“I do hope, though,” Grace said, “none of this is connected to us, Papa. It does not particularly support my attitude of neutrality and indifference.”
“No,” the duke said thoughtfully, “I suppose it does not. Not to worry, Lady Misery won’t put it about. She won’t like it to reflect on the family, as that reflects on her.”
“I believe you are right about that.”
“Pay no mind to her, Gracie. She does not know what has gone on.”
Grace nodded. There was the real truth of it—Lady Marchfield did not know where things stood. If she did, she would not wonder that her family had rallied round and exacted revenge. She would still disapprove, but she would not wonder.
Though Grace did not wish Lord Dashlend to know where the troubles that had beset him had originated, she could not help but to be touched that her father, Mrs. Right, and Valor had each taken steps to avenge her feelings.
No matter what happened, they would all support one another.
Chapter Seventeen
MILES COULD NOTwork out what he’d just witnessed. The duke had led Lady Grace away and he was left with Lady Margaret, Lord Harraby, and Montclave.
It had been such an odd encounter. The duke looked almost unhappy to see him. Lady Grace was… he did not really know. She had smiled on occasion, but it had seemed somehow forced.
He did say he would wait for them in the great hall. Why did they seem the slightest bit annoyed that he had?
Perhaps it was all in his imagination. There was something very fraught about knowing one was hours from proposing. Perhaps it had affected him in some way.
Perhaps they had only left so abruptly to get away from Montclave.
Lady Margaret bounced up and down on her toes, her ostrich feathers waving back and forth. “Is this to be it, Dashlend? Is this to be the momentous evening?”
Miles’ eyes widened. Really, there was no amount of indiscretion Lady Margaret would not dare.
“Now, do not worry that we talk out of turn, Dashlend,” Lord Harraby said. “Montclave here knows all about it.”
“Does he?” Miles asked. He did not like that idea at all. Why should they have spoken to Montclave about anything, much less his personal business?
“We encountered Lord Montclave at Mr. Twining’s establishment,” Lady Margaret said. “I was determined to purchase some tea for your household staff. They have all been so kind.”
Miles was well aware of the tea purchase. That did not explain how or why Lady Margaret would have revealed any of his personal aims. She must encounter people everywhere, all the time, is that what she was in the habit of doing?
“Lady Margaret was so good as to inform me that you intend on proposing to Lady Grace,” Montclave said drily. “They are fingers crossed that tonight is to be the momentous occasion.”
“Lady Margaret,” Miles said, “I have communicated no such ideas.”
“Ha, but that is just it!” Lord Harraby said. “We have been busy observing.”
“And deducing,” Lady Margaret said, nodding vigorously.
“You are most welcome in my house, Lady Margaret,” Miles said gravely, “but I must ask you to steer clear of predicting anything I may or may not do. Now, I will go into the ballroom. There are other ladies who wait for me to put myself down for a set. Other ladies, who I may or may not be interested in.”
Miles turned and strode off. Of course, not before hearing Lady Margaret say, “Poor lad, he’s got a case of the lovestruck nerves.”
“No doubt,” Lord Harraby answered.
Miles did not quite hear what Lord Harraby said next, but it might have been some mention of his own lovestruck nerves. Miles had high hopes the lord was planning on taking Lady Margaret off his hands sometime in the near future.
He could not say if he had himself fallen victim to lovestruck nerves. He did not think so, in any event. What he was sure of though, was that this entire day was like a dream. Dreams so rarely made sense and were one odd scene strung to the next. That was exactly what this day had been like.
Nevertheless, he maintained high hopes that the very end of this day would conclude in his favor.
He patted the pocket that held the necklace he’d purchased for Lady Grace. His visit to Rundell and Bridge had been the last usual thing he’d experienced.
