Page 49 of Married By Twelfth Night
A loud thud sounded from behind them, the door hitting the wall. “What in the name of all that is good and holy is happening here?” The exclamation behind them set Richard leaping off the sofa. Grace jumped in fright too, but not so elegantly, and her head hit Richard’s chest. He caught her arm and stepped on her toe. After a moment, they managed to stand side by side, chests heaving, while they stared at who had caught them in a most compromising position.
The older woman had straight, imposing shoulders beneath her purple muslin gown. Her gray hair sat perfectly coiffed atop her head as if a single hair did not risk the woman’s ire by being out of place. But most notable of all was her very scandalized expression.
“Aunt Edith,” Richard gaped. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving the family name, apparently.” She tapped a cane on the ground for emphasis. Grace could not tell if she required the cane or if it was an affectation she used to intimidate people.
“It’s not what you think,” Richard said, holding up his hands.
Grace nodded her agreement because she hadn’t quite found her voice yet. Nothing had happened, but shehadbeen about to let Richard kiss her if he so desired. She wasn’t about to admit to such a thing though.
“Oh?” his aunt said, pursing her wrinkled lips. “Is that why you have a woman’s glove across your chest?”
Grace’s head flung to see, and sure enough, her glove was draped across Richard as if stamping him with her touch.
He quickly removed it and handed it back to her. It was hers and there was no hiding the fact, so she reluctantly accepted it.
It was her turn to say something. “Forgive me, I found Mr. Graham asleep on the sofa when I arrived, and I was ascertaining if he was ill.”
“He looks robust and healthy to me.” His aunt’s snippy voice sent a dart of shame at her chest.
“Yes, he does, doesn’t he?” she sighed heavily. Too healthy, if you asked her.
“Aunt, this is Miss Grace Steele. Miss Steele, my great-aunt, Lady Edith Walker.”
After Grace dipped a curtsy, Richard abandoned her. He strode to his aunt’s side. “Now that you know it was a complete misunderstanding, you must sit down and rest.” He took her arm and led her into the room.
Lady Edith sniffed. “I suppose I should. I am dying, you know.”
Grace could not believe her blunt manners, but Richard took them in stride.
“Which is why I am utterly surprised to find you have traveled all this way,” he said.
“I am making the rounds and saying my good-byes.” Effortlessly taking her seat as if she had never been sick a day in her life, Lady Edith swung her gaze to meet Grace’s. Lifting her cane, she pointed it at her. “Is this the woman you have engaged yourself to?”
Grace squirmed in her chair.
Richard cleared his throat before answering. “No, I am not engaged at present.”
His aunt made a high-pitched noise. “Not engaged? Did youread my letter?”
“Both of them, yes.”
Grace’s eyes went back and forth between the two of them, wishing she was anywhere else in the world, but also completely fascinated by the unnerving conversation.
“And have you even found a woman of my liking?”
Ofherliking? What was that supposed to mean?
Richard shot Grace a glance. “I have, but might we speak of this in the morning? Dinner should be ready soon, and as you can see, we have a guest present.”
Lady Edith gave an elegant snort of derision. Grace did not know how she managed it, but she did. “Guest?” she said. “Is that what you call this heathen girl?”
Grace scowled and squeezed her hands in her lap to keep from shooting a biting remark. “I cannot stay. My chaperone had a headache and returned already. I came inside to make my apologies and wish the family goodnight before returning myself.”
Lady Edith drew a fan from her reticule and began beating the air by her face. “No chaperone? This story grows worse by the second.”
Richard’s voice grew tight. “Miss Steele is our closest neighbor and a dear friend to both Bridget and myself. She has my highest respect. Despite what you saw, I must plead with you to see the innocence in it.”
