In all this, his greatest fear forced him to close his eyes and take deep breaths. He could barely stand to think of it. The way the author referred to Grace as though she were a temporary fixture shook his entire body. Scanning the missive again, he sought clues. He had to be reading too deeply into the words, for he couldn’t bear to think of her in trouble.
Had the intention of the letter been to get back at him for something? Should he take this as a warning? Was he overreacting or had the madman set his sights on Grace?
Declining the dowager’s offer of tea, Grace watched as the woman handed Lady Lorrian a cup and saucer with steady hands. After having hot liquid spilled on her lap twice, Grace wondered how Braiden’s mother managed to hand it so easily to the other woman.
Grace ran her hand along her legs as if the mere thought brought back the pain of the incidents. Although she hadn’t told Braiden about either accident, if it occurred again, she could hold her tongue no longer. Luckily he’d accepted her vague excuse for the red marks, but she knew he wouldn’t let it go a third time.
“Your visit is such a surprise, but very welcome,” the dowager said to Lady Lorrian.
Red tinted the lady’s cheeks. “Yes. I had thought to write to the duke, but decided by the time he received and penned a response, I would be too busy to visit.”
“Well, we are pleased you are here. Aren’t we, Your Grace?”
“Of course,” Grace responded.
The dowager smiled at her, but the expression didn’t hold any warmth. It was as if she hoped the lady’s presence would hurt her in some way. The sad truth was it seemed to bring pain to Lady Lorrian, not Grace.
Although not sure what brought her here, Grace felt the lady’s discomfort. This had been Tabitha’s home, and where she’d been headed when she died. Clearly her mother had no desire to be here.
If Grace had the ability to freely move about, she would have tried to attempt to ease the woman. However, being confined to a chair without the ability to do anything without assistance made her more of a liability than a help.
The dowager sat back with her own tea. “How is everything in London? It’s been years since I’ve been there.”
“The same as usual, I suppose.”
“When my son married over the Season, somehow it was determined that I not attend. London may not hold many pleasant memories for me, but I would have enjoyed the visit.”
Grace’s eyes widened, but she managed to keep her mouth closed. Lady Lorrian, on the other hand, wasn’t so successful. Grace couldn’t believe how the dowager could sit there and practically accuse her of keeping her from the wedding. Honestly, Grace hadn’t understood Braiden’s decision at the time, but she did now. Had his mother attended the wedding, Grace felt certain the dowager would have made a fool of Braiden, as she was now. In addition, his mother offered no complaints at the time.
“You make it sound as though you were not welcome,” Grace said. “However, I recall your contentment with the decision due to your distaste for traveling.”
“The seemingly endless carriage rides do grow dull, but I should have loved to attend.”
Needing a quick end to this conversation, Grace turned to Lady Lorrian. “My lady, I’m in need of some fresh air, would you care to join me?”
Lady Lorrian jumped up so fast it would have been comical had the situation not been so embarrassing. Grace couldn’t imagine what the lady thought of them right now.
“I’d love to. How may I assist you?”
“Don’t worry. Sally will be along to help me.” At that moment, the maid appeared and grasped the handles of the chair, released the break, and led the way back to the garden without a word. Braiden had arranged for someone to follow her around in order to anticipate her needs and provide her ease over the weeks.
Once outside, Lady Lorrian insisted on taking over and sending Sally away. Although slightly uncomfortable having Tabitha’s mother wait on her, Grace couldn’t argue with the woman’s kind gesture.
“I understand the dowager duchess hasn’t been around polite society in a while, but that’s no excuse,” Lady Lorrian said.
“Yes. I’m sorry you had to be there for that.”
“Don’t apologize to me. I’ve come to know the duke, and I know he would never do anything harmful to his family. His mother, however, doesn’t share the same thoughts.”
A weight lifted off Grace’s shoulders. She’d had no one to confide in about Braiden’s mother, and to have someone understand came as a blessing.
“I don’t believe she’ll ever care for me. I understand she held a deep fondness for your daughter though.”
Lady Lorrian let out an unladylike snort. “No, she didn’t. Over her marriage, my daughter spent a lot of time here with or without her husband, although my daughter did so adore London. I never understood what kept her returning here. Regardless, Tabitha used to complain about the dowager to me.”
“Thank you. It helps in a small part to know the dowager’s hatred isn’t solely reserved for me.”
“I know this is unorthodox, but for what it’s worth, I’m glad Braiden found you. Since Tabitha was taken from us, he hasn’t been the same man. I hated watching what had happened to him. But now I can see he has found a new reason to live.”
Gaining acceptance from Tabitha’s mother felt like a huge honor. Happiness welled up in her chest as tears formed in her eyes.
“You are too kind, my lady.”
Lady Lorrian patted her shoulder. “I just want you to know how important you are to him. I also want you to know that although the duke offered me accommodations for a few days, I must decline. It in no way reflects on your hospitality. Like my daughter, I’m not sure I wish to reside under the roof with that woman.”
The rest of their stroll was conducted in silence. With Lady Lorrian’s observations, Grace knew the dowager wasn’t as kind as her son thought. Perhaps she even had a hand in ridding herself of Tabitha. The thought made Grace feel guilty. Simply because the woman didn’t like her, that didn’t mean she was dangerous.
Later that night as Braiden held her in his arms, she decided to broach the subject of Tabitha’s mother. After all, her arrival and departure had been abrupt.
“Lady Lorrian seems to care a great deal for you.”
He stiffened but didn’t release her as his fingers ran along the ever-present ink smudge on the fingers of her right hand. “Her belief in our mutual pain has given her a certain liking for me.”
Spinning around, she looked him in the eyes. “I think it’s more than that. Like she knew you were unhappy and wants to fix it.”
Taking a stray hair from her face, Braiden smoothed it behind her ear, then leaned forward to kiss her nose. “I think you are a wonderful person and see the best in people.”
“We walked in the garden today. She mentioned you and Tabitha spending much of your time here at Donetic. I thought you’d favored London.”
He struggled to sit up, so she moved off him. “What is with all the questions this evening?”
“I just want to understand.”
“London offers more distractions, which I needed to survive the marriage. Tabitha spent half her time here and half in London. Some days when I couldn’t take her behavior anymore, I sent her to Donetic.”
“Is that why she was coming here that last day?”
Braiden quickly got out of bed and pulled on his dressing gown. She watched as he went to the window and threw back the curtains. Her heart ached for him. She hadn’t meant her words to hurt him. To make matters worse, she couldn’t even go to him.
“I grew tired of living like I didn’t belong in my own house,” he answered finally. “In order to get her away from the temptations in London, I decided we should permanently move to Donetic. I thought things would b
e different.”
He leaned his head against the glass before continuing. “That’s when she told me she was with child. It wasn’t mine, but I wouldn’t be able to prove it. The scandal would’ve been horrific. Knowing she trapped me, that my heir wouldn’t share my blood, sent me over the edge. I demanded she make the permanent move without me.”
Sucking in her breath, Grace couldn’t imagine what he went through. Tabitha hadn’t seemed to care about him at all. And why was Lord Rhodes with her? Was it a coincidence that brought them together on the road where he suffered the same fate as Tabitha?
“And Lord Rhodes went with her? Was he the father?”
“I would assume so, otherwise he wouldn’t have been there at all. But there were others.” He didn’t speak for a few minutes. “She died so close to Donetic the attack must’ve been on her. But I don’t know why.”
It sat on the tip of her tongue to suggest he ask if his mother knew anything about it, but she clamped her lips closed. She had no proof except a malicious smile and spilled tea.
She reached her arms out for him. “Come back. I promise I won’t ask you any more about her.”
His eyes were dark as he approached her and fell into her arms. “I love you, Grace.”
The sound of those words in his gruff voice filled her with pleasure. Using her body, she proceeded to make him forget about the pain of the past.
She would have to deal with his mother on her own. The woman was frail; she couldn’t do any more harm than she already had. Grace only needed to give up tea, and they would manage fine together.
Braiden scanned the pages Danvers had given him. It surprised him to see how many members of his staff couldn’t manage to even write their own name. Regardless, none of the styles matched the writing in the letter Lady Lorrian had received.
“Are you sure this is everyone?”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Danvers pressed his lips closed as he shifted his body. “If I may, can I ask what this pertains to? I may be able to offer better assistance if I understand what you are looking for.”
Letting out a sigh, Braiden realized he had no choice, as he was out of options. “When the duchess and I were confined at the hunting cabin, someone entered my study and wrote a damning letter to Lady Lorrian. Then they broke into my desk to use the Donetic seal.”
Danvers sucked in his breath. “I’ve never seen anyone in here. That is, besides you or the duchess.”
Braiden’s head jerked back. What reason would Grace have had to be in his study? It didn’t matter; after all, she’d been hurt. But she could have written the letter before she left and given it to someone to deliver.
Visions of her sweet face entered his mind. She couldn’t have done such a thing. Yet her questions from last night returned to him. Why had she been so interested in Lady Lorrian and his prior relationship with Tabitha? The ink stain on her fingers returned to him as well. He wondered what required her to write, considering he never heard her mention corresponding with her family, nor had he seen any responses.
“Did the duchess indicate her reason for being in my study?”
“She said she was looking for paper and ink. I immediately provided her with some.”
Braiden nodded, although his throat tightened to think Grace would betray him. Although, how could he be surprised? The only woman who stayed consistent in regard to him had been his mother, an abused madwoman who could hardly remember who everyone was from day to day.
“Keep looking,” he told Danvers, his voice emerging too thick. “I want to know who is responsible.”
A quiet voice in his head whispered he already knew the truth. He closed his eyes and tried to shut it out. He knew no such thing, he told himself.
After his butler left, he remained sitting, simply staring at the closed door. Had his wife’s injury been a ploy as well? Had she purposefully stepped into a hole to break her ankle in order to appear innocent? An involuntary shiver ran up his spine.
The game had been too well played. How could he blame a woman who’d been by his side the entire time? She used her body to keep him there, his inner voice whispered. His stomach rolled.
Putting his head between his knees, he forced himself to breathe in and out through his mouth. She even coerced him into admitting he loved her. And God, how he loved her. How could she do this to him?
Fueled by his desperation to be proved wrong, he jumped up and left his study. He needed to hear the truth from her mouth. That one thing propelled him forward to the drawing room.
“Hello Braiden,” his mother greeted cheerily. “Would you care to join me?”
“Not right now. Do you know where Grace is?”
Her brows knitted together “Grace?”
He thrust his fingers through his hair. He didn’t have time for this. “Yes. My wife. The Duchess of Donetic.”
“The Duchess went out for a walk. She does that a lot when she comes here. I never understood why she kept coming back, then I saw—”
“Mother, I’m not looking for Tabitha. I’m looking for Grace.”
“Oh, her.” She shook her head. “That one likes the garden too, but for different reasons. I haven’t seen why, but I’ll find out. After all, that’s what a mother is for. Protecting her children.”
A stab of pain went through his chest. Her condition was worsening. He didn’t know what to do about it. Dr. Pinkert had said to watch her, and let him know how she fared. Braiden suspected it was time to call upon the man again.
Since he knew where Grace was, he could wait for answers. Right now his mother needed him. He sat down beside her and took her frail hand in his.
“You don’t have to protect us any longer. We are no longer children.”
She patted his cheek. “A mother’s job is never done. I failed before, but I’ll make it up. Then when you’re safely home, I’ll get her back too.”
“Who? Abigail?”
“Yes. Willimena Abigail needs me too. She came to visit me with that man again. I wish she wouldn’t have to bring him. Did you know your father sold her to him? That was only a month ago, but they bring a child. Why?”
Braiden swallowed. His sister and Greyson had been married for four years now. “Mother, I believe it is time for you to rest. You’ve overtaxed yourself today.”
Sorrow engulfed him as Mrs. Brodrick took his mother to her room. He listened as she told the housekeeper a mixture of events that happened recently mixed with ones from the past as if they were occurring together.
Never in his life had he felt so alone. Grace’s possible betrayal and his mother’s condition hurt him worse than anything from his past ever had. Right now he couldn’t handle any more. Confronting Grace would have to wait.
Tonight he only wanted to surround himself with Grace’s love and bury his pain in her, but he couldn’t bear to see her at the moment. He couldn’t handle looking upon her with suspicion. Could she really have deceived him?
His steps were heavy as he walked to his study, the bottle of brandy beckoning him. Memory loss in its purest form would help him. Grabbing a bottle, he pulled off the cap and took a deep breath. The sweet, burning smell welcomed him like an old friend.
Stopping himself, he closed his eyes and reluctantly put the decanter back. There was a reasonable explanation for this. Grace could still be innocent. She’d said she loved him. A woman in love wouldn’t do this. Love doesn’t exist. The bitter words floated to his mind.
He couldn’t take it anymore. After telling Danvers he would be dining alone in his bedchamber and making the arrangements for Grace, he dragged himself upstairs. Once the key was turned in the lock, he leaned against the door.
Staring at his bed, he groaned as it mocked him with memories of Grace. How would he sleep tonight without her? How could he ever sleep again?
Reaching her arms out, Grace felt an empty bed and sighed. She opened her eyes and saw her room exactly how she left it. He hadn’t come to her. What had happened to him last night? When she and Sally arrived back from her stroll in the garden, everyone had gone to bed, including her husband.
His lack of acknowledgment to her and leaving Danvers the task of carrying her to her bed had hurt. Had her questions about Tabitha and Lady Lorrian upset him so greatly?
Now, left alone, she couldn’t even walk across the room to call for Sally. These past four weeks since her injury had been trying, but her ankle no longer brought pain. Would walking be possible?
Swiveling until her legs hung over the side of the bed, she grabbed one of the bedposts and gently placed her feet on the floor. Her legs were weak, so she had to hold onto the post to hold herself upright. Slowly releasing her fingers, her body wobbled back and forth. Curling one arm around the bedpost tightly, she tried to slowly put more weight on her legs. Sweat dripped down her face. This was useless.
“What do you think you are doing?” Braiden’s furious voice demanded.
Falling back on the bed, she faced him, breathing heavily. He stood in the doorway to his bedchamber and stared at her, anger flashing in his eyes. Well, she was mad too.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m going to get dressed and run downstairs, and perhaps I’ll run around the estate while I’m at it.”
Winning the Duke Page 18