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“And more,” Patience added.
And then the click of the door handle caught Grace’s ears and her gaze shot to her brother’s threshold.
A moment later, the door opened and Braden stood in the doorway. “Grace,” he said, “join us, please.”
She gulped as Patience squeezed her arm in sisterly support. Then Grace started toward her oldest brother who looked rather tired. He moved out of her way for her to enter the study and then said to their sisters, “There’s no reason for the two of you to stand guard.”
“There is every reason in the world,” Hope returned. “And if we hear yelling, we’re coming in there, Braden.”
He blew out a breath. “Lady Kilworth, do go find your husband and tell him to occupy you until you’re summoned.” Then he closed the door before Hope or Patience could say anything further.
Upon her entrance into the study, Oliver and Quent pushed out of their seats, but she only had eyes for Oliver. He didn’t look worse for the wear. If either of her brothers had used him as a punch bag, bruising wasn’t yet evident. His blue eyes twinkled slightly when he met her gaze, and she couldn’t help but smile. “They haven’t killed you, I see.”
A soft laugh escaped him. “Not yet, love.”
Quent gestured to his open seat for Grace. She dropped into the spot, as Oliver returned to his, and Braden rounded his desk and reclaimed his seat as well.
“Prestwood vows that you love him, Grace,” her oldest brother began. “I’ve only ever seen animosity from you to him, so I’d like to hear it from your own lips.”
“I do love him.” Grace bit her bottom lip. “But I have been awful to him, you’re right.”
“You did an amazing job of convincing me you hated him,” Quent muttered.
But Quent was easy to fool. He took everything at face value and so did Braden for the most part.
“There may be a bit of scandal if Lacy decides to punish you.” Braden sighed. “We’d like to minimize that for Veronica’s sake.”
Grace could understand that and she nodded. “But you will let Oliver marry me?” she asked because she needed to hear the words. And then whatever she needed to do to make things right for Veronica and even Daniel Lacy, she would do so.
“As it happens, Quent has been in possession of a special license since his visit to Danby Castle.”
Had he really? Grace shifted in her seat to look up at her more jovial brother. Quent acknowledged the fact with a nod. “His Grace thought you might have use for it.”
“You didn’t think to mention that when Mr. Lacy proposed?” she asked.
Quent shrugged. “You wanted a traditional wedding. I didn’t think you’d need it.”
“Anyway,” Braden broken in, “we think it would be best for you and Oliver to marry in the morning at the parish church in Prestwood.”
“I’d like for Ginny to be there,” Oliver added.
Which made the parish church in Prestwood make all the sense in the world. Grace agreed with a nod.
“After Downe has left, of course,” Quent tossed in. “No reason to rub salt in the man’s wounds.”
No of course not. If Grace had any idea what to say to Daniel’s uncle, she’d say it. But it was probably best just to stay out of sight until after his family had departed for Kent.
“Then you’ll remain in Buckinghamshire next season,” Braden continued. “Perhaps the season after that too. However long it takes Veronica to make a match of her own.”
Stuck in Buckinghamshire for the foreseeable future? As long as Oliver was with her, Grace would agree to anything. “That sounds reasonable.”
“Nothing about this entire situation has been reasonable,” Braden muttered.
Oliver slid forward in his seat. “As I’ve agreed to all of your terms and Grace has agreed to remain at Prestwood Place, and all of this is behind us, might I have a moment alone with my betrothed?”
Quent scoffed.
Braden shook his head. “Tomorrow you can have as many moments alone with her as you’d like. For now, we’ll maintain proper decorum.”
