Page 19 of Discovering Grace

“Ah, Miss Everly has come after all.”

Jacob glanced at Miss Hannah Keyes, one of the neighborhood flirts, standing at his side. She posed no threat to him, thankfully. Miss Keyes kept her sights set on much higher marks than a vicar. “Is that a surprise, Miss Keyes?” he asked, his stance remaining relaxed.

“Lady Olivia is in the very next room,” Miss Keyes reminded him, nodding to the open doorway where conversation was more the thing than cards. “I should think even the brazen Miss Everly might be more sensitive to the fact that she nearly killed someone not even a week past.”

“Are people to be punished for accidents?” Jacob asked, trying to sound curious rather than offended by the idea. Inwardly, he repeated verses in Ephesians. Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love. Miss Keyes often brought out impatience in him. “It was my understanding that Lord Neil and Lady Olivia were also racing their phaeton.”

The blonde beauty arched her delicate eyebrows at him and flicked open her fan. “I should have known better than to offer criticism of an Everly to you, Mr. Barnes. Everyone knows you are fairly wrapped up in their ribbons.” A false, airy laugh floated from her while Jacob fought down the urge to answer her remark with a flippant word of his own.

“I have always been a friend to that family,” he answered as mildly as possible. “Though I believe I would defend all my neighbors from undue censure, Miss Keyes.”

“I am certain you would.” She gave her fan another outward flick, the smirk never leaving her lips. “But one does wonder, at least when it comes to the Everly set, which young lady it is you favor. After all, they cannot go on sharing everything, can they?” She tossed her head and floated away, her graceful movements reminding him more of a slithering snake than anything else. She had been such a pleasant child but turned into one of the most conniving women of his acquaintance as she grew into womanhood.

Jacob’s irritation made it difficult to remain standing still in the corner. He drifted around the edge of the room, conversing with neighbors, and trying to ignore Grace. The feat proved impossible, as no matter where he stood he remained aware of her and the knot of people around her.

Mindful that he could not avoid her forever, especially since everyone knew of his friendship with Hope and Grace, Jacob finally made his way to her side.

“Really, Miss Everly, you are not at all yourself this evening. I expected you would be as amused as I at the very idea of a boat race.” Miss Johnson, a young woman who kept company more often with Hannah Keyes than the Everlys, peered at Grace strangely.

Perhaps he ought to intervene. Grace’s cheeks had turned pale and she lowered her eyes in a most self-conscious and un-Hope-like manner.

“Oh, la. Perhaps we have reason to rejoice.” Lady Olivia appeared and the gaggle of ladies around Grace parted, giving the earl’s daughter a clear view of Grace.

Jacob moved around the women, coming to stand directly behind Grace. She turned her head enough that he knew she had seen him. Good. Then she knew she did not stand alone under whatever onslaught Lady Olivia had prepared.

“Whatever do you mean, Lady Olivia?” Miss Johnson asked, her eyes comically round.

Lady Olivia, dressed in greens and golds, looked like a strutting peacock when she lifted her chin. “I only meant that it would be a fortunate thing if Miss Everly gives up her fondness for racing. My poor brother remains at home this evening, nursing his wounds from the last time Miss Everly took up her favorite sport.”

From where Jacob stood, he saw the back of Grace’s neck turn red, along with the tips of her ears. Always, she suffered for Hope’s decisions, whether it was the race itself or being held to account for something her sister had done.

He stepped forward, putting his hand on Grace’s elbow. “I am certain Lord Neil is grateful that he took the brunt of the punishment that day.” Jacob somehow managed to sound admiring rather than annoyed. “He would not have wanted any of you ladies injured in such a folly as a pony and cart race. I hear he bears it most bravely.” He had not heard any such thing and, if he knew Lord Neil at all, the man likely complained of his broken arm to anyone within hearing distance. “Now you ladies must permit me to steal Miss Everly away. She has promised to be my card partner this evening.”

Lady Olivia’s smug smirk had turned into a frown, doubtless sensing an insult to her brother though none had actually been made. Grace’s hand slid onto Jacob’s arm, and he immediately forgot about the other women present.

All that mattered was seeing to Grace.

After he led her away, and into the card room, he bent close to her ear. “I did not think you would come out in society.”

“Papa thought I had been punished suitably and rather insisted upon it.” She barely raised her voice enough to be heard. “Jacob, what am I going to do?” she asked, her tone plaintive even if her expression was calm.

Though he had no wish to help in her ruse, Jacob could not bear to see Grace in such distress. Thankfully, an alternative to helping her lie existed. The Greenfield cousins did not know Hope or Grace. “Come with me.”

The cousins visiting, Eugene and Jemima Standish, were a married couple about Jacob’s age. And they stood near an unoccupied card table.

Grace came with him, her expression most serious and then relieved when they stood before the strangers.

“Mr. Standish, Mrs. Standish, I should like to introduce my friend to you. This is Miss Everly.” That would be Grace’s title honestly enough in the absence of her elder sister.

“How do you do,” Grace murmured with her curtsy.

“Very well, indeed,” Mrs. Standish answered. “Everyone has been so friendly this evening. I do so love parties.”

“And being the guests of honor is always satisfying,” her husband added with a teasing glance to his wife. “Tell me, Miss Everly, what do you think of living so near the sea? I am convinced it must make life much more pleasing than living in the center of a crowded city.”

They exchanged thoughts on conditions in London against Aldersy’s quieter ways, and Grace relaxed beside Jacob. The tension left her face, the blush faded, and the hand upon his loosened its grip. As they stood next to the empty table, the conversation naturally turned to playing a game of Whist together.

Jacob helped Grace into her seat, then moved across from her. She and Mrs. Standish conversed with ease, even after they each had a handful of cards to see to. Grace naturally fell into her own habits, quieter and more contemplative than Hope might be, and more willing to listen to the stories of others than tell her own.