Chapter One #2
“Greyson told us you have a son,” Anastasia said, taking off her gloves and fanning herself with them. “My, it’s warm today.”
“It is warm, and yes, I have a two-year-old son named Simon.”
“Nice name,” Greyson said, shocking her that he was paying attention.
“Thank you. It was my father’s name.”
“I’m sorry. When did he pass?”
“A little over two years ago. Not long before Rutherford.”
Aurora sat up straighter, suddenly seeming more interested. “How awful for you. It must have been difficult to lose your husband.”
“It was. My mother and Clarice helped me. My mother retired to the country with the Duchess of Blackstone’s mother not long ago. They have been friends for years.”
“You must miss her.” This from Greyson.
“I do, but she’s happy, and that’s all that matters.”
“Our father is unwell,” Anastasia added to the conversation, and she could feel the tension filling Greyson’s body.
“The doctors think he’ll live another six months or so.” Again from Greyson.
“I’m sorry,” said Letitia.
He shrugged and said, “It is what it is.” The carriage came to a stop, and Greyson exhaled. “We’ve arrived.”
The Greenville Estate, a large, four-story limestone home, sat at the end of a long drive lined with white-flowering trees. It resembled a princess’s house in a fairy tale.
Greyson exited the carriage first, then assisted his sisters and her.
A footman greeted them and escorted them down a stone pathway that wound around to the back of the enormous estate to a terrace crowded with tables, chairs, and guests.
Greyson escorted them to their hosts, or at least the ones Letitia believed to be their hosts, since everyone was greeting them.
“Lord and Lady Greenville,” Greyson bowed, “thank you for the invitation. May I present Lady Rutherford? And you remember my sisters, Lady Anastasia and Lady Aurora.”
“Welcome,” Lady Greenville said with a friendly smile. Letitia, along with the twins, curtsied.
“My parents send their regards,” Greyson said.
“How are they?” Lord Greenville said. “I was sorry to hear of your father’s declining health.”
“They both have good days and bad, but thank you for asking.”
“Please enjoy yourselves,” Lady Greenville said.
All four of them made their way to the terrace and found four empty chairs at a long banquet table.
“How do you know Lord and Lady Greenville?” Letitia asked.
“My father and Lord Greenville have known each other since their Eton days,” Greyson replied.
“Do they have children?”
Both Aurora and Anastasia giggled. “Oh yes,” Anastasia said “They have a daughter our age and have always hoped Greyson would become their son-in-law.”
“Oh,” Letitia’s heart dropped.
“Their daughter,” Aurora added, “Lady Miranda, had other plans. She has recently become betrothed to Lord Centerville.”
Aurora fluttered her lashes. “He is most handsome. Look over by the food table. He is the one standing next to Lady Miranda, the young woman dressed in yellow.”
Letitia found them but didn’t see what was so handsome about Centerville.
Greyson stood. “Letitia, would you care to fix a plate?”
“I believe I would.” She took his offered arm, and they strolled to the food table.
She was thankful that Lady Miranda and Centerville were walking away.
She didn’t care to meet the lady Greyson might have married.
They fixed their plates with fruit, bread, little sandwiches, and confections, then returned to the table.
A footman approached them with a tray of lemonade.
“Come, sister, let’s get a plate. Perhaps there are some handsome single gentlemen who will attract our attention. Or rather, we will attract theirs,” Aurora said.
“Their exuberance is both refreshing and hard to keep up with,” Letitia said with a laugh.
Chuckling, Greyson said, “It can be at times.”
“Are you traveling without a chaperone for them?”
“No. You are looking at him.”
“Oh. I see.” He took her totally by surprise.
“My mother doesn’t trust anyone to chaperone them. It’s my job for the foreseeable future until they marry. Or at least become engaged.”
Between his father’s illness and chaperoning his sisters, Greyson certainly didn’t have much time for himself. Perhaps her hoping he would want to court her was out of the question. At least until his sisters were engaged.
They played some lawn games after eating, but the twins were bored and wanted to leave.
They thanked their hosts and spent the next hour in the carriage, where everyone fell asleep except Letitia.
Her eyes closed every now and then, but sleep eluded her.
She was thankful and sad when they returned to the inn.
Greyson escorted her to her room. “Thank you for putting up with my sisters.”
“I like them. I believe we shall become good friends if given the chance.”
“You may regret saying that.” He looked up and down the corridor, making her wonder why, until he bent his head and kissed her. It lasted only a moment, just long enough for her insides to hum.
He stepped back and bowed. “I will see you tomorrow for the race.”
Her eyes were riveted to his receding back until he disappeared from sight. She tapped the door, and Penny opened it. “Welcome back, my lady.”
“Thank you, Penny.”
“Lady Chesterfield said she would see you in the morning. She went out with the Duke of Stanton.”
“Would you help me undress and put on a robe? I will be staying in.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Climbing into bed early, Letitia tried not to get her hopes up about Greyson. It was hard, though, since he had kissed her. It wasn’t much of a kiss, but then again, they were standing in the inn’s corridor where anyone could come upon them.
Eventually, her eyes fluttered closed, her breathing evened out, and she fell asleep.
*
As Greyson left Letitia at her door, he wondered what he was doing.
He was giving her the wrong idea about them.
He could see it in her eyes. With everything going on in his life right now, he didn’t have time to court Letitia properly.
His father was ill, but so was his mother.
Even though he’d hired a nurse to see to their care, he took care of everything pertaining to the earldom and his family’s private affairs. Not to mention chaperoning his sisters.
Then there was the one thing he did that took him away on assignments.
This past year, he’d been called away with the Black Knights more than he expected.
The English people weren’t happy with government laws and regulations, and the Knights were trying to help them while keeping the peace.
Not an easy feat. He wanted to court Letitia, but his inattention wouldn’t be fair to her.
But could he risk losing her to some other gentleman?
That was his biggest dilemma. His insides ached at the thought of losing her. Somehow, he needed to make it all work.
The first time he saw her across a crowded ballroom at the Westport ball, he couldn’t look away.
He’d had an advantage over her because he had known her name and a little bit about her.
When he looked at her, it was as if she called to him on an elemental level, as if his mind and body recognized her as belonging to him.
All his senses, long dormant, were awakened, and he knew right then he had to make her his.
He forced himself to remain calm because the last thing he’d wanted was to frighten her away, knowing it was her first foray into society since coming out of mourning.
But, bloody hell, he wanted to run across the ballroom, wrap her in his arms, and claim her body and soul.
Thank goodness sanity prevailed, and he got his wits about him and remained calm.
Remaining calm around Letitia was becoming more difficult the more time he spent with her.
He spent a sleepless night staring at his future, hoping it was brighter than it appeared.
*
Morning came fast, and Letitia and Clarice were preparing for the first race of the season, the 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse.
The Duke of Stanton’s horse, Zeus, was racing.
That morning, as they took their breakfast in their rooms, Clarice informed her that Greyson and Mr. Hunter would pick them up in an open barouche and take them to Newmarket Racecourse.
Knowing she would be spending time with Greyson again today had her heart pounding and her body tingling.
Perhaps today he would kiss her again. She could hope.
Letitia was more than thrilled to be in the same carriage as Greyson and his sisters. Clarice was with Hunter, and they were parked side by side right beside the racetrack near the finish line. They were all straining to look for Stanton, who was joining them for the race.
Greyson jumped up, waving his arms and yelling, “Stanton, over here!”
“I thought I’d never find you,” Stanton said, acknowledging them and then joining Clarice in her coach. It wasn’t long before the race began, and when Zeus came over the rise in the lead, they went wild, yelling and screaming his name. He won!
Greyson turned to her, his eyes bright and his cheeks flushed. “He won!” he said, hugging her and pressing his lips to hers for a brief moment. They were gone almost before she could even register the kiss.
The rest of the day and into the night were a whirlwind of social events.
Wherever Letitia went with Clarice and Stanton, she looked for Greyson.
She knew he had to be somewhere, but none of the three found him.
When they returned to the inn, Letitia, having partaken in too much wine, fell into a dreamless sleep.
In the morning, Clarice and Stanton had to deal with the consequences of her father, the Earl of Portsmouth, showing up in Newmarket.
They believed he was spreading rumors about Stanton, trying to ruin him.
When Clarice was eighteen, she was supposed to marry Stanton, but her father had forbidden it and then did everything in his power to ruin both of their lives.
He was obviously still trying to keep them apart.
Later that day, she traveled with Greyson and Hunter to Ramsbury Ridge Farm to see if they could help in any way. Being there for support was all the help they could give.
The next morning, she found out someone had set fire to Ramsbury Ridge Farms. Thankfully, everyone made it out safely, and even the horses survived the barn fire. It was determined that Lord Portsmouth had paid a young lad to light the fires. Did that man possess a heart?
He quickly fled from England to France, and good riddance to him.
Clarice and Stanton could finally build a life together.
But first, Stanton’s filly, Clover, had to run the 1000 Guineas Stakes.
Which she did and won. Letitia was so happy for them, but sad because she needed to leave soon.
She had only planned to stay for the first two races.
She needed to get home to Simon, whom she missed.
She opted to stay at the inn that night, took a bath, and went to bed early. Her mind battled with all sorts of questions.
Would she see Greyson before she left in two days?
Would Clarice be staying in Newmarket?
Would Greyson call on her when he returned to London?
Was it the end of what she had hoped would be a future with him?
Tears trickled down her cheeks and onto her pillow even as she fell asleep, her heart heavy.
“Wake up, my lady.”
“Penny,” she said, opening her eyes and squinting at the sun filtering through the curtains. How long had she slept? “What is it?”
“We have work to do.” She handed her a note in handwriting she didn’t recognize, but quickly realized it belonged to Stanton.
“They are getting married today, privately. He is surprising Lady Chesterfield with a wedding breakfast afterward. He already has the private dining room here and the menu. He also took care of inviting people.”
Letitia sat up. “What do we have to do? It sounds like he took care of all the details.” She glanced at the list. It looked as though they had nothing to do but arrive at noon. She hurried from the bed. “I need to get ready.”