Page 69 of The Miracle of Love
She deserved better than a casual tumble between the sheets.
Not that his feelings for her were ever casual.
They said little else to each other for the remaining hours before supper.
He finished reading the book and tucked it back in his pouch. She spent most of the time lost in her thoughts while seated beside the hearth fire. “Grace, I know you are not happy about the promise I extracted from you. Are you angry with me?”
She turned to him, surprised. “No, I thought you were angry with me.”
“No, love. I know I am placing demands on you when you are already carrying a heavy burden on your shoulders. But I will not have you risking your life for me.” He walked over to her and knelt beside her. “Running instead of fighting by my side does not make you a coward. Quite the opposite, it is a brave and difficult thing to do. But you must do it for my sake, otherwise you will impair my ability to carry out my assignment.”
She nodded, but he saw the frustration in her eyes.
“You cannot throw me off, Grace. I need to be the leopard you are convinced I am. Working on my own. Stalking my prey. Slipping through the trees unnoticed.”
“Yes, I’ve given you my word.”
They said no more to each other as Mrs. Harcourt delivered their supper to the room, a hearty venison stew with sweet turnips, onions, and potatoes also tossed in. On the side was a freshly baked loaf of bread and two generous slices of apple pie sprinkled with cinnamon.
Grace drank tea with her meal while he had ale.
Soon after, his cousins joined them.
“Blessed saints,” Lorcan said, settling in one of the chairs beside the table. “Did you taste the stew? Have you ever had anything better in your life?”
Deklan laughed. “I licked that plate clean and then stole half of Grace’s meal.”
“I had plenty to fill me,” she assured. “I hope we don’t have to run tonight because the best I can do is waddle.”
Donal took the other chair, groaning as he settled into it. “All right, now that we are all gathered here, what’s the plan?”
Deklan sat on the bed beside Grace since there were no other chairs. “I think it will take us two days to reach Bexhill and another half day to find Vixen’s grave. We’ll need to meet up with you on the third day. A quick handoff of the crown. We part ways again. The question is where do we meet to hand the crown off to you?”
“I’m thinking Eastbourne,” Donal said. “It is close to Bexhill, yet far enough away to raise no suspicions. You and Grace can also hire a boat out of Eastbourne to sail you up the coast back to London.”
“No, I’ll be hiding Grace elsewhere.” He intended to take her to Brighton since he happened to have a house there. But only his cousin, Finn, knew of it. Finn took care of the family’s financial matters and had acquired this manor house overlooking the water in Finn’s own name as nominee. No one, not even members of his family, knew the house actually belonged to Deklan.
“Care to tell us where the two of you will be in hiding?” Lorcan asked.
“No. It is better you don’t know. I won’t make liars of you when Wooton asks. And I know he will ask. You need to respond truthfully.”
Lorcan rarely broke into laughter, but he did so now. “So we can stand by innocently and watch the steam pour from his ears? Gad, Dek. You are diabolical.”
“You give me too much credit.”
“Give us at least a hint,” Donal said, trying to suppress a chuckle. “How do we get hold of you? We’ll have to warn you if something goes wrong. But Deklan, Wooton is now related to me by marriage. He is Lucy’s father, after all. Will you please try to go easier on him? You have him apoplectic and twitching whenever you ignore his orders which you happen to do all the time.”
“He ought to know by now that he cannot manage me. I am carrying out my assignment and that is all he needs to know. But here’s a clue to where I’ll be hiding Grace, and do not follow up on it unless it is necessary.” He glanced from one cousin to the other. “Finn will know.”
Donal arched an eyebrow. “That’s it? Our cousin? Finn will know?”
“Yes, don’t ask for more.” Deklan had quietly contacted Finn after his last assignment and asked him to purchase this home with a lovely view of the sea. It was not far from the Royal Pavilion. “By the way, you are all welcome to use this hideaway in the summer. It is quite an elegant house. Grace, I think you will like it.”
She nodded. “I’m sure I will. I’m not in a position to complain even if it turns out to be a hovel, am I?”
“I suppose not.”
Her expression softened. “I would not complain. You know I am grateful to you for all you are doing. This extends to the Quinton and Brayden families, too. I don’t know how I can ever repay you for the kindness you’ve shown.”
