husband. The two of them intended to embark on a tour of Europe together next year and from the way Sophia’s eyes shone she was very much looking forward to it.
Grace was content to sit back and listen to them talk. It was clear that the three ladies were close and watching their dynamic made her both happy and sad in equal measure. For who could not be glad that Charlotte would grow up around these women? Charlotte would never know what it was like to live in a house, frightened by the adults who should care for you, like Grace and Clare had done. Clare’s daughter would know nothing but love. But even though Grace was happy, her heart ached, because Clare should be here in this carriage. Not Grace. Clare would have enjoyed Sophia’s carefree giggle, Kate’s storytelling and Emily’s kindness. The years between Clare’s death and now had been fraught and there had been times when she’d not had the luxury to grieve for her sister. The full force of her loss hit her like a battering ram, the pain lodging so deeply in her chest she could not stop it from hurting.
It was Emily who noticed the tears she had tried so desperately to hold in were finally spilling, she who crossed over to sit beside her and pulled Grace into her arms.
‘I miss Clare so much,’ she said into the countess’ hair.
‘I am sure you do. I know it is not the same, but if you need us, you have us now.’
And as these ladies crowded closer, trying to heal her, a woman they didn’t know, with their presence, Grace thought she could hear Clare’s soft laugh in the carriage with them.
Chapter Eight
Grace gave the Dashworth family a week to look through Sebastian’s belongings without any interference from her. Emily invited her to join them on several occasions, but Grace held back from accepting. As much as she had liked them, and as lovely and welcoming as they had been to her, all aside from one family member, she recognised that they needed time to deal with their emotions. Her refusal to return to Glanmore House had absolutely nothing to do with avoiding the duke, whose animosity towards her had hurt more than she would care to admit. Long ago, she had decided that what people thought of her would be of little concern to her. For years, she had managed to live by her own decree. If she could accept that her own parents and the man she had married couldn’t bring themselves to love her, then the disdain of one man should not bother her. Yet, she could not deny that his response to her played on her own insecurities. She’d be walking with her maid or chatting with Mrs Hitchings and the image of his curled lip as he questioned her intentions would pop unwanted into her mind.
Frustratingly, she could understand his point of view. A strange woman had appeared in his life claiming to have news of a brother who had died over two years ago. The way he had spoken to her had made her lose her temper, but the fact she had called him a pompousclodpate was her own doing. It was as if she wanted to be ejected from the Ton and was going about it by insulting one of the highest-ranking peers in the land. Not only that, she did not want to fall out with the rest of the Dashworth family. His Grace had been in their lives a lot longer than she had, and his brothers were far more likely to take his side than hers. Better to let both of their tempers simmer down before she became embroiled in their lives once more.
Instead, she filled her days with receiving guests during the afternoon and attending events in the evening. There was no shortage of invitations: trips to the theatre, rides in the park, dining at the tables of some of the most influential members of the Ton, according to Mrs Hitchings. In seven days, Grace had spoken to more people than she had in the last two years. The constant whirl almost kept her mind off the Dashworths, but thoughts of them and, even more frequently, the cantankerous duke were never far away.
‘I tell you,’ said Mrs Hitchings as they made their way to yet another ball, ‘come the Season you will be inundated with requests for your presence.’
‘You mean it will be busier than this?’ Grace couldn’t believe that they weren’t in the Season proper. She hadn’t had a moment to herself.
‘Oh my goodness, yes. There are often more than two events in any given evening. If the summer is anything to go by, you will be invited to all of them.’
‘Interest in me will probably have died down by the start of the Season.’ She wasn’t sure if this was something she desired or not.
‘I sincerely doubt it, my dear. Society may have paid attention to you at first because of the Duke of Glanmore’s pointed interest, but the continued fascination with you is all down to your personality. You have charmed everyone, as I knew you would as soon as I metyou. I must say that it warms my heart to see you getting the reception you deserve.’
