“Oh, thank goodness, I would hate the thought of wearing the same clothing for the rest of my life.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll be wearing whalebone corsets and high-necked gowns in a few years from now, very different from today’s fashions. Oh, wait, umm, that might be a long time from now, I think I’m thinking of Anne of Green Gables and that is in the early 1900s. Oh God, I don’t know, I guess you will just have to wait and see.”
“Well, as long as I’m not wearing this dress that makes me look like I’m with child, I’ll be happy. Whoever thought to dress a female figure in this is beyond my comprehension.” Lady Harrison spent a few moments looking mournfully down at her dress before she asked Grace something Grace couldn’t answer. “Well, I think after this, we are close enough for you to call me Victoria. I never have liked stuffy titles between friends.”
“Thank you. Please call me Grace. No one ever calls me Miss Lancaster.”
“I would be honoured to call you by your Christian name.” Victoria gave her a smile. “Do you know how you arrived here, Grace?”
Tears stung in her eyes and she shook her head. “And no, I don’t know how to get back either.” She would do almost anything for a tissue to blow her nose.
“Grace,” Victoria said, handing her a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, “listen to me. I think if you don’t know how to get back to where you came from, the best thing to do is to accept Jasper’s proposal and marry my brother. He really is not all that bad and besides, you seemed to get along with him well enough tonight, if what he says is true.” She smiled gently. “Did you really get caught by Mrs Barrett?” At Grace’s nod, she continued, “I wish I could’ve seen the look on her face!”
Grace tried to dry her eyes but the thought of being forced into marriage – even if it was to the sexiest man she had ever met – caused tears to seep from the corners and wash her face.
“We will have to come up with a plausible story as to why you are here with no maid or luggage, but I’m sure I can think of something. Not to mention your confusion at the ball…hmmm, let me see. It’s wonderful you hit your head.” Victoria paused when she caught Grace’s look. “Very well, not wonderful, but convenient. We can send for a doctor and say you are confused because of the knock and when he is here, you can ‘recover’ and all will be well!” Victoria clapped her hands in excitement. “But there is still the issue of your lack of maid and chaperone, not to mention clothing.”
Victoria paused again to think but Grace was too amped up to hold her tongue. “I don’t want to marry your brother.”
Grace was grateful Victoria didn’t look insulted as she knew she would need all the friends she could get.
“I don’t know what else you can do, dear. With Mrs Barrett seeing the two of you and all, you won’t have many prospects, at least not desirable ones, come for your hand. And as much as I would love to keep you, my husband would never allow you to stay here if you refuse my brother. You could, of course, go to Lord Lancaster, but if you’re from America, that might not be for the best. I fear if you don’t marry Jasper, you won’t have anywhere to go.” She grasped Grace’s hand. “Please stay.”
Grace took a deep breath. Victoria was right, she had nowhere else to go. If indeed this wasn’t a dream, she would have to marry someone. She didn’t fancy wandering the streets of London with nothing but the dress she wore. It was freezing out there.
She decided there was nothing she could do about it right now. “And my maid? What are we to do about her?”
“You just leave that to me. I think for now what we both need is a good night’s sleep. But first I must call for the doctor. Do you think you could manage a swoon again?”
Coffee sprayed from Robin Higgins, Baron of Wester’s nose, across the table and onto his breakfast, soaking the newspaper he was reading. No. This cannot be, he thought. The engagement notice in the gossip column had the right man but that wasn’t his sister’s name next to it. Lord Bingham was supposed to propose to his sister: everyone knew that. Not to…Miss Grace Lancaster, whoever the hell that was! This was not right! This couldn’t be right! It had to be a misprint.
What happened after he left the ball last night? He was sure when he left Anne she was aware of the situation. He needed that money. Desperately. He should send his breakfast back. He couldn’t afford it. He couldn’t eat now anyway with the knot forming in his stomach. The creditors would be knocking on his door when they found out there would be no money coming in. He’d been able to persuade them not to break his legs for another week or two only because of his sister’s anticipated betrothal. Everyone was expecting that money.
By God, he’d even gone to his favourite club to celebrate last night. He couldn’t remember how much more money he’d lost in the gaming halls. It hadn’t seemed to matter at the time, he was confident Anne would worm a proposal from Bingham.
He brought his cup back up to his lips. Ick, the coffee had gone cold.
This wouldn’t have happened if Anne had been more forthcoming. She should have hurried Bingham along ages ago. Actually everything would have been fine if this Miss Lancaster hadn’t shown up last night. Robin fiendishly wished she had never been born. If she would only disappear back to where she came from, everything could go back the way it should be and he could once again count on that money. Hmm. Robin took a big drink of his cold coffee. Maybe he could make her disappear.
“Willis!” Robin shot to his feet and called for his footman; at least his father still paid for his servants. Robin wasn’t sure if he resented that or not. On one hand at least their wages were paid so they stayed on, but on the other hand, if his father could pay for that, surely he could spare a few bob for his own son?
“Bring me my curricle.” He was off to see Rupert Caine, the man he owed the least amount of money to but who was by far the most dangerous of the lot. Maybe he could help Miss Lancaster disappear.
Bright sunlight streamed through her window and across her face. A maid had just opened the curtains.
“Good morning, miss. Lady Harrison says it is time that you got up.”
Grace cracked an eye open and moaned. Her blood beat a tempo against her temples; it felt like little men trying to escape the inside of her skull, and her eyelids were gluey with sleep. She knew she should’ve stayed away from the champagne last night.
She sat bolt upright in her bed. Last night! She looked around the room. This was not her hotel room so that must mean that it wasn’t a dream. Oh no.
The maid kept on chattering and didn’t take any notice of the panicked sounds coming from Grace’s direction. “What is it you would like for your breakfast? I brought up some toast and tea, but if you prefer chocolate, I can fetch some.” The maid took a deep breath and opened her mouth again as if to pour more words out. Grace quickly filled the small pause before she was bombarded again.
“I would like some coffee please, if it is not too much trouble? Milk, no sugar please.” She desperately hoped that it was not too much to ask. Her head was fuzzy and she was having a hard time putting together the pieces of last night. She blushed bright red when she thought of the kiss. My God, could she really have done that? She attacked the poor man! Surely she wasn’t remembering it properly…it couldn’t have been as bad as that.
“Coffee, miss? Are you sure?” The maid gave her an odd look.
“Yes. Coffee.” Grace really tried not to growl, but from the look on the maid’s face, she didn’t hold out much hope.
Grace waited for the maid to slide out the door before she threw off the covers and jumped out of bed. Damn, she forgot to ask her name. How rude. Oh well, she had more important things to think about this morning, like how she was