Across the room, Mr. Lacy glanced toward the threshold and his countenance brightened, which made Grace smile. He left the older gentleman with whom he’d been talking and quickly made his way to Grace and her family.
“So pleased you could all make it this evening, Post.” He shook Quent’s hand.
“The pleasure is all mine,” her brother returned evenly.
And then Mr. Lacy turned his light eyes on Grace. “My dear, I would love to introduce you to my uncle.”
The Earl of Downe. That had to be a good sign, didn’t it? “I’d be honored,” she replied, and took his arm when he offered it.
“Thank you for coming,” he said softly as he started to lead her around the perimeter of the ballroom. “I do dread these affairs, but I believe you could make anything enjoyable.”
Grace released a sigh of relief. Hecouldbe brought up to scratch, she could feel it. “I am flattered, Mr. Lacy.”
“Daniel please?” he asked. “At least when it’s just the two of us, Grace. I hope we don’t have need to be quite so formal all the time.”
She smiled up at him at the use of her name. It didn’t elicit the same tingles racing along her skin as when Oliver rumbled her name, but it was a start. “I completely agree. There’s no reason for formalities at all, Daniel.”
He winked at her and then stopped right before an older, slightly rotund gentleman with a balding pate. “Uncle,” he said in greeting. “I would like for you to meet Lady Grace Post.”
The gentleman grinned widely. “Bradenham’s sister.”
“Yes, Lord Downe.” Grace nodded. “It is nice to meet you.”
“And you.” He nodded in approval. “You must be a remarkable young lady to be able to drag Daniel from the library on so regular an occasion. I do hope you’ll visit us soon and often.”
“I hope so too, my lord.” She grinned, feeling even better about her chances. His uncle knew of her, knew her connections and apparently approved. What a wonderful evening this was turning out to be. There was nothing on the horizon that should stop Daniel from proposing.
“His Grace, the Duke of Danby,” intoned the Downe’s butler from the threshold. The familiar ping of anxiousness washed over Grace whenever she heard that name, though it shouldn’t. There was nothing Danby could do to thwart her. She’d miraculously found a decent fellow amongst a hoard of insipid fops and dandies, and her life was going to turn out exactly as she planned, if not exactly what she longed for. But her feelings for Oliver, like so many things in life, were something she didn’t have any control over.
“Attempt to drag my nephew out onto the dance floor at least once this evening, my dear,” Lord Downe continued. “I have a feeling that’s a feat only you can accomplish.”
Grace cast Daniel a sidelong glance to find him shaking his head, though a good-natured smile did grace his lips. “You know I’m abysmal at that sort of thing, Uncle.”
Downe laughed. “My dear boy, when you’ve got a stunning lady in your arms, no one will be watchingyou, you can take my word for it.”
“Onthatnote…” Daniel touched a hand to his brow in an affectionate salute. Then he led Grace away from his uncle.
“He seems to genuinely adore you,” Grace said once they were out of the earl’s earshot.
“I imagine he wants to make certain I’ll see after his brood of daughters after he’s gone.”
Well, that was probably true. Still, Grace’s eyes grew slightly at the honesty of his response. For as often as Daniel seemed to have his head in one book or another, he was fairly astute to the ways of society.
“He’s seeing to Addie’s education now,” Daniel added. “For that I am grateful and will always make certain my cousins are cared for.”
“Does she live here, with the earl?” Grace asked, even though it was none of her business.
“Away from his daughters, yes,” he replied though he said nothing else on the subject.
It was generous of Lord Downe to allow his younger brother’s byblow to live with his family. There were many in Town who would never do such a thing. Grace’s mother would never have done such a thing. Quent was right about her, as he so often was. When Mama first realized Daniel’s sister had been born on the wrong side of the blanket, a small fit had been thrown at Post House, and she’d insisted, quite firmly, that Grace and Hope should have nothing to do with the unfortunate girl.
A change of subject was in order and so Grace tugged on Daniel’s sleeve until he looked down at her, and then a small smile tugged at his lips. “Apologies,” he said. “I do let my temper get away with me sometimes.”
That was his temper? Daniel Lacy’s temper couldn’t touch Braden’s on a good day. Even Quent got angrier than that. Still, she smiled up at him. “Shall I dance with you and make your uncle happy?”
Daniel released a sigh. “I have no aptitude for it, Grace. But if we wait for a waltz, I should be able to manage without making a fool out of myself.”
“A waltz sounds perfect.”