Page 54 of The Trouble with a Dare

“Where is she?” Sterling demanded, breathless from having run out of the house like a madman and panicked by wondering what on earth would keep her here. If his blasted mother had upset her….

“Sterling?”

The soft sound of her voice had him looking up to see Grace making her way down the stairs. Relief surged through him with such force he felt giddy with it.

“Thank God,” he said, letting out a shaky breath.

“What? Did you think I’d knocked her on the head and buried her in the garden?” his mother said darkly.

Sterling glared at her. “No, but you cannot expect me to think you welcomed her with open arms.” He stepped inside the cottage and held his hand out to Grace, relieved when she placed hers in his as she came down the last steps. “Are you well, love? Why are you here?”

“I was having tea with Martha, and I came over a little giddy, that’s all,” she said, sending his mother a glance he could not read. “She kindly let me take a nap on her bed.”

Sterling looked between them sceptically, quite certain there was more than that to the story. “She gave you tea?”

“Yes, and I made scones,” Grace said, smiling at him. “They are not as nice as hers, but apparently a good effort.”

“Your jam was better,” his mother said, putting up her chin. “Fair’s fair.”

Grace smiled at her. “It was good of you to say so. Thank you so much for tea, and I am sorry for—”

“Least said soonest mended,” his mother said briskly.

Sterling watched this exchange in consternation, for his mother seemed as prickly as ever, but Grace seemed quite at home.

“May I call on you again?” Grace asked.

His mother shrugged and folded her arms. “I can’t stop you.”

“Excellent. Thank you for coming to walk me home, Sterling,” Grace said, turning to him and then frowning. “But where is your coat? Why did you come out in your shirt sleeves? You’ll catch a chill.”

Sterling sighed, realising they would not grant him an explanation and so he may as well save his breath. “I’m fine, love. Come along, or we’ll be late for dinner.”

Grace nodded and hurriedly donned her bonnet and cloak. “See you soon, Martha.”

“Grace.”

Sterling gave his mother a keen look but held his tongue. “Good night, Mother.”

His mother nodded and closed the door behind them.

Chapter 18

To my dearest sister, Elspeth,

Good heavens, an invitation for a Christmas house party! Are you feeling quite well, darling? Surely you cannot be in your right mind, inviting your family to such a dreadful den of iniquity? For I hear that the wicked baron will still be in residence and surely you cannot sully my pristine reputation by allowing me under the same roof with such a vile libertine? I may swoon. Indeed, I have been hearing such dreadful things about the rogue I am all a-flutter at the thought of meeting him. Especially as you have worked so hard to keep me from doing so.

Be still, my beating heart.

What on earth have you done to the poor man that you now believe him to be safe company for an innocent virgin? Did you make him wear a hair shirt? Did you force him to memorise the bible from Genesis to Revelations, or repent his sins in a manner so vile he dares not suffer a relapse? How can you be certain your house guest will not return to his licentious ways and debauch your sweet, innocent little sister under her loving mama’s very nose? What a vast responsibility you set yourself.

I am in a fever of anticipation and cannot wait for Christmas to arrive.

―Excerpt of a letter from Miss Greer Cadogan to her twin sister Elspeth Kelburn, the Right Hon’ble Vicomtesse Roxborough (daughters of Bonnie and Jerome Cadogan).

24th of December 1839, Thistley House Farm, Sussex.

Grace walked about Thistley House, gazing around her with pleasure. Sterling had collected an enormous amount of holly, ivy, rosemary, and hawthorn, and she and Mrs Gladwish and the maids had fashioned it into large swags. The biggest adorned the huge fireplace lintel in the family parlour and was studded with holly berries, Christmas roses, apples and nuts and red velvet ribbons. There were more twined about the staircase and on windowsills.