Discovering Grace: An Inglewood Romance

by Britton, Sally

  “I see. Well now. That does explain a few things.” Mrs. Barnes tapped one finger against her lips in a speculative manner. “A great many of my son’s conversations suddenly make sense.”

  Jacob blushed. “You wanted to hear the story, Mother.”

  “Indeed.” Mrs. Barnes turned back to Grace, appearing vastly entertained. “Tell us all about it, Grace.”

  Gathering the threads of the story in her mind, Grace began her tale. To her immense relief, her father did not react to one detail in anger, and Mrs. Barnes laughed aloud more than once. Especially when Grace mentioned her efforts to put together the charity baskets under Cook’s nose. Jacob said little, except when his mother appealed to him at points where he had been present to witness Grace’s acting abilities.

  When the story drew to a close, so did the visit. Grace and her father bid their guests farewell, walking all the way to the door with them.

  “Will we see you at the ball held in Mr. Spratt’s honor?” Mrs. Barnes asked, just before stepping into her gig.

  Grace had not dared to ask her father if they might go. Though he had been in better humor with her, she had no desire to test the limits of his patience.

  “We will attend, yes. Mrs. Everly will have returned by then; we will all go.” Her father put his arm around her shoulder, giving her a quick wink. Her heart grew lighter.

  Jacob handed his mother into the gig and then came back to the door. “Since you will be there, I must ask if you will honor me with a set.”

  Her cheeks warmed and she glanced at her father, who raised his eyebrows. She always danced with Jacob. Just as she always danced with Silas and Isaac when they were at home for such events. None of them had ever asked her, had ever bothered thinking they need ask her, before the evening of the event.

  “Of course, Jacob,” she said at last.

  He bowed to them both and then went on his way, climbing up into the seat with his mother and taking up the reins.

  “Perhaps,” Papa said as they watched the horse and gig go down the lane, “we should have separated you and your sister a trifle earlier.”

  Grace blushed, but she made no reply. Jacob’s gesture in asking was nothing more than giving her reassurance that he was no longer angry with her. That was all it was. A show of friendship. She would content herself with that.

  * * *

  “When you told me your interests were redirected to another young lady, it was Grace you meant, wasn’t it?” Jacob’s mother asked as they left the Everlys’ lane for the main road. She sounded quite smug about her discovery.

  He saw her smirk from the corner of his eye and quickly focused on the horses. “What would give you cause to think that?” he asked, attempting to sound innocent.

  “The way you have been staring at her, for one thing.” Mother folded her hands in her lap. “You are trying to puzzle things out, I gather. One moment you appeared as if nothing brought you more delight than to hear her speak, the next you were confused. This is a most interesting development. I cannot wait to see how things play out.”

  Jacob winced. “Neither can I.”

  “Oh, come now. It cannot be all that difficult.” His mother nudged him with her elbow. “She either likes you or she does not. Given how often she looked to you for approval during her story, I think your chances are better than not.”

  “I am not even certain that is what I want, Mother. We have been friends for so long.”

  “What better way to begin a courtship? And though it is premature of me to say it, what better thing to have in a wife than a friend? Your father was my very closest friend, before and after our marriage.”

  Jacob remembered well the way his parents had often looked at each other. Illness had stolen his father away five years previous, leaving their family shattered for a time. When Jacob thought back on those terrible days, he clearly remembered his friends making every effort to be near him. Silas and Isaac had distracted him, Hope and Grace had comforted him.

  With all of them growing older, going down separate paths, Jacob had missed the companionship of those who knew him best. Spending as much time as he had with Grace when she began her masquerade had been a relief.

  “What if I am confusing friendship for deeper feelings?” he asked, looking to his mother and hoping that she might have the answers he needed.

  “Dear boy.” Mother beamed fondly at him. “You must discover how much you care for Grace on your own. Given the behavior we have seen from her of late, I do not think she will keep you wondering about her feelings overly long.” She chuckled and settled back into her seat, giving her attention to the scenery.

  He had made a fool of himself regarding Hope. Thankfully, few people were aware of that. But with Grace, Jacob was prepared to do more. She had proven herself a woman capable of bold action, and she deserved nothing less than a man who acted the same.

  If he meant to court Grace, he must do so in earnest, with an open mind and heart. And he must begin at once.

  Chapter 21

  Grace sat in the carriage across from her father and mother, the two of them holding hands and speaking softly to one another. Grace tried not to watch them too closely, keeping her eyes averted to the darkening sky out the window. She sneaked a glance a time or two, admiring her parents’ obvious affection. They had missed each other during her mother’s absence.

  The ball held in honor of Mr. Spratt’s departure was taking place in the Aldersy assembly hall. During larger community events, the upstairs rooms were all opened, creating one large area for dancing. The lower rooms would be spread with good food, tables, and chairs, allowing all members of the community to come and wish their retired vicar well while drinking to his good health.

  The Everly family arrived at the hall in good cheer. Even Grace could not be nervous about her reception, given her anticipation for the entertainment of the evening.

  No sooner did they step through the doors to the upper rooms than her parents were hailed by friends. She followed behind them, her eyes searching the crowds for Jacob. Or Isaac, she hastily reminded herself. Or any of her other friends.

  Miss Parr found her first, stepping deftly between Grace and her parents to halt her following them.

  “Miss Everly.” The young woman smirked and waved. “Oh, it is so good you have come. My mother was convinced you would not.”

  “Was she?” Grace had no desire to enter into an exchange of insults. A deflection was in order. “How kind of you both to be concerned for my well-being. Mrs. Parr is certainly one of the most thoughtful women I know.”

  “Yes,” Miss Parr said, stretching the one syllable out, her polite expression freezing a moment on her pretty face.

  “Oh, and your gown this evening.” Grace could admire the dress honestly enough. “That is a perfect shade for you, Miss Parr. The green sets off your eyes to perfection.”

  A blush rose in the young woman’s cheeks and she lowered her eyes to her dress, smoothing the front of it self-consciously. “Thank you.”

  It was not the first time Grace had used kindness to thwart someone intent on speaking in a sly manner. Her quick tongue had spared Hope from exchanging petty insults in the past. “I do hope you are asked to dance a great deal this evening,” Grace added, her tone still cheerful. “I am certain you will be.”

  The girl’s color deepened, and Grace gave her a friendly smile before walking onward. Miss Parr was young yet, barely out in society, and merely acting as she had seen others act. Perhaps making a friend of her would be wise, lest she turn out more like—

  “Oh, Miss Everly. Miss Grace Everly.” Miss Keyes. It shouldn’t surprise her that Miss Keyes found her next. Where some young ladies did not learn the dangerous games of flirtation and conquest until they had been out for a time, Merriweather Keyes had started learning the rules and all the ways to break them while still in the school room.

  “Miss Keyes.” Grace turned to the window where Miss Keyes stood, her fan languidly waving. “Goo
d evening.” Miss Ashworth, her brother, and one of the Kimball sons stood with her, all staring at Grace as though their conversation had stopped rather abruptly.

  The Keyes had been more intimate with Isaac’s family than her own, but in a country neighborhood, everyone knew each other quite well. What Grace knew of Miss Keyes made her ready herself for a different sort of verbal battle.

  “I am so pleased you have joined the party,” Miss Keyes said, her eyes narrowing. “I had heard rumors that you were being kept prisoner, or doing penance, for your daring actions. Do tell us, what inspired the deed?”

  Grace took a step closer, joining the small group as though she meant to stay. “Oh, I could hardly deprive my dear sister of her chance to see the world. She is much more interested in travel than I have ever been.”

  “I certainly should not have liked a voyage,” Miss Ashworth said swiftly, her fan moving rapidly as her eyes darted around the little group. She issued a nervous giggle when Miss Keyes cast her a baleful glance.

  “Nevertheless, to deceive us all in such a manner. It must have taken a great deal of determination.” Miss Keyes flicked her fan closed.

  Grace considered her response. Anything she said would be met with vitriol. Miss Keyes either desired to cause a scene or find more ammunition for whatever gossip she wished to spread. At the moment, with her parents happy and the truth known at last, Grace had no intention of giving Miss Keyes the pleasure of taunting her.

  “It took substantial determination.” Grace looked about at the others, widening her eyes as much as she could. “You were all at my picnic. I thought I must certainly be found out when surrounded by so many friends. How did none of you guess? I must be a superb actress, indeed.”

  They laughed, and the tension Miss Keyes had created weakened.

  “You certainly fooled me,” Mr. Kimball said most cheerfully. “Almost makes me jealous I haven’t a twin. It is the very sort of trick I should like to play. Had you ever done it before?”

  “Switched places? Oh, long ago, when we were children intent on confusing our poor governess.” As easily as that, Grace earned their interest. Mr. Kimball and Miss Ashworth pressed her for other stories, and she obliged most cheerfully.

  Miss Keyes stuck her nose in the air and left, defeated for the moment. Though she held her ground, Grace’s enthusiasm for the evening waned. If Miss Keyes had dared to bring up the issue to Grace, the gossip ran strongly about Grace’s actions.

  “Ah, Miss Everly.” The new voice rasped with age. Mr. Spratt had found her. “Would you do me the honor of a walk about the room?” he asked, before glancing at the others. “If your friends would excuse you, that is.”

  “Of course, Mr. Spratt.”

  “It is a party in your honor, sir, your wishes must be granted.”

  He beamed at the young people, all of whom had grown up listening to his sermons. Grace would not be surprised if he had been the one to christen each of them.

  “Thank you.” He offered Grace his arm.

  Although Mr. Spratt knew everything, indeed he had been ready to announce her public apology had her father required it, nothing in his manner indicated he thought any differently of her than he always had. “Miss Everly, thank you for humoring an old man.”

  “I enjoy your company, Mr. Spratt,” she answered truthfully. “I always have. I must admit that I am sorry to see you go, though I do hope you are happy with your daughter and her family.”

  “I am certain I will be. There are grandchildren and great-grandchildren to distract me from any cares I may have.” His wrinkles deepened with his delighted expression. “I have done what I love for most of my life, but it is time to give the parish into a younger man’s hands. I am grateful to know that it is Mr. Barnes who will take my place. He is a very good man. A particular friend of yours, too, if I am not mistaken?”

  “We have known each other for the whole of my life, yes.” Grace lowered her eyes to the ground, thinking of Jacob’s visit at her home, his request to dance with her. “I have confidence he will make a most excellent vicar.”

  “As do I. Though inexperienced as he is, he will make mistakes. We all do, from time to time.” Mr. Spratt was about Grace’s height, stooped as he now was with age. When he looked at her, it was squarely in the eyes. “My dear girl, you have been very good to this parish as well. Do you remember my late wife?”

  Everyone remembered Mrs. Spratt. “I have never known anyone to show love more beautifully than she did,” Grace said.

  Mr. Spratt stopped their walk and turned to face Grace, taking both her hands in his. When he spoke, it was with almost the same reverence he used when speaking of matters holy. “Grace Everly, you remind me of her.”

  Her throat closed and she had to swallow to answer him, so taken was she by the sincerity of his words. “Thank you, Mr. Spratt. That is the highest compliment I have ever been paid.” And it did not matter what anyone else in the room said, or thought, because she held no one in higher esteem than kindly, compassionate Mr. Spratt.

  The old vicar bestowed a warm look upon her, and there was a twinkle in his eyes. He turned and nodded to someone just behind Grace. “Mr. Barnes, have you come looking for a partner?”

  Grace started but did not move.

  “Only if I may have yours, Mr. Spratt.” Jacob’s familiar voice, courteous as ever.

  “You must appeal to the lady, dear boy.” Mr. Spratt turned her about with no more than a gentle touch on her arm. “As I am old, and therefore permitted to speak my mind on occasion, I will tell you that if she agrees you will be the most fortunate man in the room.”

  A hot rush from her chest went directly into her cheeks. Grace lowered her eyes, touched and uncertain. There were others nearby. Had they heard?

  “I am well aware of that, Mr. Spratt.” The tenderness in Jacob’s tone brought her attention back to him, to search his expression, certain she would see only the usual friendly look upon his face. “Would you do me the honor of dancing the next set with me, Miss Everly?” The smile was there, but it was different. There was a question in the tilt of his lips and in the depths of his eyes.

  “Yes, Mr. Barnes.” Grace took his offered arm, uncertain of her friend for the first time she could remember. In her flustered state, she nearly forgot to take her leave of Mr. Spratt. “Oh, Mr. Spratt—”

  He waved his hand at her. “Go on, child. Do not stand on ceremony with me.” He tucked his hands behind his back and nodded deeply to them. “Good evening to you both.”

  Jacob swept her away, into the line forming for the next set. The dance was called: a lively reel. Nearly all the dances had been brisk and merry, the simplest of forms used so that all may participate regardless of station or grace.

  Given that the way Jacob stared at her made Grace’s heart beat at an abnormally fast tempo, she was grateful there would be no long, lingering moments to face him.

  They were not able to converse easily. The room was loud, and the dance required fast hands and feet as partners exchanged clasps, twirls, and skips. Jacob did not try to speak to her, though from time to time his broad grin would change back to the inscrutable expression.

  The next set was called, and Jacob spoke at last. “I have not enjoyed myself this much in ages.”

  “Neither have I,” she admitted. When had she last felt as she did in that moment? Free and happy, content with her place in the world.

  Probably not since the first time she caught Jacob staring at Hope, when she realized she had lost something precious. Her step faltered, but Jacob caught her hand anyway, as the dance forms required.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, his voice low.

  Grace tucked away the memory. “I am well.” He cared for Grace as a friend, and nothing more. No matter how she wished she did not imagine the gentleness in his eyes as he gazed at her.

  He raised his eyebrows skeptically but led her through the rest of the steps.

  When the dance ended, Jacob escorted her ba
ck to her parents. She nearly laughed. This was no society event, so the gesture struck her as somewhat unnecessary. Any of their friends would have done. Perhaps his ordination had made him feel the need to maintain an air of reserve.

  “Mr. Everly, Mrs. Everly,” Jacob said, bowing to them both with Grace’s hand still tucked in his arm. “I wonder if I might ask your permission to call on Miss Everly tomorrow.”

  Instinctively, Grace tightened her hold on his arm. What was he doing? If someone heard, based on his wording, they would think Jacob meant to court her. That was taking the formalities too far, and she opened her mouth to say so when her father spoke.

  “We would be delighted, Mr. Barnes.”

  Grace stared at her father in surprise. Did he know how this must sound? She spotted Mrs. Parr and Mrs. Kimball standing near enough to hear. But her father was staring at Jacob, with a far too approving look.

  What had come over them both?

  Jacob removed her hand, bowed slightly over it, and released her. That same mysterious smile on his face as before. He withdrew, looking for another dance partner most likely. Jacob loved dancing, and he made it a point to ask the young ladies most often overlooked. It was yet another thing she admired about him.

  A rustle of fabric indicated her mother had stepped near. “I think you have an admirer, Grace.”

  Absolutely not. Grace shook her head, contradicting her mother immediately. “No. Not Jacob. He is acting strange, but I am only his friend.”

  Isaac and Mr. King appeared at the corner of her vision, and when she turned, she saw they were coming directly to her.

  “I have convinced Mr. King that you are the best dancer in the room,” Isaac said, without preamble or greeting. “You must prove me right at once.”

  This sort of thing Grace understood, and she relaxed. “If Mr. King wants to learn whether or not you exaggerate, he must ask for himself.”