Page 29 of A Sister to Beguile (Sherton Sisters 5)

“It strikes me that timing might be an important factor to consider in this matter. If there is already a saboteur out there wreaking havoc on Rathnelly’s interests and making threats against him and perhaps other members of my family, we cannot sit about contemplating what to do. Action is required immediately, whether we like action or not.”

Now Sterling was frowning at her as though he couldn’t fathom what she was on about. Grace’s colour deepened even further by the warmth radiating off her skin. She tried to explain herself.

“I would far rather be at home curled up in my bedroom with a lovely novel from the lending library. I have tried to convince my mother that I never wish to leave home, but she is terribly insistent that I must enter Society and wed, that otherwise I will be an embarrassment and an encumbrance for my brother.”

“While I find that strangely fascinating and would like to know more about why you feel that way, I don’t see how that answers why you are writing to Wexford before your father.”

Grace’s cheeks tightened with her discomfort. “I suppose that was a little off topic. My parents are quite preoccupied with my young brother. And my father, while a very dear man, will be quite burdened with this information. It will take him considerable time to decide how he feels about it and what he thinks ought to be done. I don’t think waiting for his response would benefit the situation. In fact, every moment we would wait would be a moment wasted, I’m afraid. If I start with Wexford, action can begin immediately. I will, of course, inform my father, but this will allow for a solution to be underway while my father contemplates it. And in this case, especially, if there is truth to it being Griffiths causing the trouble, I am afraid it will hurt my father, and he will feel responsible for whatever problems have arisen. That will weigh him down further and impede our progress. I would far rather be able to quickly tell him that it is in hand, and he needn’t worry about it. Knowing Wexford as I do, that is quite likely in my estimation.”

It was quite a speech, and Sterling’s stare didn’t lessen. Nor did the heat in her cheeks. Embarrassment nearly swamped Grace. She had been rambling on and on. Lord Sterling likely thought her a fool.

“You have a great deal of confidence in Wexford’s abilities,” he finally said.

“I do, in fact. Don’t you?” Gracie frowned.

Sterling shrugged a little and offered her a crooked smile. “I don’t have the same kind of experience with him as you do.”

“What kind of experience do you have?”

“Well, very little, to be honest. We’re acquaintances rather than friends. I have seen him in action in the House. He preserves a formidable air.”

“Yes, that’s true. I think I would probably be terrified of him, if I hadn’t met him when I was a child and he was making an effort to be appealing.”

Sterling tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. “What did he do to try to be appealing to a little girl?”

“He brought Felicity and me candies and dolls.”

“Did you not already have dolls?”

“Not ones like these.” Grace could still remember the thrill of this strange adult man bringing them such a gift. “And the candies were very special, too. We so often had biscuits and other treats, but candies were quite rare in our young lives. We didn’t have many adults in our lives, either. The servants, of course, and our parents. But we don’t have aunts and uncles as many children do. We had Grandmother Sherton, of course. But she was an intimidating lady who didn’t quite approve of us as children. She grew much kinder as we grew older. And was very generous to us girls in her death. But Wexford’s gifts were the first of their kind in our young lives. We were probably even a little old for the dolls. But he did a remarkable job of impressing us.”

Sterling’s smile was still on the disbelieving side, so Gracie continued. “He also took the time to talk to us. That might not sound so interesting or surprising, but he knew to sit in a chair so he wasn’t towering over us, and he had all the right questions to get us chattering away. And he sat there and listened to us. You probably know he has a sister, so he knew what he was doing. The fact that he actually did it has always endeared him to me. He didn’t have to. He’s a busy and powerful man. Two little girls are really nothing in his realm. But he took the time to greet us and get to know us, even though we were really quite insignificant, even within our immediate family. Our parents were so caught up in the three older girls and their Seasons and trying to get them married off. And then it happened quite suddenly that both Rosabel and Hilaria wed, and Vigilia not long afterward. Felicity and I were left to our own devices quite a bit in that time period. We had a wonderful governess, of course. But, yes, Wexford’s attention was welcome and gained him two quite devoted sisters-in-law.”

“That is quite evident, my lady. I haven’t known you long, but these are the longest speeches I have ever heard you make on any subject. You are usually quite sparing in your conversations. It reveals quite a bit that you would go into such detail about him. And I must admit that I will never look at him quite the same in the future.”

Grace laughed. “Make no mistake, Wexford could peel the wallpaper off the walls with his glare if he thought we were out of line. But he considers us to be his, and he will do whatever is necessary in his seemingly limitless power to look after what is his.”

“Well, I should let you get back to writing to him, in that case. I can see that you expect him to accomplish great things in this matter.”

“I do,” Grace answered simply before fixing him with a stare. “But that isn’t to say that we needn’t do the rest. Everyone involved needs to be contacted and apprised of the situation. And maybe they have information that’s important to the matter. Mr. Northcott, for example. He is wise in all sorts of matters. And of course, Father might have something to add. I probably shouldn’t have been so quick to think he would take too long. Seeing as it’s his cousin we suspect of causing trouble for the family, there might be some insights Father could share.” She paused and sighed. “Really, I ought to stop chattering and get on with writing to everyone. If we send out the messengers immediately, we could have answers back before long.”

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