“I am not sure I even approve of amiable,” Lord Gresham said.
“Then I had better stop you from thinking about it too much,” Grace said, standing on tiptoes to kiss him. As she had noticed at Lady Redfield’s when they’d sat so close together, he smelled wonderfully clean and of the woods.
He dropped his horse’s rein and held her tightly. “Now, you mad, lovely girl, there are to be no more rash decisions. I am not to arrive on the morrow and hear you’ve changed your mind. I absolutely forbid it.”
Grace began to laugh into his coat lapel. “You are a terrifying taskmaster, Lord Gresham.”
“You had better call me George,” he said.
Seconds ticked by, and then minutes, while Grace occupied herself with feeling the outlines of his arms and the broadness of his chest. She undid his neckcloth to better feel his skin, warm to the touch. George occupied himself with her hair, then her neck, and then her lips. There was so much to discover about his person, and he was doing a remarkably thorough job of discoveringher.
Lady Barlow called from the front door. “Grace? Engaged or not, there are limits. Good night to you, Lord Gresham.”
*
George set offon his horse, entirely satisfied with the evening. Of course, it had not unfolded the precise way he’d planned. He had been set on taking Miss Yardley, or Grace the future Lady Gresham and one day Countess of Clayton as he would think of her now, into supper. At an opportune time, he would deliver his carefully composed proposal. The only hurdle had been convincing himself that she might love him someday, though she’d only married him because she was set on marrying absolutely anybody.
He had definitely not foreseen discovering she’d sprinted again and then having to make a mad dash after her to Kent.
On the other hand, why had he expected any less from the lady? She was a rather stalwart daughter, after all.
In truth, it had all worked out rather marvelously. She’d wished to marry absolutely anybody because she lovedhimand thought he dislikedher!
Why would she think he disliked her, that charming lady?
Well, it could have been some things he’d said…or did. He had perhaps not gone forward in the usual manner of a courtship. But no matter! She was in love withhimand he had successfully reduced Vance to only amiable. In a year or so, he was convinced he could work Vance down to an absolute bore.
Of course, there were some new hurdles ahead. The talk around the town would have to be shut down. His first instinct was to throttle Jacobs into confessing, perhaps he might challenge him to a duel. He was a crack shot and everybody knew it. Jacobs might well take the easy way out and own his crimes.
Though, duels could be very unpredictable, even if one came in with the advantage. He did not think his future wife would be very pleased with him if he lost an arm or got shot through the heart.
Perhaps the best way to go forward was to confirm the lie. Grace had left in Lady Marilyn’s carriage because she got word her mother was dying. A dutiful and courageous daughter, which indeed she was. Lady Barlow had since made a miraculous recovery. That, coupled with their engagement, ought to tamp down the rumors.
As he walked the horse down the lane, it suddenly occurred to him that he did not much care. So what if thetontalked all the day long aboutThe Sprinter. She had sprinted herself into his arms and that was all that mattered.
He had a future to plan and society could jump off a bridge if they did not like it.
The only other hurdle was perhaps his aunt. His mother and father were not in Town and it would be some time before they heard anything via letter from one of their friends. He would send word to them by fast messenger with news of the engagement and the truth of the story and that would be that. At least, the truth of the story he’d settled upon. His parents would be delighted, as they had been hinting that he ought to marry for above two years.
George could not say how Lady Heathway would take the news, as she was never very predictable. She might be outraged or delighted. However she was, they would face her together on the morrow. She was bound to come around, in any case. She’d longed for a daughter, and now she was to at least have a niece-in-law she already knew and liked. The idea that Lady Mendleton had not managed to outdo, her via Miss Wilcox would probably assuage any shaken feelings she might have.
He would send a messenger from the inn to assure his aunt of Miss Yardley’s safety. The further news would be delivered in person on the morrow.
“It’s all gone very well,” George said to the darkness, “if I do say so myself.”
*
Grace had sleptin the bed with her mother, as Nurse Maddington had taken over her own bedchamber. Her happy thoughts had bounced between two ideas: she was engaged to Lord Gresham, and Lady Barlow was livelier than she’d ever seen her.
While they should have been sleeping, they talked for hours about the future. Grace did not know where they would live, but Lady Barlow would not livehere. Nurse Maddington had once come into the room to scold them into sleeping but Lady Barlow had only laughed at her and said, “Go back to bed, you horrible old witch.”
The nurse seemed satisfied enough with that response and closed the door on her.
Lady Barlow had whispered, “I tell her she’s a horrible witch but I’m actually very fond of her.”
They’d then talked at length about Lord Gresham, or George as was his given name. They’d examined him from every angle and Lady Barlow had finally said, “It is a very good match, my dear. I hope he makes you as happy as your father made me. He promised to treat me as a jewel in a velvet-lined case and he was as good as his word.”
Grace had nodded, though she did not for a moment think she was to be handled so delicately. Nor did she wish to be. The treatment had not done her mother any good at all and Lady Barlow was just now emerging from a lifetime of lassitude.
