Chapter 3
The next day, Edward received a scribbled note from Grace stating Winifred was ready to see him.
He wasted no time and headed directly to the main house.
When he arrived, he learned Grace was not in residence.
He didn’t know if that was true, or if she was simply trying to avoid him.
He suspected it was the latter, but why?
He longed for the days before life had become so complicated.
He was immediately shown to Winifred’s room, but when he got to her door, he stood outside for a couple minutes. After Grace’s explanation of what Winifred had been through, he knew he needed patience, to not judge or lose his temper, and most of all, to offer caring and understanding.
Knocking softly, he entered his cousin’s room.
“I didn’t think you’d want to see me after you learned what I did,” Winifred said in a somewhat hesitant tone.
Hazy afternoon sunlight streamed into the room, highlighting her golden locks. She looked so young, but at the same time, there was a maturity about her that he’d never noticed before. Was that because she was with child?
“Now why wouldn’t I want to see my favorite cousin?” he teased.
Her features relaxed as she let out a giggle. “You better not let my sister know I’m your favorite.”
Edward chuckled. “Truth be told, you’re both my favorites.”
“I can live with that,” Winifred said with a smile.
Edward sat on the edge of the bed, unsure of what he should say at first. This was more difficult than he’d thought it would be. Ask how she is. “How are you feeling today?”
“Better, now that you’re here, but...” She worried her hands. “I’m scared, Edward.” Tears started flowing down her cheeks.
He brought her within the folds of an embrace. “Shh, you have nothing to fear. You are not alone.”
She pulled back and wiped her cheek with her hand. “Thank you,” she sniffled. “I’m sorry I made such a mess of things and didn’t come to you.”
“We can’t change the past, but we can discuss the future.” He edged back. “What happened?”
“I fell in love, or I thought I did.” Winifred was silent for a couple of seconds, then she said, “No, I know I did, but then Samuel left without so much as a word.”
“The lad who worked in the stables?” Recollections of the earlier conversation with his aunt came rushing to the forefront of his mind.
“Yes. Samuel Phelps. Oh, but he was brilliant with the horses.” Her face lit up as she talked about her love.
“It was quite astonishing how well Apple Blossom responded to him. She was always such a fussy horse. He taught me so much about how to handle her properly. He wanted to own his own stable one day.” She sighed.
“I had hoped we could make that dream a reality together, but…”
Edward could hear the love his cousin still held for this young man in her voice. He couldn’t help but wonder if the only reason Phelps had disappeared was because of his aunt.
“And do you know where he could be?”
She shook her head. “It’s possible he returned to where his family lived in Sussex, but I wouldn’t know how to find him short of calling out his name in the street or across the countryside.”
Edward wanted to speak to Phelps. If he indeed loved Winifred, and had only left Tavistock Hall because of his aunt, as he suspected Samuel had, then he would ensure that the pair could be together. He’d lost his love because he’d not taken action, and he would not let the same happen to Winifred.
He rose, then kissed her forehead. “I’ll return shortly.” He wasn’t about to tell her what he was planning to do—that would only break her heart if his suspicions were incorrect. “I need to speak with Mrs. Banks.”
“Thank you, Edward.” She offered a sweet smile as she pulled the covers up over her stomach.
He would set this to rights, one way or another. The first step was to talk to Grace.
Once he’d left Winifred’s room, he started down the stairs, intent on searching Grace out. No sooner had he begun his quest than he heard several ladies chattering about Christmas preparations in the parlor.
He strolled into the room. “Excuse me, I hope I’m not intruding.” He looked to the women in attendance. “Could I have a word with Mrs. Banks? I wish to discuss my cousin.” Truth be told, he wanted to discuss more than just Winifred.
Grace turned to him, then quickly turned back to the ladies present, as if she was unsure she wanted to be alone with him. She swallowed hard. “Ladies, could you please give us a moment?”
One of the women—Mrs. Kirkby, he believed her name was—cast a glance his way, then smiled slightly before she took her leave. He would have to remember to speak to her as he suspected she could be an ally in winning Grace back.
Once they were alone, he started to move closer toward Grace, but she shot him a harsh glare that warned him to keep his distance. He was going to play this game for now, but soon, very soon, he would turn the trick.
“I want to thank you for looking after Winifred. She explained the situation and praised you and the staff for caring for her this past month.”
“It’s what the Home was created for.” Grace shrugged her shoulder as she gazed off into the distance.
It was another subject, but now was as good a time as any to start receiving answers. “Why did Lady Kenwreck offer you a position here?”
Her eyes snapped to meet his, her incredulous gaze boring into him. Her words were cautious and sober. “I had limited choices: to live the rest of my life with my brother, or accept Lady Kenwreck’s generous offer. Now, I have a life filled with purpose.”
Anger flared. “And I couldn’t provide that?” He shook his head and softened his words, practically begging for an answer. “Why didn’t you wait for me?” He still could not fathom why her affections had changed.
“Wait for what?” Her voice trembled with restrained emotion. “You left, sent one letter, and then less than two months later rumors began to circulate that you were set to marry a Miss Bisbrown before the year’s end.”
“They were just that! Rumors! Did you honestly believe that after what we’d shared…
?” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
He knew Grace, knew that she would accept nothing less than the truth.
“Miss Bisbrown was my late cousin’s fiancée, and her father wanted me to honor the arrangement.
” He looked her directly in the eye. “But I refused.”
Tears pooled in the corner of her eyes at his declaration, but her stance remained rigid.
He continued to explain. “As one might expect, Mr. Bisbrown was none too pleased with my decision. Believing I would not dishonor his daughter, he spread rumors of a pending engagement in Town. Unfortunately, as I was in mourning at Tavistock Hall with my aunt and two young cousins, I did not learn of his deceit for several months, not until Miss Bisbrown wrote to me, explaining what her father had done, after which she declared her love for some baron in Scotland.”
“Damn you!” Grace yelled, shocking his senses. Her harsh gaze bore into him. “You could have written… something to let me know...” She shot to her feet and paced the room, muttering under her breath.
“By the time I learned the truth, you had married Banks.” He moved toward her.
“I wanted to go to you, discover why you’d made a hasty match.
Instead, I met with your brother and he informed me that you were happily settled in Plymtree, and that settled that.
” How was he to make her understand the sequence of events that changed his—no, both of their lives?
“Grace,” he ventured with caution, “all I ever cared about was your happiness.”
In one swift movement, she turned to the side table, picked up a small empty vase and threw it at the wall, sending it shattering into dozens of pieces. “Damn you!” she cried again into her hands.
He edged toward her. “I know you’re upset but—”
“You have no idea what I have suffered!”
“Because you won’t tell me,” he reminded her.
“I don’t want to discuss this anymore.” She started to move past him, but he blocked her path.
“Grace—”
She shot him a glance that went directly to his heart, jabbing it with its fierce intensity. “Your cousin is welcome to stay here,” she said, implying that he was not. “Good day, Your Grace,” she said on a shaky breath, then hurried from the room.
“Damn,” he muttered under his breath. What was she hiding?
“What do you mean, he’s gone?” Confusion twisted through Grace’s thoughts. It was true she hadn’t been very welcoming but… “Did he say if or when he was returning?”
“No, Mrs. Banks,” Mrs. Elkins started, “Mr. Elkins said that His Grace packed a traveling valise and left the Dower House with no further instructions.”
He was gone, once again.
Since the day he’d left her nearly three years ago, she’d dreaded seeing him again. Now that she had, she could get on with the rest of her life. So why then didn’t she feel relief?
Because you’re still in love with him.
Because you haven’t made peace with the past.
Because… Edward does not know the truth.
A sharp pang pierced her heart. Ever since he’d revealed how the rumors about his supposed engagement to Miss Bisbrown had started, she’d been out of sorts and full of regrets. Edward wasn’t the villain she’d believed him to be. He’d been a pawn in Mr. Bisbrown’s title hunting scheme.
After marrying Tobias, she’d been isolated from all that she’d known and completely disconnected from the ton.
It wasn’t until after Tobias’ death, when she’d moved to her brother and sister-in-law’s home, that she’d learned that Edward hadn’t married after all.
She’d never discovered the reason why, and by then…
it was too late. She’d been such a fool and doubted their love.
There were too many what ifs and if onlys.