by Becky Lower
She stifled a small yelp when the carriage came to a sudden stop. She and Halwyn locked gazes, and she noticed his Adam’s apple bob up and down. She gulped, too, as she made a grand show of gathering her possessions to depart the cab of the carriage. Halwyn helped her alight, and then smiled down at her. His gaze, through his new glasses, was as warm as his hand was on her elbow.
“Are you ready, Grace?”
“The question is, are you? Simon will be quite angry, and I don’t have a clue how he will act out. Except to say he will. Are you up to the challenge?”
“Right now, we are two old friends who are entering the ball together with the rest of my family. Let’s start there. If Simon pushes the issue about your new gown, then we’ll tell him of our desire to see more of each other. One step at a time. I’m sure it will be fine. Even Simon isn’t that diabolical.”
“Don’t be too certain, Halwyn.”
Charlotte Fitzpatrick’s eyes lit up as she caught sight of Halwyn and Grace standing side by side next to the carriage. She patted Grace’s hand. “You know, my dear, we Fitzpatricks are all about surprising society. We managed to conceal Joseph’s true Native American identity for almost an entire season when he and Ginger got together. Now it’s your turn, and Halwyn’s, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I’m so glad you and Halwyn have found each other, and so quickly.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, although there really is no big surprise to reveal here. This is only our first outing together. But knowing I have the full support of your family will make facing Simon a bit easier.”
“So, have we properly girded our loins? Are we ready for Simon and Sophie’s wrath, once they see you in this lovely gown?”
Grace ran her tongue over her dry lips and glanced up at Halwyn. He blinked to bring his eyes back into focus, and placed his hand protectively over hers, which was resting on his arm.
“Consider our loins sufficiently girded, Mother. Lead on.”
Together with Jasmine and Parr, the Fitzpatricks, en masse, entered the ballroom. Grace let her held breath out in small puffs as she went through the flurry of greeting their hosts, the Havershams, and depositing their shawls and the men’s top hats with the butler. Maybe this would be all right after all. She certainly was surrounded by the support of the Fitzpatricks. Despite Simon’s ire with the situation, even he would not cause a scene at the ball, would he? The Fitzpatricks wielded too much power and influence for Simon to risk alienating them. Grace didn’t envy her mother tonight, though, since all of Simon’s anger would be directed at her. But, if she hadn’t been so foolish as to marry him in the first place, none of what Grace and Halwyn were plotting would be needed. Perhaps she should consider thanking her mother for bringing Grace and Halwyn together, she thought with a wry smile.
Halwyn led Grace to the edge of the ballroom floor as the first waltz of the evening began. It was one of her favorite pieces of music—Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. For a moment, she forgot the drama about to unfold this evening, and let herself drift with the music. Halwyn was a good dancer, and she followed his lead as if they’d been dancing together forever. She thought of her father, dead now almost three years. In happier times, they used to sit at the piano together, working on duets. It was a special time for both of them, and she missed her father even more.
She glanced up at Halwyn and blinked back the threatening tears. “Do you by chance play the piano, Halwyn?”
“Mother forced all of us to take lessons, so I can tell you where middle C is. But beyond that, it never grabbed my interest. Why do you ask?”
“Because my father and I used to play together in the evenings. I was just remembering those times, and how this particular piece was one of his favorites.”
“Well, if you enjoy playing duets, I may be enticed back to the piano again, Grace, so I can have an excuse for sitting next to you.”
Their pleasant interlude was suddenly interrupted by a loud voice.
“Grace Wagner, how dare you!”
They had just danced into Simon Huffman’s line of sight. Time to get off the dance floor and face the music.
• • •
Halwyn tightened his grasp on Grace’s hand as he led her from the dance floor and over to Simon, who was barely able to hold himself in check. He reached out to shake Simon’s hand, but was ignored, as Simon’s eyes narrowed on his stepdaughter.
“Wherever did you get this gown, Grace? You resemble a regular trollop.”
Halwyn cringed internally as he caught Grace’s sudden intake of air. She ran her hands over her new gown, as if in protest. Instinctively, Halwyn stepped in front of her and attempted to direct Simon’s wrath to himself instead.
“I’m afraid I’m to blame for Grace’s new dress. I picked out the fabric, so if you object, blame me, not her.”
“And why are you now outfitting my daughter? Why are you poking your long Fitzpatrick nose into our business?”
“I’ve enlisted her assistance in finding me a suitable place to live, and to help me outfit the house. I don’t know about you, Simon, but I’m helpless when it comes to selecting the proper furnishings and the right kind of curtains. We men are clueless about such matters, so I’ve asked Grace to come to my aid.”
Simon finally quit glaring at Grace and turned his attention to Halwyn. “You say you don’t have any idea how to outfit a home, but yet you have no problem selecting fabric for my daughter’s dresses? A choice which does nothing except to make her resemble a whore. Maybe you have enlisted her for a bit more than decorating advice? Have you taken my daughter as a mistress, perhaps?”
Hate radiated off the man, and Halwyn’s hands bunched into fists. With steely control, he kept his arms to his sides. A clear head was what was needed here tonight, not a pugilistic display. But he was tempted.
Halwyn caught Grace’s gasp when Simon harshly referred to her as a whore and a mistress. The sound of her hurt pushed him over the edge. He unclenched his hand and reached for Grace’s.
“The reason I’m in need of Grace’s help in selecting a house and furnishing it is because she will be living there with me. We’ve already discussed it, and we are getting married before the end of summer. I will be buying her a decent wardrobe, as befits my betrothed, since you won’t, and she will purchase what is needed for the house to properly entertain our friends.”
Halwyn caught his mother’s intake of breath before she cried out and clapped her hands together at his sudden announcement. He sensed Grace’s other hand on his shoulder, and reached for her, wrapping her in his arms, hoping to shield her from any more of Simon’s wrath. Simon glowered and sputtered.
“You will not do anything of the kind. I won’t allow it. You cannot wed without my permission. I’ll never allow my daughter to align herself with the likes of the Fitzpatricks.”
Halwyn’s smile grew tighter. “Grace is beyond the age of consent by more than two years. There’s something to be said for taking an older woman for a bride, wouldn’t you agree? We don’t need your consent, Simon. Only our consent to each other, and we’ve already decided.”
A small crowd was gathering around the two men and Grace. A smattering of applause followed Halwyn’s announcement of their betrothal, but it quickly died. The crowd was anxious to follow what would happen next, and waited for the men to come to blows, he guessed. Halwyn ignored the group around them, as he also ignored the angry, red coloring on Simon’s face. He took Grace’s hand again.
“Come, my dear. I think we both need to take a turn on the balcony, where the air is not so unpleasant.”
• • •
With Halwyn by her side, Grace left the ballroom and inhaled the sweet scent of the fresh air on the balcony. He let go of her hand once they emerged from the ballroom and began to pace in front of her. The sound of his steps as he cut a path over the hard concrete set her teeth on edge. Their plan tonight had been to let society see they were developing feelings for each other, not to announce their upcoming
wedding, but Halwyn had been pushed by Simon to reveal their engagement. Grace had to stop his incessant pacing before she developed a headache. Or passed out from following his dizzying pace.
“Halwyn, you were magnificent.”
He turned and stared at her. It was as if he had forgotten she was there. With a small sigh of disappointment, she smiled at him.
“Well, you were! It’s the first time I’ve ever seen anyone stand up to Simon, and you did a wonderful job.”
“I’m so sorry, Grace. We were to use this evening to show people we were interested in each other. The announcement of our engagement was not to happen for months. I’ve really messed up any chance for this union to be taken seriously, but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to smash Simon’s face in. How could he say such despicable things about his own daughter? The man makes me lose control of myself, and I hate that he’s able to rile me up. What is so wonderful about giving in to one’s baser desires? I am no cave man, Grace, merely a banker.”
Halwyn quit pacing, and leaned over the balcony, placing his hands on the ledge, arms spread, to balance himself. His body heaved as he drew in several deep breaths.
Grace remembered how lovely it was to have those strong arms around her in the ballroom, even as she recalled quaking at Simon’s wrath. She moved alongside him and touched his arm.
“You are not ‘merely a banker,’ Halwyn, any more than I am merely a woman. You’re a knight on a brave horse, don’t you see? I’ve wanted to smash Simon’s face in for more than a year now, and can’t, for many reasons, brute strength being only one. But you could. He enjoys targeting those who can’t defend themselves, but he’s picked the wrong person with you. For once in his life, he can’t be a bully.”
Halwyn removed his glasses and rubbed his hand over his face. When he replaced them, he glanced over at her. “He’s not going to let this be the end of it, Grace.”
She looped her arm around his. “You’re so right. I believe we’ve only seen the beginning of Simon’s fury. Thankfully, we’re in this together. Your family’s support means the world to me.”
“Hopefully, my family’s reputation and standing in society will be enough to harness Simon’s rage. But I can’t help but wonder what torture he’ll find once you return home, for both you and your mother.”
She rolled her shoulders in response. “I’ll deal with him when I need to. Right now, though, let’s just enjoy these few peaceful moments.” She placed her head on Halwyn’s broad shoulder and stood quietly beside him, drawing great comfort from the feel of his strong body and the heady scent of his spice aftershave mixed with tobacco. He had been wonderful tonight, defending her as if she was indeed his chosen woman. Perhaps this wasn’t as one-sided a romance as she originally thought. She decided to test Halwyn’s feelings a bit.
She lifted her head and smiled at him. “Since we are now more or less officially betrothed, I think it’s most appropriate for us to seal our change in status with a kiss, don’t you?”
She caught the movement of his Adam’s apple as he gulped for air. Maybe she was being too forward, but it was too late to draw back now. Halwyn might think of this as only a business proposition, but she had been longing for him to kiss her for years. This was her golden opportunity.
“I suppose you’re right, and we should make a show of our feelings.” There were a few other couples, by now, who had drifted out to the balcony to enjoy the night air, so they would have a small audience who would bear witness to their commitment.
Grace breathed out for the first time since making her remark. She hadn’t been aware she was holding her breath.
Halwyn took her chin in his hand, and raised her face. She caught a glimpse of his beautiful blue eyes as he lowered his head to meet her lips. She closed her eyes, nerves jangling as she waited for his kiss.
“Stop right there, Fitzpatrick!” Simon’s voice bellowed across the balcony.
From the shelter of Halwyn’s arms, Grace turned to face Simon. She hadn’t yet said anything to him directly this evening. For over a year, she’d held her tongue as he constantly found fault with her and her mother. As he took the monthly stipend from the trust and used it at the gaming tables and the horse races. He was no doubt going into debt; assured of the fact that soon the entire trust would be his. Well, it wasn’t going to happen.
“Simon, please leave us alone. Go back inside and stop causing a scene.”
The balcony traffic began to swell as other guests joined them, sensing a battle of wills about to unfold. They scurried to find a good vantage point for the impending fray.
Simon reached out to grab her arm and physically remove her from Halwyn’s presence. Grace cried out as his hand wrapped around her arm tightly and he began to pull on her.
Halwyn didn’t utter a word. He merely reached out, removed Simon’s fleshy hand from her arm, and then stood between her and Simon.
“If you lay a hand on her again, Simon, I will lay hands on you.”
Simon’s eyes narrowed as he stared Halwyn down. “You can’t always be there to protect her, Fitzpatrick. I’ll lay a hand on her if I want to, in the privacy of my own home, and there will be nothing you can do about it.”
Charlotte and George Fitzpatrick were among those who had made their way from the ballroom to the balcony. They stood beside Halwyn and Grace now, forming a solid line of defense.
Charlotte raised her eyes to a sputtering Simon. “There is something we can do about it, Simon Huffman, you big bully. Grace can stay with us, in our townhome, until she and Halwyn are wed. And Sophie is welcome to stay there as well, to act as chaperone and to be away from your evilness, if she desires. Believe me, if I see one mark on either of them, I’ll report you to the authorities.”
Simon finally turned, and took in the crowd of people who were in attendance. His hard, flinty eyes returned to the Fitzpatricks and Grace as he took a deep breath. “There will be no need for Grace to be taken from our house. And you will never see any marks on either Grace or Sophie. But this is not over.” He turned to Grace. “Betrothed or not, you must not spend all your time with Halwyn this evening. There are other people you must talk to, and your mother needs you. It’s bad enough for you to have flouted convention and declared yourself betrothed to a man who wasn’t aware of your existence until last week. I’ll not have you break any more rules this evening. Come with me.”
Halwyn again stepped up, beside her this time. “I beg to differ, Simon. Grace and I have known each other for years, and have always had an understanding that someday we would marry. In fact, when she was younger, I presented a token of my esteem for her, which she recently misplaced. I’m giving it back to her now, in your presence, so you can see we have been on this inevitable journey for some time.”
He pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and handed it to Grace. “I believe this is yours, is it not?”
Grace glanced at the prized handkerchief which Halwyn had given her when she was thirteen. She had known for years he had just done it so she wouldn’t feel left out, but now he was giving it a special meaning. Hot tears pricked her eyes, and she longed to rise onto her tiptoes and kiss him. But she had an audience, and Simon, right there, telling her she couldn’t push the bounds of society any more for one night. Blast and damn!
CHAPTER TEN
Grace plopped herself into a chair beside her mother, surrounded by a cloud of silver fabric. Simon glared at her once more before he moved away to join the other men in the gaming room. Sophie’s eyes were fearful as she followed her husband’s departing form.
“What were you thinking, Grace?” she whispered. “Simon is now angrier than he’s ever been.”
“But not so angry that he’s not willing to toss away more of our money by gambling when he’s not in his right mind.” Grace reached over and patted her mother’s hand. “We don’t have to stay with him. Mrs. Fitzpatrick has offered to open her house to us, if we want. She has extra rooms, since Ginger and the twins are now m
arried. We can take refuge there until Halwyn and I marry. Then the money from Father’s trust can be used to buy us our own house, away from Simon and his mean temper.”
“Oh, no, I could never do what you’re suggesting. Society will frown on me running away from my husband, however abusive he is. It’s not done, and unlike you, I’m not strong enough to put things to rights. I must stay with Simon. And you must stop this foolishness. You may be in love with Halwyn, but he is not in love with you. He can’t be. If he were, he would have claimed you during your first season. And believe me, daughter, the only thing worse than not marrying at all is marrying when the love is one-sided. You don’t want to walk in my shoes.”
Grace stared at her mother, mouth agape. “You love Simon? Is that what you’re saying?”
“He was a wonderful man at the start of our relationship. So caring, so tender.” She sighed. “He’s a misunderstood person. His bluster is to hide the fact he feels himself to be inadequate to be in the social circle he now finds himself in. The circle he entered when he married me. I am responsible for creating the monster he’s become, so I must live with it. And my situation will become far worse if you manage to conform to the stipulations of your father’s will, and succeed in taking the trust from Simon.”
“You are not to blame for Simon’s behavior, Mother. I don’t mean to insult you, but it’s obvious to everyone that Simon only married you because of the money in the trust. He’s a bully, who is mean to his core. You didn’t make him this way, Mother. And you can escape, society be damned.” She reached over and took her mother’s hand in her own.
Grace had been certain her mother would be longing to escape the hell her life had become, and was puzzled by her resistance. She had a desperate need to discuss this new situation with Halwyn. He had the perfect analytical mind to dissect the situation and find an alternative if there was one to be found. She searched the ballroom, but couldn’t find him. She was very much alone.