“I hardly think Danby would appreciate that,” she muttered, reading further…and then she stopped.As of this day, I am breaking Eloise’s betrothal to you on the grounds of the morality clause in her marriage contract.
The letter slipped from Grace’s fingers and fluttered to the floor. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever dared to believe that such a thing was possible. “Gracious!” she whispered.
And then Oliver was pulling her into his embrace. “I’m free, Grace. I’m actually free.”
And then his lips were on hers and his arms held her tight. Her nipples ached and desire rushed through her, and everything she’d ever wanted in the world was within reach, except…
Exceptshewasn’t free.
Grace pushed at Oliver’s chest until he lifted his head. “You may be free, but I’m not.”
A sound at the threshold caught her ears, and she turned her head to find Daniel and Addie standing right outside the music room. Daniel’s face wore an expression of pain and disbelief, and Grace felt like the worst sort of villain.
“Let me guess,” he said coolly. “It isn’t what it looks like?”
Grace pushed out of Oliver’s hold and faced her fiancé. “I won’t tell you that.” Because it was exactly what it looked like. “But I can try to explain, Daniel.”
“You think you can explain why the night beforeourwedding you and Prestwood are making a fool of me?”
“If you want to hear it, I’ll tell you everything.” Grace could explain it, but Daniel wouldn’t like hearing the tale. She started toward him. “But I can’t marry you, Daniel. Not tomorrow, not ever. I am terribly sorry. And I don’t expect you to forgive me.”
He scoffed. “Wonderful, I’m so relieved you don’t expect forgiveness, because I can’t imagine I’ll be doing so.” Then he looked at his sister. “Call for Mary and have your things packed. We’ll leave tonight, Addie.”
His sister scurried off and Daniel glanced from Grace to Oliver and back. “I thought I knew you, Grace. Thank you for showing me your deceitful nature. I should have known better than to trust such a pretty face.” And with that, he turned on his heel and started down the corridor.
The air whooshed from Grace’s lungs, and she hated herself. She’d never meant to hurt him. She’d never meant to hurt anyone, and yet she had.
Oliver grasped her shoulders and kissed the back of her head. “I’m so sorry, Grace. I didn’t mean for it to happen like that.”
She wasn’t even sure how any of thishadhappened. In the blink of an eye, Oliver had been freed from his betrothal and hers had been broken, Daniel being the sole casualty. “I feel awful for him,” she whispered.
“Aye,” Oliver whispered, “me too, but not enough to let him have you.”
“I have to talk to him,” Grace began, pulling out of Oliver’s grasp.
“Grace.” He sounded hurt.
But he had to understand. If she could explain the situation to Daniel, if she could lessen his pain, she had to try. “I’ll return as soon as I can.”
Aflurryof activity could be heard on the other side of Daniel’s door. Grace knocked, but no one called for her to enter.
“Daniel?” she said through the door.
And then all of the sounds on the other side quieted.
“I have nothing to say to you, Grace.”
Her heart ached. “Please let me talk to you,” she begged. “Please let me try to explain.” Though how was she ever to make this better? If only he hadn’t stumbled upon her kissing Oliver, this would have been so much easier to do.
The door clicked open and Daniel Lacy, whom she’d once believed to have no temper at all, glared at her with the anger of a thousand suns. “Well, by all means, do explain,” he snapped.
Grace gulped as she stared up at him. “Never in a million years did I mean to hurt you.”
Daniel’s face only hardened. “Empty words I heard my father say over and over to my mother through the years.”
Grace simply blinked at him. “They’re not empty, Daniel. If I could have handled this differently, I would have.”
“I suppose I’m fortunate you didn’t try to pass his child off as my heir. So thank you for that.”