Page 12 of A Sister to Beguile (Sherton Sisters 5)

1.She didn’t want to wed – Grace was afraid that even though this was her number one reason, it was likely to be ignored by everyone important to her.

2.The man was insufferably arrogant – again, Grace doubted either her sister or her mother would consider this to be a true impediment. It seemed to be considered acceptable if a gentleman were sufficiently wellborn and his pockets were deep enough.

3.He didn’t seem to have any particular interest in her – knowing Felicity, she would consider this to be a challenge rather than a detriment. But Gracie wasn’t Felicity, and it was a rather significant point in her estimation. She didn’t have the skill nor the temperament to try to ensnare a gentleman’s interest.

4.Did she really need any more reason? Should her sister not take her word for the fact that she didn’t want to be match-made?

With a huff of frustration, Grace turned her mind from her list. It was getting her nowhere. She would discuss it with Felicity, and she would do her very best to be firm when she did so.

True to her mother’s words, Gracie found herself rolling down the road in a luggage-laden carriage with her maid beside her, feeling bemused at how quickly it had all come together. She had been particularly surprised at how sorry she was to say goodbye to her baby brother. Little Augustus, the family’s prized heir and viscount, had finally reached the more interesting stage of being able to communicate. With his personality finally displaying itself, Grace had discovered she quite cared for the little boy, despite the fact that he had usurped their parents’ full attention for the past few years. Her current circumstances led Grace to consider that perhaps it would have been better if he had managed to hold onto that undivided attention a little longer. Then she wouldn’t be rolling toward her sister’s new matchmaking obsession.

A tear rolled down Grace’s cheek, and she dashed it away with impatience. Turning melancholy was the very last thing needed in this situation. With a sniff, she accepted the handkerchief her maid handed her without a word. Gracie appreciated the servant’s forbearance as she herself wouldn’t have been able to contain a mocking remark over the ridiculousness of it all.

How could she be sad to be on her way to visit her favourite person? She ought to be excited beyond all bounds. Grace and Felicity had been the closest friends possible for two people with such complete opposite temperaments. Perhaps, it was that very opposite nature that had made them so close. Grace, despite her tendency to overthink everything, had never really thought about why she loved her sister so very much, she had just accepted it as a foundational fact of her life. But now, she faced the visitation with a sensation of trepidation. Despite her sister’s frequent letters, Grace didn’t actually know all that much about Felicity’s life at Rathnelly. Certainly not first-hand information like she’d had about her sister’s life up until now.

Am I perhaps jealous of the Barringtons?She scoffed at the notion. She was delighted for Felicity. Her sister seemed much happier than Grace had ever known her to be. Content for the first time since Felicity had discovered that girls were treated differently than boys. For that, Grace was grateful to the duke and his children. No, Grace was certain that rather than jealousy, it was just a sense of being left out for the first time. But really, she reminded herself, it was far from the first time. She had never been able or even interested in keeping up with Felicity’s fits and starts. Since they were small, she had known about Felicity’s adventures but had only occasionally fully shared in them.

Usually, as it had been when Felicity fooled the entire family and accepted work as Lady Adelina’s paid companion, Grace’s role was to keep her sister’s secrets. It had all worked out in the end when Felicity’s brief role as companion became a more permanent one as Adelina’s stepmother, through her marriage to the Duke of Rathnelly. While Felicity’s convoluted stratagems often worked out in the end, Grace shuddered at the thought of enduring something so risky. She was well aware of her identity as the boring Sherton Sister and didn’t resent it overmuch. She had less than no interest in having such an adventure. She would far rather stay safe and sound at Glendale for the rest of her days.

“Surely, you don’t wish to sit in your baby brother’s pocket for the rest of your days.”Only a mother could employ such a cool tone with her daughter. Remembering the haughty expression that had accompanied her mother’s question settled a chill in Grace’s heart. She nibbled on her lip as she turned her watery gaze to the side so she could observe the passing landscape. In silent reply to her mother’s question, Grace thought an emphatic “no.” She wished to help her brother, of course; that had been her intentions when she thought of never leaving home. She had never thought to take advantage. The very thought suffused her with shame. Grace twisted her lips. That was likely her mother’s intention.

Perhaps, everyone was right. Not about Lord Sterling, of course. Grace would still have to set her sister straight about trying to arrange a match with the over-handsome earl. But Grace would try to use her time at Rathnelly to grow more comfortable with the thought of going into Society. She could only imagine how Felicity would react at the news. It would likely take all of Gracie’s strength to keep a tight rein on her sister’s enthusiasm. Grace had no interest in being her sister’s latest project. Even if she did wed, as everyone seemed to believe, Grace was very sure her desire for a simple, even boring, life should not involve marriage to someone as complicated and appealing as Lord Sterling. What was more, Grace was stubborn enough to never go along with Felicity’s intentions just for spite. Grace loved her sister, but Felicity’s ideas were always far too convoluted for Grace’s peace of mind.

She couldn’t completely abandon her hope that her parents would allow her to peacefully drift into spinsterhood, but perhaps that would be too unconventional for her after all. It would be something to consider while at Rathnelly, at any rate. She would think on it whenever she could remove the handsome earl from her thoughts. She could only hope contemplating a simple, sweet, average nobleman would keep thoughts of Lord Sterling firmly from her mind.

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