Page 18 of The Miracle of Love
He piled a plate high with kippers, bacon, boiled tomatoes, eggs, and two raisin scones, then took a seat beside Grace who looked like she just wanted to be blindfolded and led against the wall to be shot. “Have you had enough to eat?” he asked, shoveling eggs into his mouth.
“I wasn’t very hungry.”
He dropped one of his kippers onto her plate. “Here, eat this. We have a long few days ahead of us. You have to keep up your strength.”
She did not look pleased but made no protest. Mostly she poked her food from side to side. She already considered him an overbearing ogre, so he did not force the issue. She was loathe to marry him, so why give her more reasons to refuse him should he ever offer for her?
Of course, if he did propose, it would be to protect her and nothing more. He’d made that clear, and she had been just as clear in rebuffing the suggestion.
Still, it irked him.
Why wasn’t the girl leaping at the possibility of becoming his wife?
If he were in her position, he would not have hesitated to align himself with a powerful family. One of the advantages was their useful connections.
Donal had married the Duke of Wooton’s daughter, Lucy. Wooton, top man at the Home Office and otherwise known as the Duke of Ice because of his cold and calculating manner, doted on his daughter.
Why would Grace not use this connection to her advantage?
Deklan was not surprised to see Wooton stride in a short while later. After greeting Miranda and the rest of the family, he nodded to Deklan and motioned him over. “I see you’ve met Grace Montford.”
Deklan nodded. “You might have warned me she was here.”
“I did not know it when I sent off your orders. In truth, I never considered that your Aunt Miranda would bring her under her own roof. The Montfords are pariahs in society. Leave it to your aunt to thumb her nose at public sentiment. When did you get back to London? Have you had the chance to speak to the girl?”
“I got in late last night. Yes, she’ll do all she can to help us.”
Wooton arched an eyebrow. “You trust her?”
“Yes, and I need her to speak to her father as soon as possible.”
“Out of the question. I cannot allow her to pass along secret plans to him.”
“Grace is not involved in their crimes and will do nothing of the sort. You’ll see for yourself once you bother to get to know her.” He glanced toward the buffet where she now stood looking fragile and achingly vulnerable. “I’ll escort her into Miranda’s study where the three of us can speak in private.”
Wooton nodded. “Very well. You had better be right about her or I shall have your hide. The security of England is at stake.”
Deklan dismissed the comment. “When have I ever been wrong?”
He crossed the room to where Grace stood and took the empty plate she was now holding out of her hands. He knew it was merely an avoidance tactic on her part since she hadn’t eaten anything on her first plate and fooled no one by pretending to take another helping for herself. “Come along, Grace. This is your chance to persuade the Duke of Ice about the advantages of seeing your father.”
He held out his arm, and she grabbed onto it as though it were a lifeline.
He led her into the study.
Wooton was pacing in front of the large desk in the center of the elegant, wood-paneled chamber. “Lady Miranda is quite fond of you,” he said in a surly bark before Grace had taken her seat.
She tipped her head up to meet the old duke’s stern gaze.
Deklan liked that bit of fire he saw in her eyes.
“I am fond of her as well.” Grace tried to sound as surly as the duke but her voice was too sweet to pull it off. “She has been very kind to me. However, I gather I have enemies because of my brother’s dealings. Richard is a vain and arrogant man. Thinks only of himself. I have no doubt you’ve noticed.”
The duke nodded.
Grace spared a glance at Deklan before returning her attention to the duke. “I have explained the situation to Mr. Quinton. My brother will never tell me where to find this missing crown. There is no point in having me talk to him, at least not yet. But you must let me speak to my father.”
Wooton frowned. “We’ve questioned him many times over on the matter. What makes you think he will reveal something useful to you?”
