Chapter 21
Alan should have been upset at his sister’s interference, but the bubble of euphoria that surrounded him had yet to pop. Carefully, he helped Grace to her feet.
“I can still see the edge of your dress, Emma, so you might as well come out.”
Gradually Emma peeked around the door frame, her face the picture of contrition. “I’d not meant to interrupt.”
She dabbed at the corner of her eyes with the edge of her handkerchief. How long had she stood there and what had she heard? His chest constricted. He’d meant to speak with Emma about his reactions, to share with her as Hamdon had encouraged, but the moment had never felt right.
Grace, too, retrieved her linen and mopped up the tears that had shimmered on her cheeks. Then another head popped around the other side of the door.
“Prudence! You should be in bed,” Grace scolded.
“My foot doesn’t hurt that much, and I wanted to visit Master George in the nursery.”
A masculine snicker met the pronouncement. How many other observers did they have?
Taking Grace’s hand, he pulled her into the hallway. “Hamdon, Lenning, what are your excuses?”
The two men stood shoulder to shoulder, battling guilty smiles.
“Thought you might want to go for a ride,” Hamdon said.
At his look of disbelief, the two ducked their heads like schoolboys who’d been caught in a falsehood. Glancing down, Alan saw the ruffle of a pink skirt behind their feet.
“And is that why you are hiding Mrs. Lenning behind you?”
Laughter burst from Emma. “No matter what it looks like, I promise it was not planned. Mrs. Lenning saw us all gathered near your door and came to see what the fuss was about.”
“Fuss?” Grace scrunched up her face.
Anthony gestured to the open court area of the house. “You left the door open and the court echoes.”
Alan’s face paled. It was one thing for a man to break down in private, but it was mortifying to know that the whole house had heard his tears.
“Thankfully,” Emma said, casting him what he could only describe as her conspiratorial expression. “The scene we stumbled upon was a happy occasion, not the distressful one we all feared.”
Relief washed through Alan and his grasp on Grace’s hand loosened.
He’d been holding onto it far too tight, like a lifeline he worried would snap with his sister’s words.
Whether or not Emma had heard the bulk of their conversation, he was uncertain, but her expression led him to believe the others had only heard his proposal.
“I suppose it is no secret that I have asked Miss Lenning to be my wife, then.”
His declaration severed strings of restraint and everyone chuckled. The sound echoed, but not in the way Alan had expected. He turned. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons’ heads appeared at the top of the servants’ stairway. He smiled. Apparently there were no secrets in this house.
Congratulations flowed with hugs and happy chatter from the women and good-natured thumps on the back between the men.
Hamdon declared that a cask of champagne should be opened to celebrate, and Mrs. Gibbons declared she knew just the one as she rushed her husband off to prepare the drinks.
They all moved toward the drawing room, but when they reached the bottom of the stairs, Alan reached out and touched Emma’s arm to stop her.
“Can I have a moment of your time before we join the others?”
Grace, true to her nature, didn’t question his need to speak with his sister and moved on with the others as she listened to Prudence’s lively chatter. Emma, however, appraised him in that silent way that let him know she was sizing up the situation before one word could be uttered.
He gestured to the sitting room, and she led the way.
Inside, he took up a seat next to her on the sofa and gathered one of her hands in his.
“You heard it all, didn’t you?”
Emma ducked her head. “Gibbons told me what you were doing, and I came to ask if I could help you in any way. Oh, Alan, I hope you know that Papa was proud of you and he didn’t blame you at all for how things turned out.
And though I cannot speak for the Smiths, I know they don’t hold you responsible for their son’s death.
That blame lays securely with the men who killed him. ”
Alan patted her hand, his gaze unfocused as he took in her words. “I am coming around to it, but it weighs on the mind that I am able to enjoy life and they are not. However, Grace reminded me that they would not want me to squander the days I’ve been blessed to live.”
“She’s a wise woman,” Emma said with a smile.
“Interesting. She said the same of you.”
“I know. I heard.”
Alan chuckled. “And how will you feel finally having a sister?”
Emma cupped her other hand around his. “I think you have chosen well. Her brother is already dear to my husband, and by extension me, so this simply completes our joy.”
“And shall we survive the chaos of growing our families much larger than either of us is used to?”
She laughed. “It will be a nice change from this silent tomb.”
Her eyes took in the room. Engalworth, for all its echoing in the court, had been very still as they’d grown up with only the two of them to fill its halls with laughter.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “There shall be many Christmases together for our children to make us wish again for the silence of past years.”
With a laugh, she rose to her feet. “We should probably join the others. Best not to keep the future groom from his celebrations.”
He could not argue there.
When they entered the court, joyous chatter rang out from the drawing room. It really was a nice change, and he looked forward to many more Christmases spent in the company of family.
“And it’s all thanks to Lady Hamdon,” Mr. Lenning said as they joined everyone in the drawing room.
Grace’s eyes widened as her gaze directly went to him. He narrowed his eyes at her brother. What was Mr. Lenning talking about?
Mr. Lenning continued. “If it hadn’t been for her, we’d not have been here for this incredible union to blossom.”
“She has quite the dab hand at getting her way,” Hamdon said. “I’ve learned it is better not to fight against it. She will bring us all around to her way of thinking sooner or later.”
Alan cast Emma a flat stare.
She smirked and shrugged her shoulders.
Poor Grace. He would have to apologize for his sister’s meddling, but before he could say anything, the room went silent, the others noticing their presence. Guilt covered every face… including Grace’s.
“You knew about this?” He clasped his hands behind his back.
She wrapped her arms about her middle. “Only because Prudence is terrible about eavesdropping and keeping secrets.”
“Hey,” Miss Prudence protested. “At least I didn’t go behind your back like Bradley.”
Grace looked at him, regret in her eyes.
“I’m sorry about my sister,” he said at the same time she said, “I’m sorry about my family.”
“Wait, you’re not angry?” she said, moving to stand in front of him.
“Not unless you are. I know my sister’s abilities to manipulate. She may seem innocent, but that is part of the charm she uses against us.”
Grace’s shoulders relaxed and an amused smile pulled at her lips as he laced his fingers through hers.
Emma grinned and swept away to take her husband’s arm. Lifting a cup from the tray the footman held, she raised it up.
“To the happy couple.”
Alan smiled down at Grace. “To us.”
Grace awoke the next morning worried that her memories were all a beautiful dream and the moment she left her room, everything would return to how it had been before she’d come to Engalworth.
Instead, she found a vase full of hothouse flowers on her dressing table with a note tucked under it.
Dearest Beloved,
My sister has brought to my attention the disservice our current arrangement will bring to you.
Disservice? Grace squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to read the rest. Fear crept in. Lady Hamdon had been on her side. Why would she dissuade him now?
Stop it, Grace, she chided herself. A gentleman wouldn’t open a note with beloved only to crush one’s hopes. Finally, she opened her eyes and forced herself to read the rest.
I know it is not exactly what you’d had planned, but might I give you the season you were promised, and every other one after that?
Yours forever,
A. H.
Air whooshed from her lungs and a giggle escaped her at her own silliness. Of course she didn’t expect Lady Hamdon to provide her with a season. She had all she could have hoped for, and as the wife of a baron she would spend many Parliamentary seasons enjoying the sights and sounds of London.
Gently, she touched the edge of one of the tiny white flowers. She loved lilies of the valley and wondered how far he’d had to ride to find a hothouse that had the springtime flowers in bloom at this season.
Leaning over, she breathed in their sweet scent. Someone knocked at the door and before she could answer, Prudence hobbled into the room.
“I knew you’d like them. You’ve always liked lilies of the valley.”
“I do, but how did His Lordship know?”
Prudence smirked. “I told him, of course. Over dinner last night. You don’t think I was going to let my soon-to-be new brother-in-law make such a dire mistake as bringing you camellias or, heaven forbid, some garish flower like a tulip, did you? No, I thought I’d start him out right.”
In all the years she’d shared a room with Prudence, she’d not realized her sister’s considerate nature ran so deep. To know her favorite flower and relay it to Alan was a small thing others might consider frivolous, but it meant the world to her.
She pulled Prudence into her arms and hugged her tight. “You know, you are perhaps the best Prudence I have ever known.”
Prudence wriggled out of her grasp with a laugh. “I’m the only Prudence you know, Grace.” Then she sobered. “I’m going to miss having you at Fallow Hall.”
“Yes, but you will finally have your own room.”
The excitement she’d expected from her sister didn’t materialize. Instead, Prudence flopped herself down on the edge of Grace’s bed and began picking at her fingernails.