Chapter 21
At breakfast the next morning, Grace waited for Kathryn to join her. She hadn’t wanted to intrude on her friend the previous evening, although she desperately wanted to know if Kathryn had had the courage to talk to her parents.
It didn’t take long before Kathryn joined her in the dining room.
“Good morning, Kathryn. Are you well?” Grace asked, sipping her tea.
Charles stepped forward and poured Kathryn a cup of tea.
“Well enough, I suppose.”
“Oh, would you like to talk about it?”
Kathryn nodded.
“Charles, you may go,” Grace said. After the footman left the room, Grace turned to her friend. “I don’t mean to pry. Do you want to talk about it.”
“Oh, Grace, I’m so conflicted, and I don’t know if Papa will agree to let me marry Mr. Clifford.”
“Did Lord Devon forbid the marriage?”
Kathryn shook her head. “Not exactly,” she said, explaining how Easton and even her mother had supported her.
Grace listened with rapt attention, not speaking until Kathryn finally became silent. “I must say that that went better than I expected. Do you think your mother will prevail with your father?”
“I do hope so. My nerves are on edge, wondering what might happen.”
“I understand. Please let me know if I may be of any help to you.”
“Oh Grace, your family has been wonderful to me during my stay here. I can never repay you for your kindness.”
“Nonsense, there’s nothing to repay. We all adore you.”
“Thank you. You’re a wonderful friend. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I find I have no appetite this morning. I must find Mr. Clifford and tell him what happened last night.”
“Of course. I’ll see you later,” Grace said. She hated to see her friend upset, but there wasn’t much she could do until Kathryn’s father made his decision beyond offering her support.
Soon, the rest of the household came into the dining room, except for Lady Devon, who’d opted to have a breakfast tray delivered to her room.
“Good morning,” Easton said as he went to the sideboard and piled his plate with eggs, bacon, and toast.
Charles had returned to the dining room and now poured tea for everyone.
“Lord Devon, I hope you had a restful night,” Audrey said.
“I did,” Devon responded, piling his plate with food.
“And you, Easton? I trust you are well,” Jacob asked.
“Indeed, although the quiet took some getting used to.”
Jacob chuckled. “Indeed it does. I thought I’d take my stallion out for a run this morning. Would you gentlemen care to join me?”
Both men nodded.
“Dearest, are you excited for your final fitting today?” Audrey asked Grace while the men talked about riding out later.
“I am.”
“There is still much to do for the wedding. Have you thought about what kinds of flowers you’d like?”
“May we have wildflowers?”
“Of course. You may have whatever you like,” her sister said.
“I’ll help you pick them,” Mia said.
“Thank you, dear. That would be most helpful,” Grace said.
“Where is Lady Kathryn? Has she already broken her fast?” Audrey asked.
“I believe she’s in the garden. I’ll let her know we’ll be leaving for the modiste’s around ten.”
“Good. Lady Devon said she would be happy to join us as well when I told her of our trip last evening.”
When Kathryn left the dining room and headed to the garden in search of Sam, she found him pruning the roses. “Good morning, Mr. Clifford.”
He turned with a big smile on his face. “Good morning, Lady Kathryn.”
Kathryn rushed to him and asked, “Would you sit with me for a moment? I have news.”
“Of course,” he said, holding out his arm and leading her to the bench. “Are you well? You seem upset.”
“I hardly know how I am. Last evening, I spoke to my parents about us.”
Sam’s happy smile immediately disappeared. “I knew they wouldn’t approve. I’m so sorry, my love. There’s nothing more to be done now.”
“No, no, no. You misunderstand. While my father raged on for a bit about how inappropriate our union would be, he did not outright forbid us from marrying.”
“I don’t understand. What does that mean?”
“My brother and I believe my mother supports our union, so there’s hope yet that she will persuade my father to allow us to marry.”
“I don’t know what to say. That fills me with joy that we may yet be together.”
“My father said he wanted to speak with you, although I don’t know when that will happen. It may be today or in a fortnight.”
“I see. Well, then, I shall do my best to prove myself to him.”
Kathryn looked around to make sure they were alone before she pressed her lips to his.
Sam pulled her into his arms and kissed her, tasting every inch of her mouth. “You are magnificent, my darling, but I’d best get back to work. I wouldn’t want your father to come upon us in a compromising situation.”
Kathryn stood. “Until later, then. Goodbye, my love.”
Sam tipped his hat, and that small gesture warmed her heart.
As Fletcher, Easton, and Lord Devon raced across the meadow, there was no doubt that Midnight would win the day. There wasn’t a horse in Fletcher’s stable that could match the stallion’s speed or stamina.
When they stopped at the stream to let the horses drink and cool down, Lord Devon said, “Fletcher, a word if you please.”
“Of course,” Fletcher said, walking a short distance away with Devon while Easton stayed with the horses. “Devon, is something amiss?”
“I’m not sure. What do you know of this Mr. Clifford?”
“He is the cousin of my stablemaster and has agreed to help with the garden design. I know that he’s worked closely with Miss Parker and Lady Kathryn on it, and he’s always been most respectful in his interactions with them from what I observed.”
“Do you know that my daughter and he have developed a tendre for each other?”
“I admit I did not know at first. My wife told me a while ago that she believed they were falling in love.”
“And you didn’t try to put a stop to it? She’s the daughter of an earl, and he’s a lowly commoner,” Lord Devon said, visibly irritated.
“Perhaps, but Devon, I wasn’t exactly welcomed by the peerage when I first arrived in England, as you may remember, but I persevered and was able to marry the woman of my dreams. Sometimes love finds us in the most unlikely places.
I’ve always believed every man should be judged by his character, but I know here in England it’s more about your station in life.
I also know that he receives a stipend from the baronetcy, so he’s not destitute. ”
“Well… I see your point, but I’m not happy about it.”
“Devon, may I speak plainly?”
“Of course, Fletcher. You have a keen mind that I admire a great deal.”
“Your daughter is a lovely and intelligent woman who seems to have suffered needlessly on the marriage mart this past Season, from what my wife has told me. But it seems that her pain at the hands of those gossipmongers didn’t matter to the gentlemen of the ton.
None of them came to her aid or defense; they merely chuckled along with her tormenters.
No one should have to endure such torment week after week. ”
“I admit I hadn’t known that my daughter was having such a difficult Season.”
“When she first came to Dandridge Manor, she was reserved and seemed a little sad. Over the summer, I’ve seen a change in her demeanor.
She smiles more and appears to be more confident in her interactions.
I believe some of that change could be attributed to Mr. Clifford.
Lady Kathryn has found a man who truly loves her for all of her wonderful qualities. They could have a happy life together.”
“Only as a commoner’s wife.”
“A contented and blissfully happy commoner’s wife. What is more important—appearances or your daughter’s future happiness?”
“You’ve given me much to think about, Fletcher,” Devon said after a long moment. “Shall we head back?”
“Absolutely.”
Grace was tying the ribbons on her bonnet and pulling on her gloves when she heard Lady Devon come down the stairs. The Fletcher women and Kathryn went out into the foyer, and Kathryn kissed her mother’s cheek.
“Good morning, Mama. I hope you’re well this morning,” Kathryn said.
“Very well, my dear. Now, are we ready to depart?
“Yes. The carriage has been brought around,” Audrey said, leading them out the door.
Charles stood by the carriage door and handed them inside for the trip into Reading.
“What a charming town,” Lady Devon said when the carriage stopped at the modiste’s shop.
“It’s actually quite lovely. They also have an excellent bookshop,” Grace said.
Charles helped them step down, and the women walked into the modiste’s shop.
“Good day, ladies,” Mrs. Spencer said.
“Good day, Mrs. Spencer,” Audrey said. “Lady Devon, this is Mrs. Spencer.”
Mrs. Spencer curtseyed. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Devon. Welcome to my shop.”
“You have a lovely selection of fabrics,” Kathryn said.
“Thank you, Lady Kathryn. I’d be happy to help you choose something if you’d like. Let me get Miss Parker settled for her final fitting first, and I’ll attend to you immediately thereafter.”
“Thank you.” Kathryn and her mother wandered over to the bolts of fabric laid out on the table. She immediately picked up a bolt of hunter-green wool. “Mama, I do love this color. It would make a beautiful dress, don’t you think?”
Lady Devon fingered the finely woven wool. “It would indeed, my darling.”
Within moments, Mrs. Spencer was back by their side while Audrey and Mia waited to see Grace in her wedding dress.
“That green color would look especially lovely on you, Lady Kathryn,” Mrs. Spencer said, holding it up to Kathryn’s face.
“I agree,” Lady Devon said. “We shall be here for a fortnight. Would that be enough time to make her a dress?”
“Oh yes, my lady. I can take Lady Kathryn’s measurements while you’re here and have my girls start on it right away. Would you care for any lace embellishments on the bodice or cuffs?”
Kathryn looked at her mother, who nodded her approval. “That would be lovely. May I see what patterns you have available?”
“Right this way, my lady.”