She pushed out of her chair and smiled at her sisters and Veronica. “Do excuse me, will you?” And then she turned on her heel without giving any of them time to reply.
She’d need to change quickly into a riding habit and leave for Prestwood Place at once. Grace couldn’t put her finger on it and she couldn’t explain the matter at all, but she felt, deep in her belly, that time was of the essence in this regard.
After interviewingnurses the majority of the morning and after listening to his nephew’s wailing for the majority of the afternoon, Oliver’s nerves were most definitely shot. He left Ginny in the white parlor and started back for his study. The walls were so very thick in there, if he closed the door, he could avoid hearing his nephew for a few hours, which was needed if he intended to maintain his sanity. Besides, he still had a plethora of correspondence to return. He’d barely made a dent in the mountain of letters on his desk.
Just as he was about to reach his sanctuary, he heard Stanley’s voice off in the distance. “Lady Grace, do come in, do come in.”
Grace! Oliver’s ears perked up and his stomach tightened. What the devil was she doing at Prestwood Place?
Oliver turned on his heel and started for the front foyer.
“I—um—well, that is...” He heard her begin, sounding quite unsure of herself, which wasn’t like her in the least. Of course, it also wasn’t like her to visit Prestwood Place. But Veronica had gone to Highfield today. Had something happened to her? Was that why Grace was here? Was that why she sounded so unsure?
Oliver quickened his step down the corridor in time to see Grace sag a bit under his butler’s stare. Dear God,whatwas wrong?
“How many I help you, my lady?” Stanley asked, confusion lacing his voice.
“Grace,” Oliver said from his position, and her gaze shot to him. Lovely as she always was, she didn’t look like herself in the least. There was a panic in her eyes he’d never seen before.
But she seemed to steel herself, stand straighter and tip her nose up, as though preparing herself to do battle with him. “Lord Prestwood.” She took a staggering breath. “Do you have a moment?”
A moment? She could have every moment in his life. But the way she was holding herself made trepidation settle in his stomach. “Yes, of course.” He nodded and started toward her. He glanced briefly at his butler. “That’ll be all, Stanley.”
“Yes, my lord,” the servant said as he disappeared down the corridor.
Grace stared up at him, uncertainty in her eyes and it was all Oliver could do not to reach his hand out to her and pull her into his arms. “What is it, Grace? You’re frightening me.” And after the experience with Ginny this last spring, he’d been frightened enough for a lifetime.
“Why did Danby summon you to Yorkshire for Christmas?”
That was the last thing in the world he expected her to say, and he took a step backward. “I beg your pardon?”
“He never does anything without reason, Oliver. So what was his reason for bringing you to Danby Castle?”
Oliver still hadn’t sorted that out, but he couldn’t imagine that a question about Danby had driven Grace to his front door. “I’m not certain. It was a very odd interview.” He shook his head. “Would you like to walk the gardens?” After all, engaging in this very odd conversation shouldn’t be done in his foyer, and he wasn’t keen to have his mother or Ginny stumble upon them in any secluded rooms.
She seemed to agree with that and nodded slightly. “That might be best.”
He offered her his arm, but she shook her head, like she always did, as though touching him might scald her. The one thing he wanted more than anything was to touch her, and it was the one thing she never allowed. He understood that, he did. But it was still like a knife to his heart, even after all these years.
“This way.” He gestured down the corridor, toward the back of the manor.
She matched his steps with her own, and Oliver wished for the millionth time that they could be matched in every other way as well. She never visited Prestwood Place, but having her there felt more right than anything ever—
“Grace?” Ginny stepped from the white parlor. “What a surprise.” And she did shoot Oliver a stunned expression. Of course, she was the only other person in the world except for Grace who was privy to Oliver’s feelings about their unexpected visitor.
“Certainly a surprise to see you, Ginny.” Grace smiled warmly at his sister before hugging her and kissing her cheek. “You’re looking well.”
“You’ve never lied to me before.” Ginny shook her head. “Whatever you do, don’t start now, Grace Post. Your honesty is what I love most about you.”
“Grace and I were about to stroll the gardens, Gin. You are welcome to join us,” he offered, knowing his sister would refuse. She neither had the strength for such an activity, nor would she have the inclination to keep him from speaking with Grace alone.
“I was just about to lie down,” she said. Then she squeezed Grace’s hands. “It’s so nice to see you. I hope we can visit at length when I’m feeling like myself again.”
“Yes, of course,” Grace replied.
When Ginny was out of earshot and they’d continued toward the back of the manor, Grace glanced up at Oliver.
“I hardly recognized her,” she whispered.