Her hands settled on his chest, and the feel of her touch drove him wild, made his cock as hard as a fire iron and his arms tightened around her as though vowing to never let her go. But then she pushed him away, lifted the edge of her riding habit and bolted back inside the manor.
The physical loss of her was painful; the emotional loss of her was unbearable. Oliver sagged against the balustrade as tears welled up in his eyes.
Chapter 12
Grace was in complete misery. The Earl of Downe and his family had descended upon Highfield along with Adelaide Lacy, and between her family and Daniel’s, there was nowhere at home where she could suffer in peace. Even her blessed music room had been invaded by one of the Downe’s daughters, she wasn’t certain which one. Suffering behind a feigned smile was the worst sort of hell that existed on Earth, she had no doubt. It was like going through life wearing a mask and a lie, and it was simply miserable.
She sensed that Hope and Patience were watching her with curious eyes, but neither of her sisters muttered anything of substance to her. If one of them had, Grace quite likely would have broken down into a pool of tears, and that would never do. Crying wouldn’t solve her problems and wouldn’t cure her heartache. She was more than mortified that Oliver had seen her so discomposed. How was she to ever look him in the eyes again after that day at Prestwood Place? Thankfully, he’d been true to his word and hadn’t called at Highfield since that day.
Daniel had holed himself up in the library with Patience’s doctor and was going on and on about infrared radiation. Grace had no idea what that was, but Doctor Campion seemed rather interested in the whole thing, which was a blessing, Grace supposed. She certainly didn’t want to listen to a lecture on the topic.
“I think I shall stay here and never return to Prestwood,” Veronica Ashbee declared as Grace walked past the yellow parlor.
“He can’t be that bad,” Patience giggled.
Grace stopped where she stood.
“He gets grumpier and grumpier with every passing day,” she replied. “I thought he was bad during the start of the season, but now he’s downright sullen and ill-tempered.”
Oliver. She had to be talking about her brother. There were no other males living at Prestwood Place these days.
“That doesn’t sound like him in the least,” Patience said, sounding like her usual cheerful self. “Lord Prestwood was always the most engaging fellow, charming, and—”
“It’s been a while since you’ve seen him,” Veronica complained. “Perhaps after Grace leaves for Kent, I can beg your mother to let me have her room.”
At that Patience laughed. “No one in their right mind wants to live withmymother.”
“That should tell you how miserable it is to be near Oliver these days. He’s made even your mother’s home look like a peaceful haven.”
Grace walked on. So Oliver was just as miserable as she was? She wasn’t truly surprised by that fact, but the knowledge didn’t give her one ounce of solace either. She certainly didn’t want Oliver to be miserable, and she didn’t want to be miserable herself. But there was nothing for it. If there had been a solution to this mess of theirs it would have been found by now.
She made her way to Braden’s study. He was off doting on Callie, so it should be the one corner in Highfield where she might be by herself.
“Daniel says you play the piano,” a small voice called from behind her.
Grace glanced over her shoulder to find Adelaide Lacy following in her wake, her golden hair done up in a loose chignon. The little girl did seem as timid as a mouse. In a few days, she’d be Grace’s charge. Perhaps she could do something to boost the girl’s confidence. If she was going to have to face women like Mama the rest of her life, she’d need more than she currently possessed. Grace supposed she could focus on Adelaide now, on figuring out how best to guide her soon-to-be sister. It was better time spent, after all, than wallowing in her own self-pity.
Grace nodded in response. “Do you play, Adelaide?”
“Just Addie,” she said softly as she shook her head. “But, no, I don’t have the aptitude for it, though I do love to listen.”
“Sometime when your cousins aren’t crowding the music room, I’ll play for you, then. In the meantime, has anyone taught you to play loo?”
Addie shook her head again.
“I’ll teach you, then. It’ll be our little secret,” Grace lifted her hand out to the girl. “I happen to know my brother has some cards in his study. Why don’t we go hide in there for a while?”
Her angelic little face lit up. “Thank you, Lady Grace.”
“Come now,” Grace squeezed Addie’s hand in hers. “If we’re to be sisters you must just call me Grace.”
“Thank you, Grace. And thank you so much for having me here. Uncle Edward said you might not want me to come.”
How hard it must be to live on the fringe of respectability. One foot in, one foot out all the time. “Well, of course, you’re welcome here. Daniel adores you and you’re his sister.”
“Lady Bradenham…”
Blast it. What had Mother done? Grace was certain she didn’t even want to know. She tugged Addie to a stop and tipped her chin upwards so she had to meet Grace’s eyes. “Adelaide Lacy, you shall never hang your head low. You are a beautiful girl with a beautiful future ahead of you and never let anyone tell you differently.”