Chapter 15 #2
“Thank you, Fletcher.”
“You’re welcome. No sense sitting in here with me then. You have a lady to propose to.”
Peter chuckled. “Indeed I do. Please excuse me.”
Both men left the study and walked down the hallway to the drawing room.
Audrey and Grace looked up when they entered.
“My darling, may I have a word, please?” Jacob asked his wife.
Audrey nodded. “Of course, darling.”
Jacob held out his arm and escorted her to the foyer. “Wallings needs a moment alone with Grace,” he whispered.
Audrey’s eyes widened. “He’s proposing?”
Jacob nodded.
Grace looked up and smiled at him when he returned to the drawing room.
Although Peter knew she was amenable to his proposal, he wanted it to be perfect for her. He walked to the sofa and knelt down.
“My darling Grace. I cannot begin to tell you the depths of my love for you. You outshine all the stars in the sky. Whatever you want, I shall endeavor to give it to you. I vow to tell you every day how much I adore you and to make you happy. Would you make me the happiest of men and consent to be my wife?”
Happy tears rolled down Grace’s face. “Oh, Peter. I love you so much. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Peter stood, swept Grace up in his arms, and swung her around. “She said yes!” he shouted.
Fletcher and Lady Fletcher came back into the room with huge smiles on their faces.
“We wish you both much happiness,” Jacob said.
Peter set Grace on her feet.
Audrey hugged her fiercely. “I’m so very pleased for you, dearest. I can see how happy Mr. Wallings makes you.”
“He does indeed.”
“Shall we have the first banns read on Sunday?”
“Yes! I can hardly wait to be Mrs. Wallings,” Grace said.
They all spoke for a while about what kinds of arrangements needed to be made and finally, Peter said, “Well, I do believe I’ll take my leave now. Good day.”
“I’ll see you out,” Grace said.
They walked through the foyer and out the front door.
“Are you happy, my dear?” Peter asked.
“I am now. I can hardly contain my happiness.”
“I feel the same. I know how hard it was to share those letters with your sister, but you handled it well.”
“You were right—my sister needed to read them to make up her own mind about Mama.”
“And she came to the same conclusion—that your mother was a good and pious woman who put her family above all else, even above her own desires.”
“Thank you for your support. I’m not sure I could have done it alone,” Grace said. Her dearest mother was indeed the woman they’d believed she was.
“It was my pleasure. I’ll see you again when Fletcher informs me the solicitor has arrived to discuss the marriage contracts.”
“Yes. I’d like that very much,” Grace said, looking around. There wasn’t anyone near the front of the manor, so she stepped into Peter’s embrace and kissed him soundly. When she stepped back, he was smiling.
“I wish I could kiss you properly, my darling, but I certainly don’t want to scandalize anyone.”
“I know, but we’re engaged now. At least we won’t need a chaperone when you come to call.”
Just then, a groom came around the corner. “Vicar, are you ready to leave?”
“Yes.”
“It will only be a moment to hook Belle up to the cart,” the groom said, sprinting away.
Peter nodded. “Thank you.” He turned to Grace. “Good day, Miss Parker. I shall visit again soon.”
“Good day, Mr. Wallings,” she said before turning and walking back into the house. It had been a most glorious afternoon, and she could hardly wait to tell Kathryn her news.
She hurried up the stairs and down the hall, taking a deep breath before knocking on Kathryn’s door.
“Come.”
When Grace walked into her bedchamber, Kathryn was sitting at the desk. “Am I disturbing you?”
“Not at all. I’ve just finished writing to my sister. Is there something you needed?”
Grace shook her head. “No.” She couldn’t contain her excitement any longer. “I’m engaged!”
“What?”
“Mr. Wallings proposed a few moments ago, and I said yes.”
“But what about your Season?”
“We can leave the Season to Mia. She loves London. I don’t want one and would prefer to stay here with Mr. Wallings.”
Kathryn stood and hugged her. “I’m so very pleased for you and wish you happy.”
“Thank you. The first banns will be read on Sunday.”
“Will you marry here?”
Grace nodded. “Yes, I’d like to be married at St. Mary’s. I think Mr. Wallings would love to share the day with his parishioners.”
“My family will be here soon, and I’ll ask Papa if we may stay until after the wedding.”
“I would love that. Kathryn, would you stand with me as a witness?”
“Of course. I’d be delighted.”
“Thank you.”
“Grace, may I share a secret with you?”
“Of course. I would never betray your confidence.”
“I’m falling in love with Mr. Clifford.”
“Ah, I had a feeling you might be by the looks I’ve seen you two share. Does he feel the same?”
“I believe he does, but he hasn’t told me in so many words.”
“What about your parents? Will they consent to let you marry a commoner?”
Kathryn wrung her hands. “That I do not know. They would not consider Mr. Clifford a suitable match, but I hope I can convince him. It may take quite a bit of convincing for Papa to believe that Mr. Clifford isn’t a fortune hunter.”
“I can ask Jacob to talk with your father. He can be quite persuasive.”
“I don’t know. Mr. Clifford hasn’t spoken to me of marriage yet. This may all be for naught.”
“Have you told him of your feelings? Perhaps he believes there’s no future for you, and that’s why he hasn’t said anything.”
“You may be correct, but I wouldn’t even know how to go about telling him that I have feelings for him.”
“Let me think on it. If Mr. Clifford truly does love you, then he must be told that you feel the same.”
Kathryn hugged her. “Thank you. You are a true friend.”