Page 48 of For a Lady's Fiery Heart
"Not at all, Viscount. I am happy to hear that you are defending my sister to your father," she said, lowering her voice. She need not have worried, for his father and Lady Beatrice had taken up with their earlier conversation, laughing loudly at some string of gossip she had picked up from one of her friends in London.
James studied his plate for a moment and then looked up at her. The aroma of the roasted mutton and boiled potatoes would have usually set his stomach to growling, but he had lost his appetite the moment the butler brought him the note from Caroline, begging him to excuse her from dinner.
"Is your sister well, Lady Grace? I confess I am concerned for her. Have I done something to offend?" he asked.
Something indiscernible passed through her gaze. "I am not at liberty to say, Viscount." Lady Grace took a sip of her watered wine and tried to change the subject. "I had a question about one of the flowering plants I saw in the garden the other day–"
"Please, Lady Grace. I beg your indulgence. Caroline must have spoken with you?" James let out an exasperated sigh. He was at his wit's end, as Caroline would no longer speak to him except in short, clipped sentences. And only in company.
He had gone to her room a handful of times to call on her and see how she was doing. But every time, her maid answered the door and gave some excuse of why her mistress could not receive him.
Lady Grace's resolve seemed to crack. "She is my sister, my lord. I would no sooner betray her than–"
"I know, I know. I would not ask you to betray her if it were not of utmost importance. Do you know the reason she keeps herself locked up in her room round the clock?" James asked. He was growing desperate.
She hesitated, casting a furtive glance at his father and Lady Beatrice. They could not have cared less for what he and Lady Grace were speaking of. They seemed to be in a world of their own. "I do know." She nodded in Lady Beatrice's direction. "I wonder if a change of scenery might be in order, Viscount?" she whispered.
James slowly looked toward Lady Beatrice and quickly back at Lady Grace. "I had been having the same inkling, Lady Grace. I wonder now if you might not be right."
"I am. And I think it is high time I returned to London. My parents need me," Lady Grace replied with a smile.
"Oh, London?" Lady Beatrice interrupted. James inwardly cringed. Did she have ears everywhere?
"Yes. Lady Grace and her parents reside in London. I am sure Sir Knowles will be happy to have you so close once more," James said.
"Oh, Sir Knowles. I do dote on him," Lady Beatrice said. James could hear right through her falsity. "I long to go to town. It has been ages since I have visited the capital of my homeland."
"Were you not just there a week ago?" James asked.
Lady Beatrice waved him off. "Ahh, yes, but two days is not enough time to visit all of one's friends. And with the Season having just begun, it would be a pity to miss all the parties and galas." Lady Beatrice asked. "Besides, Sir Gerald hates town. Whenever we are there, it is like trying to raise the dead to get him to take me anywhere. What do you think of the idea, Lord Highclere?"
"I quite agree!" James' father said. "We would have been travelling to London after the party anyway. Why not take a short jaunt up to London before the party, and we can show our faces at some of the galas. We have been invited, of course." He gave a nod of decision.
"Father, I am not sure that is wise. With all of the renovations getting ready to start on Pembroke, I actually had an idea to travel there in the next few days and oversee things."
"Nonsense. You can go there after the ball we are hosting. It is only three weeks away," his father argued. "Come. I am sure your wife will thank you for taking her out of the country for a bit of excitement and colour in town?"
"I doubt very much she will want to leave the country. However, if you and Lady Beatrice would like to see Lady Grace back home, then by all means." James could see his opportunity to be rid of the thorn in his side and hoped that his father would at least consider the notion.
His father waved him off. "Come. Let us speak of this in the drawing room. I believe we are all finished, yes?" He rose from his chair and helped Lady Beatrice scoot out hers. He offered her his arm, and they walked ahead into the drawing room from the adjoining door in the dining room.
He helped Lady Grace with her chair and offered her his arm. She seemed just as distressed as he was. "Forgive me, Viscount Hereford. I should not have spoken up in front of her."
James shook his head. "It is not your fault. She seems determined to make a nuisance of herself," he spat. They walked through to the drawing room. He was reluctant to join his father and Lady Beatrice at the fire. Instead, he halted, nodding to a game table set in a quiet corner across the room. "Would you indulge me in a game of Piquet?"
She looked relieved not to spend another moment listening to Lady Beatrice's gossip. "I would be most happy, Viscount. Thank you."
He motioned toward the table, and they were soon seated across from each other. He dealt the cards, and they were quiet for a moment as they studied their hands. "Your sister must be very proud of you," James said. "Have you and Sir Knowles come to an understanding?"
Lady Grace blushed furiously. "No, not as of yet. I believe he was waiting to speak with my father until he returned to town." She looked at him over her cards, looking more uncomfortable than he had ever seen her during their short acquaintance.
“Well, you must write to him and ask him to travel with us to London. I am sure he will want to go there as long as you are headed there yourself.” She again shifted with discomfort. It was true. He had rarely had a moment's solace to speak with her at all beyond the usual pleasantries. "Forgive me for being so forward. I hope that you may see me as a brother one day. But until then, I shall try to refrain from being so bold."
"No, I am not offended, Viscount," she said hurriedly. She smiled, hesitating for a split second. "I always wanted a brother growing up."
James' heart warmed toward her. "And I always wanted a little sister. Perhaps my marriage to Caroline has blessed us in more ways than we realised?"
Lady Grace nodded. "I would very much like to have a closeness with you as I might have enjoyed with a brother of my own," she said softly.
