“Apologies,” Daniel muttered.
Grace met Oliver’s gaze again and her heart nearly broke for him and for Ginny. What a horrible experience to have gone through. At least he’d been there for his sister. Speaking of sisters… “Patience and Dr. Campion should be arriving on the morrow. I know she would love to see Veronica while they’re in residence.”
“Ah, but can so much silliness be tolerated in any one place?”
Grace laughed. She couldn’t help it. Whenever Veronica and Patience were together, their silliness knew no bounds. On more than one occasion, Oliver’s late-father had implemented a schedule of when the girls were allowed to visit at Prestwood Place as their endless giggling seemed to set his nerves on end. “Veronica has always been welcomehere, my lord.”
“I’ll be certain to let her know.” Then he glanced toward Braden at the head of the table. “Do consider yourself warned, my friend.”
“You may have more silliness than you know what to do with once Adelaide and my cousins arrive,” Daniel said.
Mama’s smile faded away at the mention of Daniel’s sister and Grace steeled herself for her mother to say something unpleasant. She had, after all, not been terribly happy to learn he adored his byblow sister. But his adoration for the girl was one of the things Grace liked about him. His head might be stuck in one book or another most of the time, but while many men would put distance between themselves and their illegitimate siblings, the fact that Daniel loved Adelaide so dearly spoke to his genuine good character.
“If Highfield has withstood Patience and Lady Veronica all these years, Lacy,” Quent began amiably, “I can’t image your sister or Downe’s daughters could do anything to set us on our ears.”
“Considering Callie’s delicate condition,” Mama said a little waspishly, “perhaps we shouldn’t throw down that gauntlet, Quentin.” Not that Mama cared about Braden’s wife in the least. Honestly, she didn’t care about BradenorQuent; so her snappish tone was most likely just in reaction to the thought of having to play host to Daniel’s unacceptable sister. Well, Mama was just going to have to learn to live with the situation. Adelaide was important to Daniel and that was that.
Luckily, the ladies were soon excused as dinner came to an end for the gentlemen to discuss crop rotations or whatever else they found fascinating over port. Grace was quite grateful to Lila for taking Mama by the arm as they headed for the green parlor. Lila was the kindest lady Grace knew, and an ally, most certainly.
“I think I’d like to play a little,” Grace called after them.
Mama glanced back over her shoulder with a frown. “Hiding from the world again, Grace?”
That was the one thing playing did for her, but she wasn’t about to admit that to her mother. “Haven’t had a chance to play all day, Mama. I shan’t be at it long.”
Her mother heaved a sigh and was about to admonish her, Grace had no doubt. But then Lila said very sweetly, “Lady Bradenham, I was hoping to get your advice on a certain matter. Not having my mother anymore, I hope you don’t mind if I ask you to stand in for her a bit.”
Yes, Lila was most definitely an ally. Grace could have kissed her sister-in-law.
Mama’s expression softened a bit and as she said, “Of course.”
And then the two of them were gone. Grace sighed with relief and then headed toward the music room. It was so blissfully quiet. She made her way to the piano bench and let her fingers trail over the keys. Haydn poured out of her; and the world and thoughts of Daniel and Oliver drifted away.
Grace had no idea how long she’d played, but after a while, she sensed someone in the threshold. She glanced up from the keys to findOliverstanding there, watching her. Heavens, how long had he been there?
Oh, how she hated him right then for disrupting the only bit of peace she’d had all day. She hated the way his superfine midnight jacket stretched across the expanse of him, emphasizing the broadness of his shoulders. She hated the way a dark curl always seemed to kiss his brow, making his light eyes that much more piercing. And she hated the very air that filled the blackguard’s lungs. But mostly she hated that even after all this time, after everything he’d done, after he’d ripped her heart from her chest, that the nearness of him still robbed her of her breath and made her stomach flip. Yes, of all the things she hated about Oliver Ashbee, the fact that his nearness still had such an effect on her was what she hated more than anything else.
“What are you doing here?” she complained, tipping her head back regally. It was, after all, always best to fire the first shot across the bow when dealing with him.
Oliver shook his head and stepped into the music room, though his blue eyes never wavered from her gaze. “What are you doing with that Lacy fellow?”
He’d sought her out to ask that? Had he not twisted the knife in her heart enough times over the years? “I thought we’d been perfectly clear, but I did forget your haziness on the subject, Oliver. We are betrothed, engaged, planning to marry. Pick whichever one you understand best. They all mean the same thing.”
He narrowed his eyes on her. “Honestly? You want to be known the rest of your days as Gracie Lacy? A rhyming name would never suit you.”
“Grace.” She folded her arms across her chest. Infuriating man. “I think it suits me perfectly fine. Andhesuits me perfectly fine.”
Oliver scoffed. “Please. You couldn’t possibly want to marry that man.”
Daniel was as pleasant as any man could be. He was kind and gentle and a man she’d chosen herself. He might not be the most exciting fellow in the world, but he was decent. Besides, she wasn’t about to wait until next Christmas and end up with whomever the Duke of Danby thought to pair her with. She lived her life exactly the way she wanted to, and Daniel Lacy wasn’t the sort who would keep her from doing whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted to do so. “I couldn’t possibly want to marry a handsome man who…”
“I wouldn’t call him handsome.”
“Wonderful, I shan’t have to compete with you for his affections, then.”
“Afraid you’d lose?”
What a ridiculous thing to say. Oliver was still as insufferable as he’d always had been. “Do go harass someone else. I am tired of you already.”