Page 24 of The Mistletoe Countess
Her gaze flipped heavenward.I certainly hope You know what You’re doing—especially for the future of an entire English estate and generations to come.
She pinched her eyes closed. Generations to come?
The clock struck ten. Lord Astley and her father had planned break-fasting together to discuss some of the final arrangements of the contract. It was the perfect time to face the inevitable.
With a quick prayer to add to the many she’d said through the night and a dash away of a single tear on her cheek, Grace took the grand staircase down to the Morning Room.
Once she stepped through the doorway, her future, her dreams would change forever.
She paused with a hand on the slender, curved door handle. Had Gaskell’s Margaret felt this weight of decision when her future swirled into uncertain territory after her parents died and she was left to face the world alone? Without even the good thoughts of John Thornton to sustain her?
Grace’s forward momentum faltered. She would leave everything she’d known to marry a man who didn’t love her. Was she brave enough now as the moment hovered a threshold away? She firmed her shoulders and shook off her fear. Shehadto be brave enough. Her father needed her to be brave enough.
Besides, there were so many things to look forward to instead of regret. Regret seemed a terrible waste of mental energy with no real outcome besides a headache. Traveling abroad to a large, crumbling manor house in England. A sickly, reclusive mother keeping watch on her progeny. A mysterious, handsome young lord recently inheriting the responsibilities of his elder brother.
It all sounded very much like one of the novels Grace loved so well. She grinned despite the terrible storm in her stomach as she heard her father and Frederick’s voices beyond the door.
With a deep breath, she pushed the door open and offered her broad-est smile, pleased to see the room empty except for Lord Astley and her father. She’d considered several ways to broach the subject of her sister’s elopement, pregnancy, and subsequent running away with her beloved, who had sabotaged Lord Astley’s saddle, but what actually came out of her mouth was nothing like what she’d planned.
“You know, I heard The most curious news as I walked through the library the other day.”
Her father placed his cup in the saucer with a clink. “Grace, what a way to enter a room, girl.”
She forced down the fear tempting her to flee back up the stairs and instead fixed her full attention on Lord Astley, accepting her fate, as any good heroine should do. “It’s quite life-changing news. Surprising, even.” She cleared her throat and continued. “You do like surprises, don’t you, Lord Astley?”
Lord Astley’s subtle smile slipped slowly from his handsome face.
“Grace, child, what are you talking about?”
She swallowed through her dry throat and tilted her chin up. Might as well just say it outright. “I’m going to be an aunt.” Her voice quavered. All right, that wasn’t as direct as she’d planned. “Isn’t that a fabulous surprise?”
Lord Astley stood, slowly, awareness dawning in his expression. Grace reached for the back of the nearest chair for support.
“I think your celebration is a bit premature, Grace.” Father laughed. “Your sister isn’t even married yet.”
A painfully obvious truth. “I’m afraid it’s going to be much sooner than any of us anticipated…and not with our dear Lord Astley.”
Her father began to catch on, rising from his chair, but Grace couldn’t take her eyes from the man most impacted by this news. “I’m so sorry, my lord. Her actions were not against you, though I’m certain it feels personal. She…she was frightened and—”
“Grace, you can’t be serious.” Father’s voice penetrated her focus on Lord Astley’s darkening expression, and she turned to him, his wide eyes frantically searching hers. “Bring Lillias to me at once so we can clear up this misunderstanding.”
“She’s gone, Father.” Grace’s heart ached from the pain creasing her father’s face. The betrayal he felt. Oh, this was much more difficult than she’d imagined, and that was saying something. Her eyes burned, but she refused to give in to the tears. Someone needed to keep their head in the middle of this maddening moment. “She left a note.”
“Dixon.” Lord Astley didn’t ask. He knew.
Grace should addperceptiveto her quality husband list.
“Dixon? Anthony Dixon?” Her father took Grace by the shoulders. “The man’s a banker.”
“She loves him, Father. It seems she’s loved him for a long time.” Grace looked over her father’s shoulder to Lord Astley. “And I couldn’t bear the thought of her marrying you while carrying his child, so I confronted her—”
“She planned to carry on with the marriage?” His voice boomed across the room.
Oh dear. Grace shouldn’t have disclosed so much. Now she’d dam-aged her sister’s character even more. “Of course, she changed her mind once she saw reason. She’d never really want to hurt you.”
“Only deceive me.”
The entire conversation had turned out so much better in her head.
