Page 6 of A Sister to Beguile (Sherton Sisters 5)

Chapter Three

Gracie swallowed her sigh. She didn’t want to spend the afternoon with the handsome earl. How tiresome it was that he had called. And how dreadfully, exceedingly tiresome that he was exactly the sort of gentleman her mother would think was highly eligible to become her last son-in-law.

Most young ladies would consider him to be very handsome. Not just the young ladies. Really, anyone with eyes in their head, even other gentlemen, would have to agree that he was pleasing to the eyes. In fact, looking at him made Gracie wish she had a sketch pad in her hands, as it would be quite a challenge to try to capture those cheekbones and jaw. She wasn’t certain she had the required skill.

Shoving the ridiculously unhelpful thoughts aside, Grace applied herself to dealing with the matter at hand. Lord Sterling had called on her with some sort of intentions toward Felicity.

“Wexford would not allow you to cause trouble for Felicity,” she said in as chatty a manner as she could muster when all she really wanted to do was kick the man in the shins and tell him to leave her family alone.

At least, it didn’t seem as though he were calling on her for the traditional reasons that a gentleman calls upon a woman, which was a selfish relief. For the most part, in any case. Grace refused to acknowledge the tiny part of her that was disappointed. That was just female silliness, which she had every intention of ignoring.

“I can assure you, I have no intention of causing any sort of trouble for your sister. Or your brother-in-law, for that matter. It would be an exaggeration to claim that Wexford is a friend, but I would definitely say that I am on friendly terms with the man and have no intention of altering that state of affairs.” He paused for a moment as they resumed their stroll. “Although, I must point out that it is a trifle strange that you mention that Wexford would take exception to my causing trouble for the duchess but not her husband. Why did you not threaten me with Rathnelly’s wrath?”

Grace laughed. “I felt that Wexford poses a more serious threat.”

She watched from the corner of her eye as he contemplated her answer before a smile spread across his face. Gracie averted her eyes. She didn’t need that image to be burned into her eyes.

“I can see why you would think that,” he finally said.

“Do you not agree? Would you consider Rathnelly more dangerous?”

To Grace’s surprise, the earl shrugged.

“I don’t really think of either of them as dangerous.”

“You don’t?” Gracie asked, feeling awed. “You are certainly in the minority, in that case.”

“Doyouconsider them dangerous?”

“Absolutely,” Gracie replied promptly. At his look of surprise, she quickly added, “Not to my person or to me personally, but I know how they are when something they consider theirs is threatened. And my sisters and I are considered theirs.”

“I see.”

Grace wasn’t sure what his words were supposed to mean. What did he think he saw?

“So, are you going to tell me what you wish to discuss with Rathnelly?”

“It’s a private matter,” he excused.

“You are the one who made it not so private by coming here, my lord.”

“I can see that it was not my best laid plan.”

Grace laughed and nodded.

“I feel as though there must have been more to your visit.”

Suddenly, the man’s friendliness and seeming openness disappeared in a blink, and Gracie was left to wonder if she had imagined it in the first place.

“What doyousuppose could have been my reasons?” he asked in a cool voice, as though he were trying to freeze her out.

“I haven’t the faintest idea, my lord, which is why I asked. But surely, you’ll admit that your visit has been a trifle strange.”

He unbent slightly and offered her a faint smile. “Perhaps.”

They walked along again in silence, and Grace marvelled that she was no longer uncomfortable with the man, despite all the reasons why she ought to be. It was the first time she had been called upon by a gentleman who was not a part of her family. And he clearly had ulterior motives. But still, she was comfortable with him.

So comfortable, she could only hope he would leave soon. She didn’t want to feel comfortable with a handsome, eligible gentleman. Her mother would have them wed before either of them could gainsay her. That was not at all in harmony with Grace’s plans for herself.

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