Page 25 of The Miracle of Love
“Yes, but I was kept quite busy taking lessons on the pianoforte and dance instruction, visiting friends. Constant visits to my modiste. What a silly waste of time it all was, and pointless now.”
He took her gloved hand in his.
She glanced at him in surprise.
He cast her a wry smile. “I am not letting go of you, Grace. I want you to know we are in this together. Whatever happens, know that I will protect you.”
Deklan was arrogant and annoyingly confident. She knew he had no use for women beyond having them as occasional bedmates, and doubted he had ever been in love, certainly not the deep, devoted kind, or ever seriously courted a young lady.
In all likelihood, he was terrible husband material.
She wanted to dislike him but simply couldn’t.
He was being incredibly kind to her at the moment.
Her father would say he was manipulating her.
Perhaps he was.
After the ordeal of these past few months, she did not care.
She was starved for companionship and craved any morsel of affection. Not that he was being affectionate. He was merely being thoughtful and tossing her an occasional compliment.
At this low point in her life, the smallest kindness was precious to her.
However, she drew her hand away.
She wasn’t trying to be rude, merely trying to save herself from growing too attached to him. Their acquaintance would not last longer than a week, for they would either find the crown and he would then move on to his next assignment…or they would not find the crown and she would be sent off as hostage to that foreign royal family.
Assuming someone else did not abduct her first.
He took her hand once more and gave it a light squeeze to regain her attention. “You are getting lost in your thoughts, Grace. What is on your mind?”
“Nothing worth discussing. Go ahead and ask the rest of your questions.”
He arched an eyebrow but did not pursue the comment. “All right, next question. If your mother remained at the Montford country estate, then who served as your chaperone in London? Someone must have accompanied you whenever you went to the shops, and who sat in the room with you and your instructors when you had your lessons?”
“My maid, Agnes, was assigned the task. She remained by my side night and day. I took her with me wherever I went. She’s gone now. Wooton scared all the servants off.”
“No, I believe he intends to send some of them up to your country estate to assist your mother and siblings.”
The comment caught her by surprise. “Truly? I hope Agnes is among them. She was quite devoted to the family. I hope so, for my mother’s sake. Well, for the sake of Agnes as well. It cannot be easy to find employment without good references, and who would take her on if they knew she came from the Montford family?”
“So, you went around with just your maid as chaperone?”
“Not at all. My father also saw to it that I had two footmen accompany me on errands and social calls. I was guarded at all times.”
“What about the evening entertainments?”
“I did not go out very much since I was not yet officially out in society. But my father served as my escort whenever I did.”
“And not Richard?”
She cleared her throat. “No, he enjoyed…um, faster entertainments. My father would not allow me anywhere near him and his friends. They were gamblers and often spent evenings at the copper hells and less reputable clubs. Do you think he might have hidden the crown in one of those places?”
“No, Grace. It is unlikely. There is no honor among thieves. He could not trust something so valuable to anyone who worked in those places or any friend of his who frequented the hells along with him.”
“I see. Well, my father was a member of several reputable clubs. Do you think it might be hidden in one of those?”
