by Gayle Callen
Marriage. Marriage! To Daniel Throckmorten, rake and gambler and scandalous child of a scandalous family.
She couldn’t even imagine how to go about such a thing. She didn’t want to give up on their challenge; she needed that violin for Edward and his future chance at marriage.
Edward had escorted her to the dinner, and now he gave her arm a squeeze before going off on his own to speak to two young ladies. Grace couldn’t pay attention to him, so busy was she with her dilemma.
When the challenge was over, did she just continue to encourage Daniel’s visits, hoping something tender flourished between them?
As she watched him across the room talking to an elderly widow, she knew her own tenderness toward him had already happened. She found herself making excuses for his gambling, telling herself he could be like most normal men and stop it when he wanted to.
But he’d competed in a game involving the right to marry her—how was that being in control?
She moved through the drawing room, talking and being drawn from group to group. At last she and Daniel stood in the same crowd of five guests. She couldn’t help but notice the speculative glances one elderly lady kept giving the both of them.
Grace’s stomach began to tighten with nerves. Her plan had been for everyone to notice Daniel’s attention to her, to assume that he was finally ready to marry. Of course, she had not meant that he might marry her, but now she was only confused.
During a lull in the conversation, the elderly lady, Mrs. Walker, turned to Grace and said, “Miss Banbury, I was disappointed when both you and Mr. Throckmorten could not attend my breakfast two days ago. And neither of you attended Lady Thurlow’s ball that same night.”
Grace felt suddenly hot and wondered if her face was on fire. Surely her smile was frozen; surely everyone was looking between Daniel and her, knowing that they’d spent three days together. She’d just begun to relax among Society, and now her self-respect, the only thing that was hers, might be damaged.
“Mrs. Walker,” she began gravely, not even sure what she was going to say.
“Miss Banbury,” Daniel interrupted, “I told Viscount Wade that his small house party was too exclusive, did I not?”
Grace blinked at him. “Yes, you did.”
“You were at Lord Wade’s home?” Mrs. Walker asked in surprise.
“His grandmother’s home,” Grace was able to say.
“Miss Banbury and I were guests of Lady Wade’s. We had good weather. You did some riding, did you not, Miss Banbury?”
Grace smiled. “Miss Shelby, Lord Wade’s betrothed, was kind enough to show me about.”
The conversation veered to the surprise of Lord Wade’s engagement, and Daniel began telling the guests in detail about Lord Wade’s rowing challenges. Daniel seemed…perfectly fine.
Grace felt like throwing up.
How was she supposed to keep track of so many secrets? And what would she say if people had heard they’d visited Madingley Court as well? She could only pray that the duke’s servants were too loyal to spread gossip.
But Baxter Wells had been there, too! She could barely stop herself from frantically staring around the drawing room to see if he was here, spreading rumors of his own. And if Edward came across him, there might well be bloodshed. She looked around for her brother and saw that he was standing alone, staring pensively out the window, before he gave a smile to a gentleman who came to speak to him.
During dinner, Grace realized how Lady Hammersmith viewed her relationship with Daniel when she had him escort Grace in and sit beside her. The table was long and wide, with high centerpieces of flowers blocking much conversation. The man on Grace’s right was talking to the woman on his right, leaving her to turn to Daniel on her left.
He was looking at the framed menu between them, but he glanced her way.
“You have to learn to be a quick thinker,” he said softly.
She wanted to groan. The room was noisy enough that no one could hear them, but still…
She wanted to ignore him, but as she put her napkin in her lap, she murmured, “I haven’t had as much practice as you. And the journey was a terrible risk to take. Of course people would wonder if we were together.”
“But we deflected their questions with the truth.”
She spoke between gritted teeth. “And what about our next stop? What if Mr. Wells decides to tell everyone that I’ve been to Madingley Court with you?”
Daniel nodded to the footman who set before him a plate of “Fried Smelts with Dutch Sauce,” according to the menu. When everyone was preoccupied with their food, he softly said, “He will say nothing, or the blow I landed in his stomach will be followed by more.”
Grace quickly turned her wide eyes back to her own plate. “You hit him?”
“He deserved it after how he treated you.”
She blinked in disbelief. “Oh. I didn’t realize you knew he was the man in my past.”
He tapped the side of his head. “I’m smart.”
Had Daniel Throckmorten appointed himself her defender now?
Throughout dinner, Grace spoke to the man on her right, smiled at the people on the opposite side of the table, and did everything to prove she was not focused on Daniel. Afterward, when the men rejoined the ladies in the drawing room, she saw her brother once again standing alone.
She went over to him and smiled. “We have not had much chance to talk since my return.”
“And we didn’t talk before you left either, or I’d have talked you out of taking that melancholy trip to Maran Park.”
“I needed to speak with the staff, Edward. You know they are like family to me.”
“And he’s keeping them all?”
She nodded and quickly changed the subject. “What have you been doing while I was gone?”
“Not gambling, if that’s what you’re implying,” he said darkly.
She winced and touched his arm. “Edward, you know me better than that. If I thought you were gambling, I would ask about it.”
He heaved a sigh. “I apologize. I have been…on edge. I attended a breakfast and a ball.”
“And how were they?”
“Since my newest goal is to marry, it did not go well.”
“Oh, Edward,” she murmured with sympathy.
“These women still think I have property to bring to marriage—which is now a lie, of course—but that does not sway them into staying long enough to even speak about the weather.”
“You’ll have property again, Edward, I promise. And your investments will surely begin to grow.”
He shrugged and put on a false smile when their host, Lord Hammersmith, came to say hello.
Daniel watched the Banbury siblings from across the room. He’d always been good at reading faces—it was part of what made him a talented gambler and businessman—but he didn’t need skill to understand Banbury’s frustration and Grace’s worry. Banbury’s being Grace’s brother had somehow made him part of Daniel’s presence in the family.
Daniel had seen the cool reactions to Banbury’s presence among the young marriage-minded ladies. He found that he cared about the younger man, who hadn’t had the guidance of decent adults when his father died, like Daniel had. Daniel wanted to help Banbury meet the appropriate marriageable women, but he first had to trust that Banbury could control his old demons.
When Grace left her brother, Daniel approached him.
“Throckmorten,” Banbury said with a nod. “Did you see all you needed to at Maran Park?”
There wasn’t even a trace of bitterness in Banbury’s voice. He must be hiding it well. “The estate is flourishing. It has been well managed.”
Banbury shrugged. “The steward is excellent. I hope you keep him on.”
“All the staff will be retained.”
“Good.” His stiff shoulders relaxed.
“I have a proposal for you.”
Banbury glanced at him curiously. “A business proposal?”
�
�It’s personal. I know you’ve been trying to earn back money to buy the violin from me.”
Banbury’s expression turned wary. “Yes.”
“What if I give it back to you in exchange for complete access to Grace?”
The man didn’t even take a moment to think. “No,” he said flatly.
Something inside Daniel eased. “No?” he repeated lightly.
“I am only Grace’s brother, and what she chooses to do with her life is up to her. But she has my guidance and my protection, and I would never give that up to any man.” He didn’t bother to hide his glare. “Do you understand me?”
“I understand.” Daniel took a sip of his brandy, and said mildly, “Are you still coming to Southern Railway tomorrow for our next meeting?”
Banbury gave him a surprised look. “I—don’t know.”
“You should come. It’s a meeting of all the directors. You’ll learn much.”
“I’ll be there.”
When the dinner was over, Daniel went to his carriage, where his coachman waited for instructions. The night was dark, with a mist of rain blurring the view of the gas lamps lining the streets. It was still early; normally he would have gone for a game of hazard.
But he thought of Grace, going home alone. Gambling had altered the very course of her life in so many ways, and to Daniel’s dismay, he almost couldn’t enjoy it anymore. Certainly the lure wasn’t there for him.
The only lure that drew him lately was the thought of Grace alone in a bedroom, waiting for him.
Even though he knew he was having her house guarded, and that Jenkins seemed to be in retreat, he told himself he had to watch over her personally. After all, there were only three days left in his seduction, and he certainly hadn’t given up. In fact, he thought he was closer than ever to achieving his goal.
Long after midnight, he let himself in the rear door of the town house and crept quietly upstairs. He went to Grace’s bedroom first, silently opened the door—and found an empty bed. A cold, unfamiliar feeling swept through him, and it took him a moment to recognize it as fear. Had Jenkins somehow breached the security of the house?
He almost went to Banbury next, but decided to search the house first, finishing with the other bedrooms on the floor. He found her sound asleep in the big bed in the master bedroom, as if she were waiting for him. The tight knot in his chest eased as he looked at her lovely face, so innocent and vulnerable in sleep. Her nightclothes were covered by a dressing gown that was tucked clear up under her chin. But her small, bare feet were exposed, and he did not resist the urge to run his fingertips from her ankle to her toes. She twitched in her sleep and rolled over, exposing flesh up to her calves. This could be interesting.
But she’d been waiting for him, he thought, slinging an arm around the bedpost as he looked down at her. It was getting more and more difficult to seduce her with abandon, when he was thinking about her too much, caring too much. He was already protecting her reputation at parties while at the same time trying to take it for his own.
He carefully sat down beside her, resting against the headboard. There was a peacefulness in being with her that he’d never felt with anyone before. He was almost…content, and he didn’t know how to analyze that.
Grace rolled again, this time right up against his outstretched legs. She stirred and lifted her head, eyes still half-closed with slumber.
“Daniel?” she murmured.
The sweet, softness of her voice did something strange to him that he couldn’t name.
He brushed back the hair from her eyes. “I’m here.”
She came up on her elbow, a small smile playing about her lips, and tugged on his shirt. Surprised, he came down over her, and she reached up to kiss him. He wasn’t even sure she realized what she was doing. Her lips were soft and gentle, caressing his mouth with a quiet, simple passion that moved him, confused him.
At last he pulled away and she sank back against the pillow, closing her eyes. “Luncheon tomorrow,” she murmured. “You and me.”
She fell back asleep before he could even respond, as if she knew what his answer would be. So he’d be a little late for his railway meeting. With a sigh, he sank down a bit in the pillows, she snuggled against him, and he lay awake, for the first time the recipient of some part of a woman’s trust.
Chapter 19
Daniel pulled up outside Grace’s door in an open carriage, jumped lightly to the ground and up the steps. Woodley, the butler, was waiting to open the door, and the man gave Daniel a quick wide-eyed stare before settling into his usual bland, pleasant expression. Daniel didn’t understand—until he saw Grace.
She was standing just beyond the butler, hands on her hips, her glare full of disapproval. He couldn’t imagine what he’d done; he was punctual this morning, and last night, he hadn’t attempted to ravish her in her sleep, though it had pained him to return to his own cold, lonely bed before dawn.
“I take it I should not come in,” Daniel said dryly.
“If I had not promised Beverly that I would attend this charity event, I would have had Woodley slam the door in your face,” she said, obviously fuming.
But instead she marched past him, opened her parasol so quickly that he had to duck to avoid having his eye pierced, and stepped briskly down the stairs to the street. He thought she might vault into the seat to avoid touching him, but she disdainfully held her hand to him for assistance.
Only when he had the reins in his hands and was guiding the two-horse team away from the curb, did he say, “So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”
“My brother told me what you asked for in exchange for the violin,” she said in a tight voice.
“I see.” He hadn’t demanded Banbury’s promise of secrecy, of course, but he hadn’t thought the man would want to hurt his sister.
“He didn’t want to tell me,” she continued as if she could read his mind.
A frightening prospect, that.
“But I saw the two of you talking, and I demanded to know if it was about me. Edward is a terrible liar where I’m concerned. I can read his face like a book.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He didn’t look at her as he paid attention to the crowded city street.
Was it over now, the challenge that had consumed most of the last two weeks? He couldn’t imagine not seeing Grace every day, pursuing her every night. But she would take his offer to Banbury in the worst possible light and had obviously condemned him without even questioning his motives. He shouldn’t be surprised, but he was.
“How could you test Edward like that?” she demanded, throwing up her hands and almost losing her parasol in the process.
Daniel almost took a turn too fast in his confusion. “Test?”
“Of course I understood immediately what you were doing, and I told Edward as much. You were testing him to see if he could control his impulse to gamble. A true feverish compulsion would make him offer up even his own sister to help himself, and you’d know he was untrustworthy.”
He opened his mouth, but she plowed on ahead.
“I can help Edward by myself, you know, if you feel you can’t trust him. He’s changed, and I can see that. I thought you could, too.”
“I needed proof,” he said slowly, “before I took the next step with him.”
“And what’s that?” she demanded, eyeing him like a mother hen protecting her chick.
“I thought I would invite him to the ball celebrating the new directors of Southern Railway. He’ll meet educated, refined, and wealthy young ladies, not of the ton, it’s true, but eager to wed a gentleman, regardless of his financial status. Their fathers are my friends and business associates, and I had to make sure I was entrusting their daughters to a man in control of his impulses.”
She stared up at him, he stared down at her, and he saw again the soft tenderness sweep over her face.
“Hey, guv’nor, watch it!” came a shout from the street.
Daniel returned his attention
to driving before they had an accident.
“Daniel,” she said in a quieter voice, “that is sweet of you.”
“Sweet?” he scoffed. “Give me credit for understanding a good business venture when I see one. When your brother begins to succeed, I will certainly take my share of the profit.”
“Of course,” she said, her face too expressionless.
He had the annoyed feeling she was fighting a smile.
When Grace entered Lady Fogge’s spacious drawing room, she came up short. Men and women mingled as usual, but they did so amidst small tables and chairs set up all about the room.
She felt Daniel at her back. “Miss Banbury?”
She knew she had to say something about why she’d come to a dead stop. “Just looking to see who I knew.”
But she couldn’t focus on that because she was looking at the deck of cards at each table.
You’re being silly, she told herself. There were often card games available for guests who wanted to amuse themselves. She had always made her excuses and conversed with others who didn’t enjoy playing.
But this was an event to benefit babies in the worst districts of London. She had thought guests would be offering money for blankets, or hearing a speaker who would encourage them to donate to the cause. When she’d first come up with the redemption idea for Daniel, she had thought this would be the perfect event to exhibit his good qualities.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” said Lady Fogge, the round-faced hostess who stood beside her blushing daughter. “We have decided to try something different to raise funds today. We can all enjoy ourselves—and benefit a worthy cause. So today we play Speculation, and I encourage you to bet freely, for the winnings will all go to the Ladies’ Benevolence for Babies Fund.”
Grace had spent her life avoiding what had been her mother’s downfall—her family’s downfall. Even playing for charity made her feel ill inside.