Chapter 19
“I think that’s everything to be done at the church, my love. Shall we head to Dandridge?” Peter asked.
Grace stepped up to him and pressed her lips to his. “In a moment, if you please,” she said after the kiss. “Hmmm… I don’t think that’s nearly enough.”
Peter swept her into his embrace and kissed her long and deep. “Two more weeks, my darling, and I’ll be able to kiss you all you want.”
“I like the sound of that. I suppose we should go. We shouldn’t keep the family waiting.”
Peter held out his arm, and they walked out of the church. He locked the door and led Grace to the barn behind the vicarage. “Hello, Belle. Are you ready to stretch your legs today?”
Grace held out her hand for Belle to sniff. “Hello, pretty girl.”
It didn’t take long to hitch the mare to the cart, and Peter and Grace were off to Dandridge Manor, where they were surprised to see a shiny black carriage by the front door.
“That must be the Devons’ carriage. I thought they weren’t supposed to arrive until tomorrow,” Grace said.
Peter guided Belle up the drive and pulled up behind the carriage. He jumped off the bench and handed Grace down at the same time a footman was helping Lady Devon step down.
“Lady Devon, what a delightful surprise,” Grace said, walking up to her.
“Miss Parker, so nice to see you again,” Lady Devon said, after looking to see who had addressed her.
“Lady Devon, a pleasure to see you again,” Peter said with a bow.
“Mr. Wallings is St. Mary’s vicar now and my fiancé,” Grace said.
“Fiancé? Well, I wish you both happy.”
“Lord Devon, a pleasure to see you again,” Peter said.
“Wallings. You’ve been busy since we last met. A new parish and engaged to be married?”
Peter chuckled. “Indeed, my lord. This lovely lady has consented to become my wife.”
“Well done, Wallings. I wish you happy.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Jones stood in the open front door along with the housekeeper.
“Lord and Lady Devon, welcome to Dandridge Manor,” Jones said.
The woman stepped forward. “I’m Mrs. Hutchins, the housekeeper. Would you care to freshen up before luncheon?”
“Yes. That would be most welcome,” Lady Devon said. “Mr. Wallings, Miss Parker, we’ll see you later.”
“Of course,” Grace said. She and Peter made their way into the drawing room.
Mrs. Hutchins led Lord and Lady Devon up the stairs and down the hallway to a large bedchamber. The footman soon followed with their luggage. “Luncheon will be served in half an hour.”
“Thank you,” Lady Devon said, nodding, and Mrs. Hutchins exited the room.
“Well, my dear, what do you make of Wallings being engaged to Miss Parker?”
“Wallings is a good man. I didn’t know he’d been assigned to the Reading parish.”
“Fate works in mysterious ways, my dear. They seemed quite happy together.”
There was a knock on their door before Pauline, Lady Devon’s lady’s maid, walked in. “My lady, do you wish to change out of your carriage dress?”
Lord Devon kissed his wife’s cheek. “I’ll see you downstairs, my dear.”
As he walked down the stairs, Fletcher and Easton were coming down the hall to head into the drawing room.
“Father?”
“Easton, my boy. Your mother and I decided to follow your advice and push through instead of spending another night in an inn.”
“Devon, welcome to Dandridge Manor,” Fletcher said, extending his hand.
“Fletcher, thank you for the invitation,” Devon said, grasping his hand in a firm handshake.
“Shall we go to the drawing room and join the ladies?”
Devon nodded and followed the men to the drawing room.
“Papa, you’re here,” Kathryn exclaimed as she rose and went to her father, kissing his cheek.
Lord Devon hugged her. “My dear, you’re looking quite well.”
Kathryn gave him a shy smile. “Thank you, Papa. The country air agrees with me.”
“Lord Devon, welcome to Dandridge Manor,” Audrey said with a curtsey, as Grace and Mia performed their own curtsies.
“Lady Fletcher, the pleasure is all mine,” Lord Devon said.
“How was the journey from London?” Kathryn asked after everyone took a seat.
“Not horrible, although a day of rain didn’t help the condition of the roads. So many ruts to contend with,” Lord Devon said.
“I can attest to that,” Easton chimed in. “I was glad I was on horseback and not bouncing around in the carriage.”
It didn’t take long before Lady Devon joined them, and everyone went into the dining room. The conversation around the table was lively, and Mrs. Greenleaf had outdone herself with the meal.
“My compliments to your cook,” Lady Devon said. “The meal was superb.”
“I’ll be sure to pass that along, my lady,” Audrey said.
Kathryn kept stealing glances at her brother, but Easton only seemed interested in talking with Mr. Wallings. They were friends, after all, but she worried that her brother might be deliberately delaying the difficult conversation they needed to have with their father.
After luncheon, Grace and Kathryn took a stroll in the garden. “Kathryn, you seem unsettled. Did something happen while we were at Sunday services?” Grace asked.
Kathryn looked around to make sure they weren’t overheard. “Yes. I confessed my love to Mr. Clifford, and he did the same. Then he proposed!”
“Proposed?” Grace’s eyes widened.
“Easton actually witnessed the proposal. Neither of us saw him standing in the doorway.”
“Oh dear, what was his reaction?”
“He was happy for us and said he’d try to help plead my case. What if Papa refuses to allow me to marry the man I love?”
“What about your mother? Will she support you?”
“I don’t know. Audrey suggested I talk with her first before approaching Papa.”
“I agree with my sister. Do you wish me to come with you?”
Kathryn shook her head. “You and your sister are so very kind. She asked the same thing, but this is something I need to do myself.”
“Of course.”
As luck would have it, when she and Grace returned from their walk in the garden, they learned Lady Devon wanted to rest before dinner.
“Mama, let me escort you to your room,” Kathryn said.
“Thank you, my dear. That would be most welcome.”
Kathryn linked arms with her mother, and they climbed the stairs together.
Once they were inside Lady Devon’s bedchamber, she turned to Kathryn. “Darling, you look quite flushed. Are you unwell?”
“No, Mama. I’m perfectly well.”
“Hmmm… something is different about you. You have a sparkle in your eye I haven’t seen in a long time.”
“May we speak for a moment?”
“Of course. Come sit by me in front of the fireplace.”
Kathryn took a seat in a wingback chair next to her mother, but she couldn’t help but wring her hands.
“My darling girl, whatever is the matter? Why are you troubled?”
Kathryn needed to be brave and confess her feelings to her mother. She couldn’t imagine her life without Sam. “There is something I need to tell you, but I’m afraid.”
Lady Devon grasped her hand. “Do not be afraid, my darling. Whatever it is, I shall surely listen.”
That gave Kathryn an ounce of courage. “Mama, you know I had a terrible Season.”
“Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that.”
“It’s true. I know I’m not a beauty like Eleanor, and gentlemen only asked me to dance because of my dowry.”
“My darling girl, I have complete faith that you will find a gentleman who values you for who you are,” Lady Devon said.
“I don’t believe such a gentleman exists in London.”
“I’m sure things will be different next Season.”
“Mama, you’re not listening. Things will never be different for me on the marriage mart, but here in Reading, I’ve found a gentleman who truly sees me as I am.”
Lady Devon clapped. “A country gentleman? Where is his estate? I’m so pleased for you, my dear.”
Kathryn shook her head. “No, Mama. He’s not gentry, but he is a true and honorable man who loves me, and I love him.”
Lady Devon frowned. “Kathryn, speak plainly. What are you talking about? Who is this man?”
“His name is Mr. Sam Clifford, and he’s the son of a baronet. He’s helping Lord Fletcher with the garden design here at Dandridge Manor.”
“A commoner! Surely you cannot be serious, Kathryn.”
“But I am, Mama. I didn’t mean for this to happen, but now that it has, I want to marry him.”
“Your father would never approve of such a match. He’s far below your station.”
“I’m afraid of that, but might you find it in your heart to try and persuade him to approve the match? Mr. Clifford is the heir to the Faulkner Baronetcy, and he loves me. That must count for something, doesn’t it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Mama, if I can’t marry Mr. Clifford, I believe I’ll be headed to spinsterhood.”
“Nonsense. Your father will find someone for you to marry. You’re an earl’s daughter, and you should marry a peer.”
“I don’t want to marry someone else and be miserable for the rest of my life.
Whoever Papa chooses will only want my dowry and use me as a broodmare before locking me away at some far-off estate once I’ve given him an heir and a spare.
I want to have a happy life with Mr. Clifford, who values me for myself. ”
“Kathryn, you’re being nonsensical. He must be a fortune hunter to reach so far above his station.”
“He’s not, though. Mr. Clifford has no idea how large my dowry is. He only wants to make me happy. Don’t you see, Mama, I’m not being nonsensical at all.”
“How do you know he wants to marry you? Men love to steal kisses from pretty girls all the time.”
Kathryn had to laugh at that one. “Oh, Mama, you may be right about some young women, but not one of the gentlemen I’ve met in London has ever attempted to steal a kiss from me. Don’t you see? I’m not a beauty, but Mr. Clifford makes me feel beautiful and cherished.”
“Well, that is something, I suppose. How do you know he wants to marry you?”
“He proposed to me earlier in the garden, even though he told me that it was probably in vain because of Papa’s objections.”
“I see. At least he realizes that. Well, Kathryn, you’ve given me a great deal to think about. Now be a dear, and let me rest before dinner.”
“Of course. Thank you for listening,” Kathryn said, kissing her mother’s cheek. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
Kathryn left her mother’s bedchamber and headed down the hall to her room. She had no idea whether or not her mother would champion her cause, but she’d tried her best to convince her that marrying Sam was what she truly wanted.
What gave her hope, however, was the fact that her mother hadn’t directly said she was opposed to the match.