Page 57 of The Miracle of Love
He took a bite of the scone he had slathered in marmalade and followed it with a sip of his coffee. “Now, I shall take charge of our conversation.”
“What do you wish to know?”
“Everything I can about you.”
She set aside her fork. “I am as easy to read as an open book. You probably know me better than anyone else does, no matter that we have only been together two days. Goodness, it feels so much longer.”
“Because we’ve already been through so much together.”
“Yes, that is true. Well, about me…I can read and write and am very good with sums. I enjoy history, music, and art. But my greatest enjoyment,” she said with an impish smile, “is plaguing brilliant agents of the Crown about matters of love.”
His laughter was genuine, the smile on his lips reaching into his magnificent eyes.
Grace often had to stop herself from gawking at him like a little fool. “Perhaps we shall soften each other’s edges by the time this week is through. You shall have me thinking more logically and I shall have you saving kittens caught up a tree.”
His smile was quite tender as he said, “Yes, I should like that.”
It suddenly struck her this might be one way they would be good for each other. For the most part, she appreciated his logic and cold calculation. Those traits were important to who he was and she did not wish to change him. But he needed to realize decisions on love required him to listen to his heart and not only to his calculating brain.
“Grace, let’s talk about your family.”
“Must we?”
He nodded. “I would like to know more about them, too. Not merely your father and Richard. I’ve had my fill of them, but I’m curious about your mother and younger siblings.”
She sighed. “I miss them so much.”
“I know.” He regarded her solemnly, their humor of only moments ago now faded.
“We have never been apart at Christmas. I wish we could be together now, but it is hopeless. You and I won’t even make it back to London in time for Miranda’s festivities if the weather continues like this.”
“I’m sure it will improve.”
“Perhaps, because your family will be terribly disappointed if you miss Christmas with them. As for me, there isn’t the slightest chance I’ll make it to my family’s country estate in time to join my mother and siblings for Christmas supper. Even if it were possible, I don’t think Wooton will allow me to go.”
He placed a hand over hers. “The timing is tight for both of us. Would it be so bad if you and I spent Christmas together?”
The possibility had never crossed her mind, for she was too lost in her family’s troubles to think about anything else. These past months had been spent trying to secure whatever provisions she could for her distraught mother and siblings who were still too young to protect themselves.
All she owned was now gone, the few pieces of jewelry belonging to her and not confiscated had been sold to put food on their table and pay for a cook and maid. Fortunately, costs were lower in the countryside. The meager funds she supplied were enough to last her family to the end of this month. It would have lasted barely a week had they been in London. But even in the countryside, their budget was bare bones and not enough for the extravagance of purchasing a goose for their Christmas table.
Her mother would be so disappointed.
So would her siblings, James, Serenity, and Hope.
But what more could she do right now?
Some of her savings had also gone toward trying to clear her father’s name. What a waste of time and precious resources. Every door had slammed in her face because, as it turned out, he really was guilty of those accusations.
Amid all this, she had found the man of her dreams.
They were now on their way to Bexhill and she held out hope of saving the innocent members of her family if only they could find this elusive crown.
Would she mind spending Christmas alone with him?
Dear heaven.
“Deklan, I would not mind at all.”
