Chapter 2
Grace covertly rolled her eyes as her younger sister flung herself onto the bed, splaying herself over half the clothes Grace had laid out to be packed.
“Can you believe it?” Prudence sighed. “A whole fortnight in a baron’s home. I must be the luckiest girl in the whole world to be able to celebrate Christmas and my birthday in such luxury.”
A begrudging smile creased Grace’s lips.
They were exceedingly lucky—or blessed. She liked to think it was the latter.
One year ago, they’d been facing utter ruin and now she’d be taking a London season.
It seemed too fantastical to be mere coincidence.
And to spend two whole weeks with Lord Gladsby… she sighed.
Prudence echoed her sigh loudly. “I concur.”
“With what?”
“Don’t pretend innocence. I know you find Lord Gladsby as dreamy as the rest of the female population, with those snowy blue eyes and that firm square jaw. And those shoulders.”
“Prudence.”
“What? At least I wasn’t mentioning how well his britches fit.”
“Prudence!” Grace put her hands to her cheeks, absolutely certain they’d turned scarlet. She would have put more into scolding her sister if she’d not had the same thought the last time he’d visited.
She’d never admit as much to Pru, though. It would only encourage her.
At nearly seventeen, Prudence was anything but wise and judicious.
Oh, she had mellowed a bit over this last year.
The loss of their oldest brother and the rumors that had followed certainly had a quailing effect on Prudence’s exuberance, but only in public.
In private, she was still as impetuous as ever.
How would she behave at a house party? This would be a first for both of them.
It was a good thing Lord Gladsby was used to Prudence’s antics or Grace would have begged her mother to take her to their older sister’s home.
Then again, Joyce would not appreciate Prudence whipping her small brood into a frenzy every day.
Joyce needed her rest if she was to bring her next little one safely into the world.
The loss of Joyce’s last pregnancy still weighed heavily on all their hearts.
When word had come that she’d taken to her bed with this little one, their mother had not hesitated to go.
Grace had offered as well, but her mother had refused, reminding her that kindnesses like Lord and Lady Hamdon had offered should never be turned down.
Anthony—she supposed she should call him Lord Hamdon now that they were grown, but the habit had never died—would surely have given his wife fair warning, wouldn’t he? Hopefully his wife would be as forgiving of Prudence’s exuberance as Lord Gladsby.
“Your eyes are getting that far off look again, Grace. You’re not thinking about a certain man’s dashing figure and golden curls, are you?”
Grace picked up the nearest pair of rolled up stockings and threw them at her sister. Prudence rolled over and hopped to her feet, giggling. The stockings landed harmlessly on the bed.
“What about the almost dimple in his cheek?”
Grace snatched up the pair of stockings again.
“And that little cleft in his chin.” Prudence danced out of the way as the stockings sailed past her.
“And—oof!”
Grace grinned when the second pair of stockings she launched made contact with Prudence’s mouth. Her sister held the comically stunned look so long that Grace burst into laughter.
“Good aim,” Prudence said between her own peals of laughter.
There was a light rap on the door before a white-blonde head popped in.
“I thought you were retiring early to pack,” their sister-in-law Diana said.
“That is what I’m doing.” Grace indicated the clothes spread on the bed.
Diana eyed the stockings on the floor and Prudence’s faux look of innocence.
“At least I was,” Grace amended, “until Pru distracted me.”
“Not I.” Prudence placed a hand on her chest with a dramatic flourish. “It was all your talk of Lord Gladsby that was the true culprit.”
“My talk?” Grace picked up another pair of stockings and flung it at her. Prudence caught it and tossed it right back.
“Yes.” Diana giggled. “I see you are making great progress. But perhaps you could aim those stockings in that direction.” She pointed to the open trunks behind Grace.
Prudence danced about the bed until she stood on the other side of the trunks. “Grace just doesn’t want to confess she’s half in love with the baron.”
Heat filled Grace’s cheeks. Out of stockings, she snatched a slipper. “Or you are. You are the one that can’t stop talking about him.”
She let the slipper fly.
With a deft hand, Prudence batted it right into the trunk. “You are right, Di. The packing does go faster this way.”
They all laughed.
Diana’s abigail peeked in the open door, a question in her eyes.
“Yes, Pratt?” Diana asked.
“I’m done with your trunks and I was wonderin’ if I might be needed in here?”
“I believe so,” Diana said with a smirk. “I’m afraid if we leave it up to these two, it will take all night and all they will have packed is stockings and giggles.”
Grace snickered. Her sister-in-law was not wrong. She could maintain decorum in public, but in the privacy of their own room, Pru always brought out her silly side.
Pratt set to folding gowns and petticoats.
Diana placed a hand on Grace’s elbow. “Now that this is being taken care of properly, Bradley and I wished to speak to you in his study.”
“Oh?”
Prudence stepped around the trunk, concern on her face. “Just Grace?”
Grace cast her a sympathetic look. Ever since the events of last year, her sister had been adamant on not being left out of family discussions.
She could not blame her. It had hurt Prudence terribly to learn of their eldest brother’s indiscretions through rumors instead of from her own family.
They’d all thought to save her from that pain after his death, but in the end, it had caused far worse damage.
“You may come too, Prudence. If it is alright with Grace, that is. It is information for her after all.”
Pru’s shoulders relaxed. “I shouldn’t want to intrude.”
Grace glanced at Diana, but her face gave no indication of what they’d be discussing.
While having Prudence along was sometimes a comfort, other times it was a drain.
They spent so much time together already, especially after their oldest brother’s widow had moved out, taking her two daughters with her.
“I—”
“Actually, I think I should stay and pack.” Prudence rushed to their shared closet and flung it open.
Grace watched for a moment as her sister haphazardly threw gowns onto her bed. Had she somehow read her thoughts?
“Shall we then?” Diana said, pressing on her elbow.
Grace nodded and let her sister-in-law lead the way to the study.
Candles flickered in the room along with the cheery fire that filled the hearth. Bradley sat behind the desk, quill in hand. When they stepped in, he looked up, his eyes instinctually going to Diana first.
Grace smiled. After a year of marriage, her brother was still smitten with his wife.
The look that passed between them filled her heart.
It was equal parts love and camaraderie.
Their relationship was everything she’d ever dreamed of.
They talked, laughed, and probably even cried together.
Her brother even included his wife in major decisions, which, by the serious expression he was casting Grace’s way, was probably why Diana was here for this discussion.
He rose to his feet. “Please have a seat.” He indicated the chair across from his desk. Another chair had been placed at the side of his desk for Diana. She took up her spot and waited for Grace to sit.
Bradley retook his seat and rearranged some papers on his desk. “I know you are busy getting ready for our departure tomorrow, so I’ll keep this brief. Do you recall the amount Father set aside for your dowry?”
Her dowry? She didn’t think she had one anymore. After their brother Reginald’s misuse of estate funds, she’d assumed it was lost. “I… er… Father had set aside three hundred pounds, but…” She glanced between Bradley and Diana.
Diana smiled encouragingly.
“I thought it was used up to pay Reggie’s gambling debts.”
Bradley tapped the papers before him with a finger. “Not according to this. Father had yours and Prudence’s dowries along with Mother’s jointure separated from Fallow Hall finances as per the wedding contract.”
Grace sucked in a breath, excitement bubbling up like a water fountain.
“What’s more,” Bradley continued, “Diana and I have decided to use a portion of the payment from Lord Brock to increase your dowry to five hundred pounds.”
Her eyes widened. It was not as much as some to be sure, but for someone of her station it was more than she’d hoped. “Are you certain? What of your own children?”
Diana blushed brightly.
Grace fidgeted in her seat. She’d not meant to embarrass her sister-in-law.
Bradley chuckled. “I’m sure by the time that blessed event happens we’ll have plenty to provide for them, that is, if we ever have a daughter.”
“Forgive me. I should never have—”
He held up his hand. “No. It is a legitimate concern, but I promise you we would not make this offer if we didn’t feel we could. With Anthony taking on the cost of your season, it is only right that the amount we’d planned for such an occasion be given to you.”
“You had planned on giving me a season.” She remained wide eyed. It was both gratifying that they should think of her, and terrifying that they would consider such an expense after the financial struggle they’d just barely recovered from. “But why? Father never spoke of us going to London.”
“Not to you, but it was always his hope. After he died, Mother confided in Reginald and me her fears for your future. And while Reggie did not take her words to heart, I have every intention of making sure I fulfill at least one of Mother and Father’s dreams.”
Tears pricked at Grace’s eyes. Bradley was too good. “Thank you.”
He came around the desk and pulled her to her feet. “You are welcome, Grace. And thank you for holding this family together when the world was falling apart around us. If it were not for your steady presence last fall, I do not know where we all would be—especially Mother and Prudence.”
She’d not done all that much. In fact, she was certain she should have done more. If she’d been with Prudence when their neighbor had told her those horrible rumors, or if she’d noticed how often her mother retreated to her room, maybe they would not have suffered so much.
Slowly, she shook her head, but Bradley squeezed her hands, stopping the motion.
“Do not discount yourself,” he said. “I know from experience that we both tend toward self-deprecation, but you really have been a great help. You’ve sacrificed your time and your own happiness to tend to our family.
But now it is your turn, Grace. I want you to enjoy this season.
At the very least, enjoy the time you will get to have your own room. ”
She smirked. “It will be nice not to have Pru prattling in my ear for hours on end as I try to sleep.”
“I heard that,” Prudence said from somewhere outside the study.
They all laughed.
Diana dropped her words to a whisper. “She will miss your company. As will we all. But like Bradley said, we want you to dance and be merry, and maybe at the end you can bring home a handsome gentleman for an introduction.”
A slow smile spread across her brother’s face. “Or just convince one we already know to take the leap.”
Something flashed between Diana and Bradley that appeared far too conspiratorial. Grace looked away, pretending she did not understand who they were speaking of, but knowing just the same. And here she’d thought she’d been subtle with her regard for Lord Gladsby.
It did not matter. He was not likely to offer for a nobody like her when he could have a titled lady.
Nobility married nobility. Unless, of course, a girl had a large fortune like the Countess of Penbrose.
Then again, she could not see her brother’s friend, Lord Penbrose—Nicholas to all of them—caring much about money. It was not in his nature.
What of Lord Gladsby? Did he care about titles and money?
Grace supposed she had two weeks to find out.