Page 83 of How to Tempt an Earl

A worried expression crossed Ellie’s face. “My brother may not agree with you.”

“He will,” Grace said.

“She has influence over Ian,” Olivia said.

Not true. Grace inwardly cringed. She couldn’t influence him to part with the Raven Club. His response to her pleas had been to take her on a tour, to try to show her the club’s importance to him. But did one spin about the casino floor change her long-held views?

Olivia clasped her hands to her chest. “I was right. You do love him.”

“Olivia, that is not appropriate,” a firm female voice spoke.

Grace’s head snapped to the doorway where the dowager stood. Ian’s mother glared at Olivia, but when she looked at Grace a question passed over her features. She may not have approved of her daughter’s forthright statement, but she wanted to know if it was true.

How easy it would be to lie, but Grace could not deny the truth to herself. Despite everything, she did love Ian. He may not feel the same about her, but she loved him with all her heart.

Grace stood. “Hello, my lady.”

“Good afternoon.” The dowager’s sharp gaze turned to Ellie and Olivia. “Girls, please excuse us.”

The sisters obediently stood, kissed Grace, then turned to leave.

The dowager motioned for Grace to join her on the sofa. Grace forced a smile and presented a picture of ease she did not feel.

“Something is wrong,” the dowager began. “I can only assume your distress has something to do with my son.”

Grace blinked in surprise at the forthright statement and chose her words carefully. “Ellie and Olivia told me he can be stubborn. I fear they are right.”

“Yes, Ian can be mulish. Does the particular matter have anything to do with his club?”

The dowager would have no way of knowing that Grace had overheard Ian arguing with her the day of the wedding about the Raven Club. She didn’t believe Ian had told his mother, and Grace was not going to enlighten her.

“I’m not sure—”

“Let us be honest with each other. Ian owns a gambling establishment. I’ve wanted him to part with it as soon as he became the earl.”

She was startled by the woman’s outspokenness. “He refuses,” Grace said. “Even knowing how I feel, he won’t give up his casino.”

Lady Castleton sighed. “I was worried about this happening. I told Ian.”

“Pardon my honesty, but your son loves his club more than anything else in his life.”

For an instant, Grace thought she might have gone too far. The lady was Ian’s mother.

But the dowager leaned back on the plush cushions, pursed her lips, then nodded. “I was uncertain of your rushed marriage, but no longer.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m pleased at the match, even though it came about unconventionally.”

Grace was stunned. Perhaps she had an ally in Ian’s mother. “I thought you would blame me.”

“Blame you? Heavens, no. You are what my son needs. I only hope he is intelligent enough to acknowledge it.”

He’s certainly intelligent, but he’s not in love.

The woman took her hand. “I heard what you said to Ellie and Olivia. You do have influence. I see the way Ian looks at you. You have the power of persuasion. If you feel strongly about something, I suggest you use that power.”

She wanted to laugh at the notion. Persuade Ian? That would not be as easy as the dowager made it sound. Most distressing, Grace didn’t think he cared enough about her to consider her feelings.