‘I do not notice it, I assure you.’
‘You did not deserve that. I am sorry.’
‘Not then, perhaps, but later...’
Grace felt the heat burning up through her again.
‘What happened in the stables was not entirely your fault,’ she admitted. ‘I fear we bring out the worst in each other, Mr Arrandale.’
She thought he was about to agree, but her father walked in and the moment was lost.
* * *
Truscott brought in the decanters and they talked of innocuous matters until each had a full glass, brandy for the gentlemen and madeira for Grace. Papa looked askance when she requested it, but she felt in need of something stronger than ratafia to get her through the evening. As soon as Truscott closed the door upon them her father turned to her.
‘Now, my dear,’ he said, his eyes twinkling. ‘We must decide how best to get you two to London. I would not want Sir Loftus to think you were running away like star-crossed lovers.’
Lovers! A shiver of excitement scurried through Grace at the thought. She swallowed and tried to concentrate.
‘Indeed not, Papa,’ she agreed. ‘And, sadly, I do not think we can take Loftus into our confidence.’
‘Good heavens, no. A very worthy man, but he is, after all, a magistrate.’
She said awkwardly, ‘He has been pressing me to order my wedding clothes, so he will not object to my going to town for that purpose.’
‘Have you set a date then, Miss Duncombe?’ asked Wolfgang politely.
‘No, but Loftus is keen to do so.’ She wrapped her hands around the wineglass and stared down at it. ‘I shall tell him we will be married as soon as I return from London.’
‘An excellent suggestion,’ agreed Papa. ‘If you will forgive me saying so, my dear, you have kept the poor man waiting quite long enough.’
Grace continued to stare into her glass. She had expected to feel nervous at the thought of getting married, but not this sick, unhappy dread.
Do not think of it, then. Concentrate instead upon getting safely to London.
Wolfgang’s deep voice interrupted her thoughts. ‘If you will tell me where I can hire a travelling chaise, I will arrange everything.’
‘If I might suggest...’ She looked up. ‘I think we should take the mail coach. Loftus is bound to enquire and he will not expect me to travel by private chaise.’
‘Will he not want to escort you himself?’
‘I was about to ask that myself.’ Papa turned his gaze upon her. ‘Is that not a possibility, Grace?’
‘Yes. But we could travel on Friday. Loftus will be engaged at Hindlesham market on that day. And...’ She paused. ‘Perhaps Truscott could drive us to Newmarket. I know the mail picks up from Hindlesham after that, but we need not alight, so there is less chance that anyone would see us, or think that we were travelling together.’
‘You are a born conspirator, Miss Duncombe.’
The admiration in Wolf’s voice only flayed Grace’s conscience even more. Her father declared it an excellent plan and the two men discussed the final arrangements. However, when everything was settled and their guest had retired, Grace remained seated, gazing into the fire and twisting her hands together.
‘Something is troubling you, my child.’ Her father drew a chair up beside her and reached out to take her hands. ‘You do not like this business, do you?’
She shook her head.
‘No, Papa, I do not like it. My conscience is not easy. And after what happened to Henry...’
‘That is why I was loath to share Mr Wolfgang’s secret, my love. I am convinced of his innocence, but I knew for you it would bring back painful memories of Henry’s tragic death.’
She shuddered and he gave her hands a comforting squeeze.
