Chapter 5 #2
Their eyes met, and all sound and movement around them halted.
Her smile was hesitant at first, but then her eyes softened, and her smile grew.
He wondered what she was thinking about.
This was not the time to give her the small present he had brought for her, but he hoped before the evening was done, he’d have a quiet moment alone with her.
Once dinner was announced, everyone casually made their way to the dining room.
There was no parade or pomp, and once inside, the seating arrangement was not by rank or status.
Although the atmosphere was relaxed, the table was anything but.
Grace had clearly seen to every detail, right down to the last silky red bow placed at the top of each plate.
Edward was seated next to his cousin, at the opposite end from Grace. Despite the distance, he didn’t mind. In fact, he was very much enjoying the evening, surrounded by excellent company and good food.
“How long do you plan to be visiting with us?” Miss Wallace asked with keen interest. Mrs. Elkins had warned him about this one. She had her heart set on a man with a title, which was precisely how she’d ended up in trouble in the first place.
“As long as my cousin wants me near,” Edward responded with guarded caution, then took a sip of wine.
Although he’d said his cousin, he was really referring to Grace.
And in all honesty, even if she didn’t want him nearby, he wasn’t prepared to leave.
A few kisses did not calm the torrent of love and desire he felt for her.
Based on her response, he was fairly certain that she felt the same.
But every time they were able to talk, she seemed to erect a wall. Why wouldn’t she—
“That’s so sweet, Edward,” Winifred responded, breaking through his contemplations. “Of course, I would never send you away.”
Edward could feel Grace’s eyes on him, warming him, and it had nothing to do with the wine.
Not for the first time that evening, he wished he knew what she was thinking.
How could he steal a moment alone with her?
Since there were few men present, it wouldn’t be an easy feat to sneak out when all adjourned to the parlor for the evening’s entertainment. There must be some way.
By the time the Christmas pudding with brandy butter was served, he was no closer to a plan of action. He would just have to wait for the opportunity to present itself.
Once dinner was finished, everyone headed to the parlor as expected.
“I’m so glad you decided to join us for Christmas dinner, Your Grace,” Miss Wallace said in a sweet voice.
“Family is most important.”
“Oh, yes, I agree. If I were part of your family, I would never want to be far from you.” Miss Wallace’s shameless flirting was growing tedious. Mrs. Elkins was quite right to warn him about her.
Once inside the richly decorated room, Edward practically dashed to the opposite side, where his cousin was already sitting.
“What would you like to hear first?” Miss Casborne—who had volunteered to play the pianoforte—asked.
“Here We Come a-Wassailing!” Winifred called with delight. “It’s one of my favorites.” She turned to Phelps, who was seated beside her. “I used to sing it quite a bit when I was a child.”
“By quite a bit, do you mean the entire year?” Edward teased. Her mouth formed a large “O” in protest, but he added, “And I wouldn’t have had it any other way, my dear cousin.”
Winifred’s smile seemed to brighten the room.
“Then, I look forward to hearing you sing Christmas carols all year, my dear,” Phelps said with tenderness.
“That is sweet,” Miss Casborne started, “Then, Here We Come a-Wassailing will be the first song.”
As everyone gathered around the pianoforte and harp, Edward stepped toward the back of the room, near to where Grace was standing. It wasn’t the first time he’d noticed that she took a spot at the rear of the merriment.
“Thank you for inviting me to attend Christmas dinner.”
A slight giggle escaped her lips, but she kept her gaze focused on the instruments. They both knew he’d invited himself, but she’d been gracious just the same. “It is our pleasure, Your Grace.”
Your Grace. He inwardly sighed. Why was she back to such formalities?
A silent hush whispered across the room as the first chords of the carol began. As the music grew louder, so did the singing. Before too long, all—well, almost all—were caroling loudly with glee.
“Why are you back here instead of singing with the others?”
She chuckled loudly. “Clearly you do not remember how ill I sing.”
“I suppose not, but I do remember other things that you do quite well,” he whispered for her ears only.
She turned quickly, her gaze meeting his. The rise and fall of her chest was most delectable. “Your Grace—”
“Edward,” he reminded her as he moved closer. “Meet me in the hall.” And then he strolled from the room, hoping she would follow. He would not press her for answers about the past—well, not tonight, anyway—he would simply uphold a promise and then let Fate step in.
He waited in the main hall near a display of red roses and winter greenery intertwined with silver ribbon. The many candles illuminating the space created an ethereal quality that was perfect for two people rekindling their love.
He turned around at the soft sounds of footsteps. Grace. He’d only left her side a few moments ago, and yet it felt as if it had been a year. Three years, to be exact.
She didn’t say anything, but cautiously went to his side.
“Thank you for meeting me.” He fought every urge not to declare his unending love, to pull her into his arms and kiss her, to whisk her away. “There is something I wanted to give you.” Before she could protest, he pulled the item from his pocket and revealed it in the palm of his hand.
“Your grandmother’s cameo,” she whispered as she studied the small oval brooch. Tears filled her deep brown eyes.
“She wanted you to have it.” He paused for a moment, then added, “I want you to have it.”
It was because of his grandmother that he and Grace had even met.
As a young lad, he’d often explore his grandparents’ estate, and he remembered the first day he saw Grace as if it were yesterday.
It had been a beautiful spring day, perfect for bird watching, climbing trees, and rescuing beautiful damsels in distress.
“What are you doing in that tree?” He’d called up to the young girl.
She looked down at him, her sweet brown eyes holding a hint of fear, but her determined chin also spoke of courage, and perhaps a little stubbornness.
“Would you like some assistance?”
Her arms tightened around the branch as she nodded her head.
He’d climbed up, and then instructed her how to descend, branch by branch, until they reached the bottom.
Only once safely on the ground did she speak. “Thank you for helping me. My brother thought it was funny to dare me to climb the tree, and then to dash off once I got too high up.”
“It was no trouble.” He was about to ask her name, but she offered a wide, nervous smile then ran away.
When he returned to the house, he told his grandmother all about the young lady—of no more than ten or eleven years—he’d encountered. Grandmamma knew instantly it was Miss Grace Conway. She’d arranged for Lady Conway, along with Grace and her brother, to pay them a visit the following day.
It was one of the happiest summers of his life.
Edward, Grace, and Conway went on expeditions, built a fort, and had leisurely picnics in the meadow.
They even taught Grace to fish. Every year, he looked forward to spending the summer with his grandparents and visiting his friends.
And then one year, something changed between himself and Grace, and their friendship turned to love.
When his grandparents died within a short span of each other, it was Grace who helped him through his grief.
Her soft words brought him back to Christmas present. “I…I don’t know what to say.” She took the cameo, then looked at him. “You have no idea what this means to me. Thank you.” She reached up and brushed a kiss across his cheek, startling them both.
“You’re most welcome.”
For the first time since his arrival, he had true hope.
Christmastide turned out to be better than Grace had ever dreamed. The abundance of tinsel, holly, and other greenery seemed to bring the house alive. Christmas dinner was exceptional, the evening entertainment most enjoyable, and Edward’s gift…. most unexpected.
Grace sat by the fire in her room as she studied the details of the Three Graces in the cameo.
She couldn’t believe he’d remembered how much she adored this small brooch.
For as long as she could recall—even before she’d met him—his grandmother had always worn the delicate blue shell carving set in gold.
Remembrances from the past tickled her thoughts.
She’d been no more than seven when she’d paid her first visit to the Duchess of Tavistock with her mother.
Why Mother had taken her to be introduced to the Duchess escaped her memory, but she could recall how she’d been really nervous about meeting the woman everyone deemed a grande dame.
However, the older woman had immediately put her at her ease.
She was pleasant and sincere, with the kindest eyes Grace had ever seen, and when Grace had asked who the figures in the cameo were, she’d explained the myth of the Three Graces.
At which point, Grace had delightedly informed the Duchess that was her name.
She couldn’t remember ever seeing the late Duchess without the brooch.
And now it was hers.
She still could not quite believe that Edward wanted her to have something so precious to his family. Pinning the cameo just above her heart, she went to her wardrobe.
Once again, she searched for her box, her keeper of memories.
Pulling it out, she lifted the lid. A crumpled sheaf of paper laid atop the other, neat, and well-cared for letters.
She picked it up, then tossed it into the fire, watching it darken and dissipate into nothingness.
It was the one letter that had always brought tears to her eyes and made her heart ache.
Regardless of what the future held, she would no longer dwell on those dark days of uncertainty and fear.