Page 38 of A Sister to Beguile (Sherton Sisters 5)

Chapter Fifteen

Gracie couldn’t have explained why she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Lord Sterling had been doing a fine job of explaining everything. And surely, neither Felicity nor Rathnelly could fault either of them for their efforts or the way they had handled their investigation. She really ought to have left Sterling to defend himself if Felicity wanted to upbraid him for something.

But she couldn’t do it. The earl had done them a favour and ought to be thanked, not chastised, despite the fact that she, herself, had something against him.

Her grudge toward him wasn’t the sort that would lead to any kind of sabotage. And likewise wasn’t for her sister’s edification. She only hoped she could quickly have her trunks packed and return to Glendale as soon as possible. She could hardly stand the sight of her sister’s home for all it reminded her of the time she spent with the handsome and infuriating earl.

“It would seem I owe you a debt of gratitude, Sterling,” Rathnelly said, allowing Gracie to relax slightly. “Perhaps, once the ladies leave us, we can finally get around to discussing that business you had asked about before all this came up.”

Grace’s heart plummeted to her toes, as disappointment surged within her. She had been right. Sterling had only been helping her in order to bolster his credentials with Rathnelly. She knew it was weak, but she cast a glare toward the earl anyway, even as she slowly got to her feet.

“I’ll be happy to leave you to your discussions. I could probably use a nap anyway.”

“It’s barely past breakfast, Grace,” Felicity objected, even as she was about to follow her from the room.

Lord Sterling interrupted their departure. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would appreciate a few words with Lady Grace.”

Now, Rathnelly was staring at the earl as though trying to ascertain his thoughts. “It seems to me you’ve had plenty of time to exchange words with her ladyship over the last few days.”

“Yes, but we have a few more we need to share, in order to clear up a separate matter.”

Grace’s face was beginning to heat, and she could no longer meet the eyes of anyone in the room. She didn’t even know her own mind. Did she want to speak privately with the man or not?

She could sense Rathnelly and Felicity exchanging thoughts without words before the duke finally said to Alex, “Very well, Sterling, you can return here to meet me after you’ve had your words with Grace. It would seem you and I have more than one subject to discuss when you come back,” he added with a challenging glance at the earl. “It goes without saying that you shouldn’t be anywhere terribly private. You’ve been skirting the edges of respectability long enough, I would think.”

Grace wished the ground could swallow her in that moment. Her embarrassment didn’t seem to have any bounds. Her head was buzzing slightly as seemingly all the blood in her body rushed into her face. She had half a mind to speak harshly in response to the duke but instead she shuffled toward the door, hoping the floor would open and swallow her, thus saving her from whatever further discomfort was before her.

“My dear, shall we adjourn to a salon, or would you care to take a stroll in the gardens?”

Grace swallowed her discomfort as best she could and tried to smile.

“A stroll in the gardens might be a nice change from what we’ve been doing for the past week,” she managed to say as pleasantly as she could muster. She hadn’t meant to sound snippy so was surprised when the earl appeared hurt by her words. Grace’s immediate impulse was to apologize, but she managed to knit together her lips rather than speak.

When Lord Sterling offered her his elbow, after another hard swallow, Grace took it and went with him to the garden. It was a beautiful day; perhaps they could gaze at the clouds and forget they had ever been investigators. Grace’s heart trembled. She didn’t think she could ever happily return to the simple existence she had used to crave.

“Lady Grace, I owe you a sincere apology.”

Grace blinked, wondering if she were imagining the warmth in his tone.

“I beg your pardon,” she murmured out of habit.

Alex laughed. “No, I’m trying to begyourpardon.”

Finally, Grace no longer felt as though her feelings were being lacerated. A smile started to spread across her lips.

“For what are you apologizing?”

“I was unbearably unpleasant to you yesterday.”

“I wouldn’t say it was unbearable. I did survive.”

Alex returned her teasing grin. “Nevertheless, I still offer my profuse apologies, my lady.”

“Profuse now, are they? Youhavechanged, haven’t you, my lord?”

“In more ways than you can possibly know,” he murmured, making Grace’s heart clench with excitement as he urged her toward a bench in front of the hedgerow. “Lady Grace, the past several days with you by my side have changed me. I was unforgivably rude to you yesterday, but it was only my last-ditch effort to stop myself from falling desperately in love with you. But I realize now that it was too late. The deed had already been done. I don’t deserve your forgiveness nor your love, but I’m begging you for it anyway. Please, my dear Grace, will you accept my hand and be my partner in whatever adventures we can come up with together from here on?”

Grace stared at him through the sheen of tears that had gathered in her eyes. It was the most perfect thing he could have said to her. She didn’t answer him immediately, though, so he explained himself further.

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