Gregory had nodded and it seemed he did not have to go far for the requested blanket and pillow as he pulled them out of a cabinet. Grace began to wonder exactly how many times this particular operation had been performed. She also began to wonder how Lady Heathway would react to the news, as so far she could not tell what the lady’s feelings were.
“Now, you two, come into the breakfast room and tell me all about it. I am surprised, I saw nothing developing between you! I had my eyes firmly staring in Lord Ryland’s direction. And perhaps a sideways glance at Mr. Vance, though I hoped he’d go away.”
Lord Gresham looked to his fiancée with raised eyebrows. “It seems we were all concerned about the amiable Mr. Vance.”
Lady Heathway was tapping her chin with her forefinger, completely ignoring her nephew’s thoughts on Mr. Vance. “It occurs to me that Louisa might finally stop crowing about her dear Miss Wilcox once she hears this! I am to have a daughter whodoesplay the pianoforte.”
They followed Lady Heathway out the door, stepping around Mr. Ranston. George leaned over and whispered, “I told you Lady Mendleton would come into it. Lady Langley’s firm resolve to steer clear of a pianoforte has served us well.”
It had gone smoother than Grace had dared hope. Lady Heathway was not outraged. She could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The alarms that had rung so loud in Grace’s thoughts ever since they’d reached the outskirts of Town could quiet.
Once they were situated in the breakfast room and tea had been served, a new set of alarms began to ring.
Grace and George held on to their chairs as Lady Heathway laid out their future for them.
“Now, of course,” she said, “My brother and the countess are fine people. You will find them very genial in-laws, Grace. But I and my lord must come first, we must be considered therealin-laws. One need not say so outright, at least not to them, but it is our rightful place. We must have you at Christmas and most of the summer too. You might even think of living with us in the country, you could have most of the east wing. Let’s see what Lady Mendleton makes of that!”
George held up a hand. “Aunt, I do not know—”
“As for children,” Lady Heathway barreled on, seemingly unconcerned with what her nephew did not know, “I plan to be highly involved! Particularly when it comes to granddaughters! I intend their accomplishments to be astounding and far exceeding anything Lady Mendleton might accomplish with her own grandchildren. Yes, they really must be consideredmygrandchildren, I do not care what your mothers have to say about that. I will not take no for an answer on that front!”
Grace did not think Lady Heathway had ever taken no for an answer onanyfront. She also did not think her nephew would agree to move in with her. For all the alarms she was just now setting off, though, Grace held an ever-growing affection for her Lady Visigoth.
Chapter Eighteen
The wedding breakfasthad been a great success. It seemed everybody in Town longed for an invitation as Grace was celebrated as the daring daughter risking all for her dear mother. Lady Barlow found herself both confused and delighted, as she never did get the full story of drainpipes and mad dashes in unknown carriages and she certainly had no idea she’d ever been at the point of expiring.
Lady Barlow was to stay with Lord and Lady Heathway until Grace and George returned from their wedding trip. Nurse Maddington too, as Lady Barlow thought she could not do without her. Grace did not know how her gentle mother would get on with her Visigoth aunt-in-law, but she supposed Lady Barlow could always retire to her bedchamber and call for her nurse if she felt overwhelmed by the energy of the lady.
Italy was the destination for the wedding trip and George had planned it for two months, as he had a specific idea in mind for their return.Whatthat idea was, he would not say. As they sampled wines and stayed abed most mornings and basked in the Italian sunshine, letters from his solicitor followed them on their travels. Grace thought he was being rather secretive about those missives, and so he was.
On their return, she’d thought they would go to the London house. They bypassed Town altogether and Grace began to see recognized landmarks in Kent.
“My dear George,” she said snuggling against his person, “certainly we do not go to Barlow House? Have you forgotten that my mother is with your aunt in Berkeley Square?”
“I have not forgotten anything, you impossible girl,” he said. “Have you not wondered about your wedding present?”
“Well, I thought you might get me a nice piece of jewelry on our return. Or perhaps I will have leave to redecorate the house we go to, though you have been very secretive on that front. And then, you did buy me ever so many exquisite pieces in Florence and Rome.”
They made the turn to the lane that led to the house and the hall. Grace peered out the carriage window and they passed by the little dower house.
“I do not understand…” she said.
“As you know,” George said, leaning back and looking very satisfied with himself, “the entail of Barlow Hall has run out and it was never the property granted with the patent to begin with,thatpiece is forested and was never cleared or built on. As you maynotknow, my aunt and I made the new viscount persona non grata in Town because of his treatment of you and your mother. It turns out the neighborhood does not like him either. My solicitor explained to him that it would be much more sensible to sell off the estate and return to York, where he still has friends. He remains the viscount, he still holds that section of forest should he ever wish to do something with it, and he has a deal more money than he had. He should be well-pleased with the arrangements.”
Grace sat back. “But…you bought Barlow Hall?”
“I did,” George said proudly. “My aunt and your mother are already there and Manfred and Mrs., well I suppose she’s Mrs. Manfred now, have been reinstalled.”
Grace threw her arms around her husband. “How glorious! My mother must be astounded. I am astounded. You are the best husband living.”
“That is all too true,” George said, nodding as if this were a universally known fact. “As well, Barlow Hall is very far away from the amiable Mr. Vance’s neighborhood.”
“And you are also impossible.”
“As are you.”
“We are well-matched, then.”
