Accidental Fiancee

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“I suppose we may as well leave it as it is,” her aunt said with a martyred expression. “I have never met the younger one, but I can tell you from experience that his eldest sister, Lady Wright, sets herself up as a leader in Society.” She whispered to Grace so Lydia would not hear, “I believe she is a veritable dragon.”

“If you truly believe so then you and her brother agree wholeheartedly, dear aunt!”

Chapter Six (#ulink_4026bbbe-4392-5edd-8943-1f027d36e422)

The silence in the drawing room was deafening. Lady Wright and Mrs. Hale were seated on the striped sofa across from Grace’s aunt, drinking tea. Lord Weston stood leaning against the mantel, arms crossed over his chest. He was enjoying himself immensely.

He had always been the focus of attention in drawing rooms such as this. Now he stood back and watched as these three women took each other’s measure. He’d seen concentrated focus a thousand times over games of chance, when even the blink of an eye could determine which card was played. But this was as intense as any he’d seen, and he would wager the stakes were just as high to these ladies. It was only the first of many new pleasures he expected this Season, thanks to his lovely affianced.

As the strain rose and topics of conversation became fewer, he thought about returning to the great hall, a room he would love to explore. It was one of the most interesting entrance halls he had ever seen, one that had likely taken a woman’s deft hand to make so beautiful. He wondered if that hand was Grace’s.

He was brought back to the present by the strain in her aunt’s voice as she attempted to converse with his overbearing sister. He was thankful for Maggie, or the uneasy silence would have driven him mad. “I pray you will forgive Grace and Lydia for not coming in immediately to greet you. As you know, they arrived in London two days ago and the modiste only delivered the first of their gowns moments ago.”

Brandon knew what a coup that was to anyone who understood the fashion world, as did his sisters, so he gave the first round to Mrs. Burstow.

“Lord Weston had assured Grace you would understand if they presented themselves a little outdated, but I would not hear of it. I insisted they change immediately.” Her tone was almost arrogant, Brandon noted. This was going to be most enjoyable. Even Gentleman Jackson himself, with his famous boxing club, might not have witnessed such a bout as was brewing between Grace’s aunt and his sister.

At that moment, the door opened and Grace and Lydia came into the room. Both performed demure curtseys, but Lydia, in her nervousness, was the first to speak. “We are terribly sorry to be so late. Good morning, my lord,” she finished, as if it had taken all her bravery. He smiled at her and winked.

Grace’s aunt rose and brought the girls forward as she introduced them. “Lady Wright, Mrs. Hale, this is Grace and this is Lydia.”

Before anyone else could speak, Elizabeth rose from the sofa, strode over to Grace and held out her hand. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Grace. I am Elizabeth, Lady Wright, and this is my sister, Margaret, Mrs. Hale.”

Maggie could not be so stiff. “Lady Grace, Lady Lydia, I am so happy to meet you both. We have descended upon you far too soon, but we could not wait to visit our new sisters.” Her smile was infectious.

Brandon stepped away from the mantel and gazed long and hard at Grace. He walked over to her, took her hand, kissed it and laid it on his arm. “It is good to see you again, my dear. The new gown was definitely worth the wait. You look beautiful.”

Silence fell again in the room and Grace blushed. She raised her eyes to his and he hoped he saw his amusement reflected in hers.

She removed her hand from his and finally smiled at him. She turned back to his sisters. “Lady Wright, Mrs. Hale, we are happy to make your acquaintance, as well.”

The tension in the room eased considerably and Lord Weston nodded his approval over Lydia’s head. Grace’s poise was phenomenal and he knew she would do well in London. He knew then, too, that he would not find it an onerous task to have her on his arm for the next few weeks.

Maggie joined in by walking to Grace and hugging her. “I am so happy you are to be part of our family.” Her smile was genuine.

Grace’s aunt began seating everyone again, and motioned for Grace to pour tea for herself and Lydia.

Brandon went back to the mantel, where he could watch all the faces in the room. But his first notice was of Grace’s new gown. It was dark blue with tiny white stripes. The sash at her waist was also white; he noted that she eschewed the Empire style, at least with this dress. A wide white stand-up collar completed the confection. At her age, she was able to wear colors, and in her new gown she looked somewhat regal. He liked it.

Lydia had not spoken a word since her opening remarks, but she had ended up next to Maggie, and Brandon knew his sister would do everything in her power to make the girl more comfortable. “This is a beautiful home. We were commenting on it earlier.”

“Thank you,” she murmured shyly.

Grace smiled at Maggie and winked at Lydia. “We must be perfectly honest with you, Mrs. Hale. Lydia had never been to the town house before two days ago. I have been in London several times and have come to love my mother’s touch everywhere. The entry hall is my favorite. I hope you may soon see the way the chandelier lights up the tapestries in the evenings. And I must introduce you to Max before you leave. He is my knight in shining armor!” She smiled at each of them.

Brandon watched as she effortlessly protected Lydia and let her love for the house show in her words. That his favorite room was the same as hers did not surprise him.

“But my father rarely comes to Town, so it is almost as new to Lydia as it is to you. Our betrothal,” she said, as she looked at Lord Weston and blushed, “happened rather unexpectedly. Our true purpose in coming to London is to bring Lydia out.”

“Oh, I see,” Maggie said, smiling at them both. “This shall be a most exciting Season. Lady Lydia will be the reigning belle, and with your wedding, Society may never be the same!”

Finally, his sister Elizabeth spoke again. “I see we have much more to do than I’d originally realized. I am very glad we pushed for this hasty introduction. We have much to discuss. I think the sooner we get some of the details settled, the sooner we can begin our planning.”