Confessions of Lady Grace

by Rachel Ann Smith

  Grace stiffened as she recognized the male voice that had Tobias swiveling to his right.

  Her betrothed let out a loud, obnoxious chuckle. “Lady Grace, it’s my honor to introduce to you my good friend, Wilbert Graystone.”

  Tobias shifted slightly to his left, revealing the dashing Home Office messenger, Mr. Jones, her stepbrother, whom Grace’s parents called Alex.

  “Lady Grace, might I say you look divine this evening.” Alex unfolded from a graceful bow.

  It was a rare occasion that her brother emerged from the shadows. Grace weighed the advantages and disadvantages of confronting Alex in full sight of the ton and then said, “How rude of me to stare. But you share a remarkable resemblance to a man that I know, that goes by the name of Alex. You wouldn’t happen to have a brother by that name, would you?”

  Both Tobias and Alex stiffened, and then both laughed with a little extra exuberance.

  Alex said, “I’m sorry to inform you, Lady Grace, but I’m an only child.”

  She sneaked a glance at Tobias. Her betrothed momentarily dropped his facade as a dullard. There were ladies of her acquaintance who would certainly consider him dashing when his true colors shone through. Grace smirked and turned her attention back to Alex. “I too was raised as an only child.”

  Her brother slapped Tobias on the back. “It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who managed to ensnare this wily fellow.”

  Oh, she wasn’t about to let the man off the hook that easy. “Mr. Graystone, do you dance?”

  Grace waited for her brother to catch on.

  Alex frowned but presented his hand at the ready to escort her to the dance floor. He maneuvered them through the crowd in a similar fashion as Matthew used to, anticipating the ebb and flow, ensuring her toes were safe from the masses.

  Grace pulled back as she caught sight of Theo huddled with Mary and Waterford standing by the entrance. Where was Archbroke? Scanning the room, there was no sign of the Home Office secretary. Turning back to the spot where she had left Tobias, Grace inhaled a sharp breath.

  Tobias was headed for the doors with Hadfield and Archbroke following close on his heels. It was apparent a meeting of PORFs was to occur. Grace would have to hunt Theo down as soon as she was done dealing with her sibling.

  Alex squeezed her hand as he took his position opposite her.

  The reel began, and as she circled Alex, she asked, “Why the frown, brother?”

  “Who informed you?” Alex’s smile was in stark contrast to his sharp tone.

  They parted, and Grace’s gaze was once more drawn to Mary and Waterford, who had moved to the refreshments table. Where was Theo? How irresponsible of Archbroke to leave his wife without protection. Grace twisted and turned, searching the room for a glimpse of emerald-green silk.

  Alex came into focus and asked, “How did you discover my identity?”

  “It was by pure happenstance.” Grace smiled as they came to stand face-to-face. “Did you not want a sister? Is that why you never…”

  Alex stepped around Grace, executing the steps with a fluidity that again reminded Grace of Matthew. Except it wasn’t Matthew’s whispers of love she heard; it was Alex’s dire tone. “I know what I am and my place. I’ll forever be grateful for your mama’s generosity, but you are not my family.”

  Grace answered, “We share Papa’s blood. How can you deny we are related? I don’t understand…”

  “Everything is as it should be.” Before they parted once more, Alex said, “Thank goodness our papa has no concern for social conventions and has permitted you… to, well… you know.”

  Grace quickly replied, “Yes, I too am grateful he sees no reason for me not to assist him. However, I’d have loved the opportunity to know my brother. We are family.”

  Alex weaved his way back to her. “You are like your mama, not caring a wit about what others might think should you claim me as family. But I have not changed my stance. It would do more harm than good. Your mama has respected my choice for years. I hope you will do the same.”

  Unwilling to accept his rejection, Grace managed to ask, “You have no room in your life, in your heart, for a sister?”

  Alex adopted a grin that their papa donned whenever he was about to put Grace into checkmate. “While you may not have known about me, I’ve been fully aware of who you are in relation to me. I’ve always looked up to my big sister and will continue to do so from afar.”

  Grace had longed for a sibling. Had begged her mama for years until she understood the toll all the miscarriages were taking on her poor mama’s body and soul.

  The music ceased, and the reel came to an end. Grace dipped into a curtsy and asked, “Why?”

  “Not for the reasons you might think. I choose this lifestyle. Changing identities. Helping others. Being close enough to keep an eye on those I do care for. But after my time on the Continent… I wish for more freedom.”

  Grace’s hopes perked up as she rose and took Alex’s offered hand. “If you work alongside me and not for Archbroke, then…”

  “No.” Alex looked her in the eyes. “That is not the plan.”

  “Whose plan?”

  Alex escorted her from the dance floor as the strains of a waltz began. “Ellingsworth’s, of course. I trust you have convinced Harrington to part with his bounty from the Continent.”

  How is it her brother was privy to Tobias’s plan while she was not?

  While Tobias hadn’t done anything to lose her trust, Grace had the feeling her betrothed wasn’t one hundred percent truthful with her.

  Grace sidestepped past another guest and whispered, “Not yet.”

  Alex paused to let a group of revelers past. “You must not dawdle. Time is of the essence.”

  She bristled at Alex’s tone. “I’m fully aware.”

  “Are you?” He glanced about. “I was going to inform Ellingsworth that Captain Bane has forecasted a change in the schedule. He now intends to set sail early, well before the date arranged for your ceremony. If you do not succeed soon, Ellingsworth will take matters into his own hands, taking whatever action necessary in order for him to board that ship.”

  Her mind latched on to Alex’s last statement. If matters were not being dictated by Tobias, then who was really orchestrating the entire scheme?

  Grace retrieved her fan from her reticle and, with one quick flick of the wrist, spread it open and raised it to partially hide her face. “What do you know about Lord Ellingsworth’s Miss Eliza?”

  Rolling his eyes, Alex answered, “Not much. Although the man is obsessed with her and will do pretty much anything in order to get to her in time.” His words were uttered with a mixture of abhorrence and wonderment as if he didn’t believe love should drive a man to desperate measures. It was apparent her brother had yet to experience true love.

  She snapped her fan closed. “Do you intend to accompany Lord Ellingsworth?”

  “What gave you that idea?”

  Grace could read Alex’s features as if he were an open book. Suspicion as to how she had guessed his intentions narrowed his gaze and caused a muscle in his jaw to twitch as he clenched it tight. It wasn’t clever deduction but common sense that he would seek out a new life after his harrowing experience on the Continent. New beginnings in a land where people are not bound by the same social strictures. A place Alex could reinvent himself and choose who and what he became.

  Grace blinked, and Alex came back into focus. “It’s what I’d do if I wanted to be free.”

  Alex’s features darkened. “In my experience, men are willing to go to extraordinary lengths for their freedom.”

  “You are no longer referring to Lord Ellingsworth, are you?”

  Shaking his head, Alex said, “You are the sole reason why he survived. Why we were rescued. But if it were not for his actions, I’d not have survived long enough to be rescued.”

  The distant look in Alex’s eyes broke Grace’s heart. Blast Archbroke for sending an all-too-young Alex after Matthe
w.

  Head bowed, Alex said, “Harrington claims it was entirely his fault that we all found ourselves at the mercy of Burke’s henchmen. Regardless of the events that led up to our captivity, it isn’t Harrington who should carry the burden. Harrington is better than a saint if there is such a thing. He launched himself at our captor’s time and time again when the brutes landed a hand on Hereford or me and even when they touched the weasel, Addington. He took the brunt of the beatings. Most days, he was half-unconscious, and all he spoke of was you. His guardian angel. His partner for life. His reason for breathing. He promised daily that he’d get us all freed, and once we returned, he’d destroy Burke.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. Grace’s attempts to obtain the gruesome details of the men’s captivity had been futile. Hereford’s report consisted of a mere ten words. I pledged an oath not to speak of the events. She was aware it had not been pleasant and not at all surprised to discover Matthew believed it was all his doing. Burke didn’t deserve a trial. No, the devil should be drawn and quartered. Even that was too humane for the likes of him.

  A younger version of Burke appeared behind Alex. Tobias announced, “I believe it’s time I danced with my delightful fiancé.”

  Tobias’s likeness of his sire had Grace wanting to strangle the smug smile off her betrothed’s face. Calmly she placed a hand on Tobias’s arm. As she walked past her brother, she said, “You shall not leave without allowing Papa to say goodbye.”

  Alex acknowledged her order with a curt nod.

  “I believe the others are awaiting you by the terrace doors,” Tobias said to Alex. He then covered Grace’s hand with his own and swung her in the opposite direction, away from Alex and her friends. In an unusually harsh tone, Tobias said, “Balls are for dancing and frivolity, not discussions that cause grown men nightmares.”

  A few feet away from the dance floor, Grace turned to look over her shoulder. Her nose twitched. Matthew was somewhere close by.

  “I see I’ve lost your attention.” Tobias shortened his stride.

  Grace whispered, “He’s here.”

  “Who?”

  She waggled her eyebrows at Tobias. A scandalous action if seen by others, but Grace dared not mention Matthew’s name.

  They both scanned the room. From the corner of his mouth, Tobias asked, “Did you see him?”

  “I didn’t. I just know.” Her pulse became erratic. She could feel Lord Burke’s eyes trailing them. “Burke is watching.”

  “Seems the habit runs in the family.” With a smirk, he raised his voice slightly and said, “Well, my dear, you do look a tad overheated. Perhaps a stroll along the terrace.”

  Grace tugged on his arm to change directions. “I believe I’m merely parched. Please escort me to the refreshments table.”

  Assuming the befuddled look once more, Tobias outrageously said, “Yes, a drink is exactly what we all need.” The man added a wink and a blatant stare at her décolletage. Onlookers gasped at Tobias’s statement and actions. But they quickly returned to their own conversations as Grace and Tobias meandered their way through the crush of guests.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lady Mary and Waterford stood in front of Matthew, providing a mediocre barricade from the crush of the crowd. For the second time that night, he broke out in a cold sweat as the guests threatened to descend upon him. Matthew tugged on Theo’s elbow and pulled her aside. He peered through the small gap between Lady Mary and Waterford. “She is headed for the refreshments table.”

  “Why did they not go out to the gardens?” Theo went on her tiptoes to peer over Mary’s shoulder.

  Matthew placed a hand on Theo’s shoulder, urging her to shrink back down. “Just go give her the message.”

  “No need to get snippy with me.” Theo slapped his hand away. “You want me to say lilacs are my favorite. Are you certain she will understand my meaning?”

  Theo’s dubious looks reminded him of happier days when they would play pranks on each other as children which continued well into early adulthood. “Yes, now go.” He prayed Grace would remember that he had made the claim moments before their first kiss in an alcove not far from the main ballroom and meet him there.

  Leveling her eyes on him, Theo said, “I’m a terrible liar. Everyone knows that!”

  It was the truth. Theo was a terrible fibber and always had been. Matthew sighed. “Do your best.” He gave Theo a reassuring squeeeze and assisted her up. Rolling his left shoulder, which easily fell out of its socket, Matthew whispered, “Waterford, I’ll meet you at the docks at first light.”

  Waterford’s back stiffened and shifted to allow Theo to squeeze through to stand in front. Waterford said, “We will be there.”

  Matthew glanced at Lady Mary. The woman had always been the oddly quiet one, muttering to herself in the shadows. He shifted and whispered, “The docks aren’t safe.”

  “Captain Bane, like all good seaworthy men, has a healthy respect for superstitions and the like. He’s more likely to heed Mary’s advice than if the recommendation comes from either of us.” Waterford’s chest expanded forward, like a peacock showing off its pretty feathers, a sign of pride. The man was proud of his lady wife and her purported ability to speak to and hear the dead. Grace had stated upon their first meeting with Lady Mary that the woman possessed an extraordinary gift, but at the time, Matthew didn’t believe in spirits. His views changed after spending months in the dark upon the land that had seen bloodshed during the most terrifying years of the Peninsula War.

  Twisted at the waist, Theo said, “See to it that Captain Bane ceases all talk of setting sail early.”

  Matthew stared at Theo’s back as she set off to deliver his message. The girl he had grown up alongside who wore pigtails and breeches daily had become the sophisticated, trailblazing woman who parted the crowd naturally as if she were the queen. Matthew frowned and spun on his heel to make his way to meet Grace. He had missed much while being held captive—Theo’s transformation, Lucy’s wedding, and Edward, his little brother’s, first year away at Eton. All for nothing. He had failed in locating the rondure. Was seeing Burke tried and hung for treason enough to atone for his mistakes? It would have to be, for he had no clue of how else to apologize to everyone for his rash decision to leave for the Continent.

  As he fell back into the shadows to track Theo’s progress. Matthew blinked and blinked again. Lady Mary and Waterford trailed Theo in a distinctly protective manner. As they approached Grace and Ellingsworth, the couple separated to stand on each side of Theo. Ellingsworth’s covert nods to each were followed by a deep bow as if Theo were royalty. The voice of Theo’s deceased brother, Baldwin, filtered through Matthew’s thoughts: PORFs remain on equal footing unless the rondure is discovered. The holder of the coin wields enormous power. Did Theo have the treasure he had risked everything for in her possession?

  Theo flung her arms about Grace in an exuberant hug, then paused a brief moment as Grace’s shoulders stiffened. His message had been delivered.

  A tap on his shoulder had Matthew grabbing and twisting a delicate wrist.

  “Ow.” The Duchess of Fairmont muttered, “I should have known better than to sneak up on an agent.”

  Matthew released his hostess and said, “My apologizes, Your Grace.”

  “As I said, it’s my own fault.” She grabbed him by the chin and turned his face to inspect both sides. “Good to see they didn’t mar your fine looks too bad, but it is the scars we can’t see that worry Grace the most.”

  Matthew stood mute. He hadn’t known that the duchess and Grace were well acquainted.

  “Oh, I know all about your meetings in my hothouse. Did you really believe I was unaware of what occurred under this roof? I convinced the duke it was all for the good of the Crown, assisting interdepartmental affairs and all.” She released his face and said, “When you left, I invited Grace to visit—often. She spent hours in the hothouse, muttering to herself. Her visits ceased the day you returned, but she surprise
d me with a visit yesterday. She claimed to have missed me. While her reasoning was probably partially true, it was not the primary motive for her return. I convinced her to stay for tea, and we had a lovely chat.”

  Good Lord, he had put Grace through the wringer with his departure. He was not deserving of her love or loyalty. Deserving or not, he was going to marry her if she would have him.

  He glanced behind him, relieved to see Grace was still conversing with Theo. “Your Grace, I do appreciate—”

  “We are not done. Don’t worry. My eyesight is excellent, and as soon as Grace leaves the group, I’ll release you, but until then, I have a mind to…” Her hands were balled at her sides, and he could hear her unspoken words, knock some sense into you.

  “I can’t turn back time. I can assure you that I intend to make things right for all.”

  The duchess nodded. “One more thing. After a few bottles of brandy, my dear husband succeeded in obtaining confirmation that the rumors were true. Burke has plans in place for Grace to come to an untimely death after his son consummates the marriage.” With a swirl of skirts, his hostess disappeared into the throng of guests.

  Burke’s devious plan for Grace wasn’t new information. It was reassuring to know that Grace had the backing of some of the most powerful men and women in England, even if she wasn’t aware of the amount of support she had garnered over the years.

  Sliding into the alcove where he was to await Grace, Matthew ensured the curtain and the potted plant sufficiently hid the entrance to the small space. Darkness fell around him, and he found himself struggling for breath. His lungs ceased to spasm as soon as he caught the familiar scent of lilac about him. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply. He was safe, standing in the alcove where he and Grace had shared their first kiss.

  Running his tongue over his lips, the memory of her soft, warm, buttery mouth against his caused his breath to hitch once more. He pictured Grace, eyes fluttering closed as he brushed his lips over hers until she opened for him. Her tentative responses were quickly replaced with eager openmouthed kisses that had left him feeling like the inexperienced one. His hands had roamed over her back and lowered to cup her pert bottom. Grace’s sweet sighs had his breeches uncomfortably tight then—and now.