Page 113 of The Secrets of Lord Grayson Child
After they’d exchanged greetings, he offered Sybil his arm, Izzy took the other, and with Marietta bringing up the rear, they descended to the Descartes carriage, which had drawn up to the curb.
The drive to Hanover Square had been filled with Marietta’s and Sybil’s questions regarding the likely upshot of Duvall’s arrest. Once at the church, Marietta took Sybil’s arm, leaving Gray to escort Izzy down the aisle in her mother and sister’s wake.
He sat at the end of the pew, beside Izzy, and let the familiar phrases of the service wash over him, almost, it seemed, in benediction.
No matter how far he’d roamed, this land of his birth, with all its traditions and curious ways, was the only place he’d ever felt that he belonged.
He’d returned intent on crafting a satisfying life for himself there, and all the building blocks bar one were in place, although that missing one was the most important, the foundation stone, and with respect to that, he had two hurdles yet to overcome.
At the end of the service, he escorted Izzy, Sybil, and Marietta onto the porch, and they dallied there, chatting with other members of the ton. This was the second Sunday on which he’d attended with the Descartes ladies, and every matron worth her salt had noticed and was intrigued.
His aunt Matcham had also noticed; she came sweeping up, curious and eager and wanting to know whatever there was to know, but suitably wary of treading on any toes.
Reading nothing but encouragement and approval in her comments, Gray seized the moment to mention, “I’m seriously considering throwing my hat in the ring at the next election.”
Lady Matcham’s eyes widened. She searched his face and confirmed he was serious. “Well! I must say I heartily approve.” Her gaze drifted to Izzy. “It could well be the making of you.”
“I don’t know about that, but I need something to occupy my time, and with my business interests well in hand, I’m inclined to see what I might achieve in that sphere.” He paused, then added, “Devlin and Therese seem to think it a sensible idea.”
His aunt studied him assessingly, then nodded. “Call on me sometime. I’m not without connections in that world, and I want to hear more of your ideas.”
Gray hadn’t known she had any interest in politics, but readily agreed.
Apparently satisfied, she took herself off, and he turned back to the ladies and discovered that Swan had joined them.
Izzy watched her mother’s face as Gray returned to her side. With Swan chatting to Marietta, and Gray so patently fixed beside Izzy, her mother didn’t know which way to look. She was bright-eyed and plainly thrilled at the prospect of marrying off both her daughters in such highly acceptable fashion.
After the years of drama and struggle, Izzy felt pleased on her mother’s behalf.
Lady Matcham, who had swanned off, returned in a rustling rush to whisper something into Izzy’s mother’s ear. As both older ladies’ gazes shifted to Izzy and Gray, she suspected she could guess the topic.
She pretended to be oblivious, but with Gray standing tall, strong, and so very much by her side, she couldn’t stop her heart from rising, buoyed on burgeoning hope.
This was how she’d expected to feel long ago, to live through a scene just like this with Gray beside her and her heart so light…
He bent his head and murmured, “Am I allowed to ask what has put that glorious look on your face?”
She turned her head and, from a distance of mere inches, smiled even more gloriously, letting her welling joy show. Studying his lovely amber eyes, she said, “Remember our earlier discussion about whether it was possible for us to pick up the reins of where we’d once been and forge onward?”
His expression grew intent. “Yes.”
“I believe we’ve accomplished that. Do you agree?”
His smile was all she’d hoped it would be. Between them, he closed his hand around hers and lightly squeezed. “I do. We’ve found our right path—the right path for us as we are now.”
The right path for us as we are now.
The words echoed in her heart, and she nodded.
“Isadora?” Her mother was waiting to catch Izzy’s eye. “I was just saying to Lord Swan that he should join us for luncheon.”
Izzy and Gray added their voices in support, and Swan readily agreed.
After farewelling those lingering on the church porch, the five made their way to the countess’s carriage and repaired to Norfolk Crescent.
Luncheon passed oh-so-pleasantly, in easy, undemanding fashion.
Afterward, while Sybil dutifully sat with Marietta and Swan in the drawing room, Izzy drew Gray into the back parlor.
