Page 53 of Claimed By the Duke of Ice

“Now see here, Your Ladyship, my mistress has done naught a thing-”

“It’s all right, Mrs. Snievely,” Grace said softly, stopping the housekeeper before she put herself in danger. She had no faith that Tabitha would act maturely to the disrespect and didn’t want to see her only ally being struck for insolence.

“Could you go fetch us some tea, please?” Grace requested. “I’m sure our guest would like a drink before she takes her leave.”

Mrs. Snievely looked at her with sad eyes but nodded.

“Of course, Your Grace,” she whispered, bowing her head to her before she left.

The moment she was gone, Tabitha walked up to Grace and glared down at her.

“I see what your influence has done to this place. To my nephew. You have caused ruin here,” she hissed. “I should have done what I wanted in the first place with you.”

“And what was that?” Grace asked, meeting her eyes challengingly. She was growing more tired by the second, but she refused to let this wretch of a woman see it. Tabitha’s eyes narrowed into slits, and she bared her teeth at Grace’s fearlessness.

“Whatever would have been necessary to keep your dirty hands off of my nephew,” she spit out. “You’ve ruined him. You’ve ruined this once-great estate. If you knew what was good for you, you would leave immediately. My nephew will never want to reconcile after what you’ve done.”

Grace’s heart felt as if it had been ripped out of her chest and stomped repeatedly on the floor as she heard not only Tabitha’s words but the disgust and hatred in her voice. Perhaps there were feelings Nathaniel harbored for her that she didn’t know about. Feelings of disgust. Betrayal.

“Very well,” Grace bit out, using what little strength she had to rise. “I shall.”

“Oh, don’t you dare act as if you have any claim to—wait, what?” Tabitha asked, clearly confused.

“I do not wish to hurt my husband,” Grace stated, her voice growing weaker. “I never have. If it truly pains him for me to be here, then I will go.”

As she said so, Mrs. Snievely reappeared with a tray of tea and paused in the doorway.

“Your Grace do not leave,” Mrs. Snievely whispered urgently. “This is not what our master would want at all.”

“This is none of your concern,” Tabitha hissed, shooting a hateful glare at the housekeeper. She turned back to Grace, looking confused but victorious.

“So, you will leave then?” she asked. Grace nodded.

“If it is what is best for my husband, yes,” Grace replied weakly, feeling the last of strength drain away.

“Well then,” Tabitha said coldly. “At least, you will finally be doing something right by him. I shall be happy to tell him the news. I’m sure he will be elated.”

Without ending the conversation, Tabitha went to leave. But as she came side by side with Mrs. Snievely, she suddenly brought her hand up from her side and pushed the tray out of the older woman’s hands, sending a clattering of sound through the otherwise quiet halls. A look of smug triumph came over Tabitha’s face as she turned to glare at Grace once more, and then she disappeared into the hallway.

“What a hateful woman,” Mrs. Snievely seethed, kneeling to clean up the mess of spilled tea and broken ceramic. “Don’t you listen to her, Your Grace; the master wants you here, mark my words.”

With wobbly legs, Grace made her way over to the spilled tray, and she knelt down to help. Mrs. Snievely begged her to let the mess go, but she ignored her.

“I’m afraid she is right, Mrs. Snievely,” Grace rasped, her broken heart in her throat, “It is best I go.” As she reached for a broken teacup, her vision blurred, and her hand slipped. Grace heard an audible gasp as she felt a stinging sensation slice down her palm. As if from a distance, she heard Mrs. Snievely call for her mother. In a moment, Susan was by her side, asking Grace what had happened.

“You were right, Mama,” Grace whispered, her words slurring as she began to slip away. “Have the maid ready my things. I shall return with you and Papa after all.”

Without any strength left, Grace collapsed into her mother’s arms, not even knowing that her hand had been sliced open. The only thing she did know was that the man she’d grown to love, the home she’d grown to feel safe in… was now all gone.

* * *

“I have news that will lift your spirits, nephew,” Tabitha announced happily as she walked into the dining room at Kenstrat Estate.

“I’m in no mood for news, Aunt,” Nathaniel replied darkly, digging his fingers into the armrests of his chair. “If we must be together, I would much prefer we dine in silence since you forbade your servants to serve meals to me in my rooms.”

“You will soon no longer have to worry about my rules at all,” Tabitha replied, unbothered by his reaction. “For thanks to me, you now have your home back.”

Nathaniel’s brow furrowed as he finally looked up at her. He was in no mood for games or witty wordplay, especially with his aunt.

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