Page 26 of The Misfortunate Miss Farthington
“Who me?” Daphne said.
“Your secret is safe here, Cousin,” Tessa said drily. To the others she added, “For a few years there I actually thought my aunt managed to tame my precocious young cousin. But it seems she just got better at hiding her mischievous nature.”
Daphne grinned like this was the greatest compliment. Then she straightened her skirts with a coy look. “I may have some ideas on how we can help poor Mr. Grant along. And I’m certain everyone here would be keen to help as well.”
“Oh yes. Whatever Lord Galena and I can do, you can count on us.” Lydia perked up. “Mr. Grant came to visit us the other day. I truly believe he’s in agony.”
Tessa’s lips quivered with amusement at kind Lydia’s clear pleasure in Mr. Grant’s ‘agony.’
“Of course he’s in agony,” Mary said. “He’s made a mess of things with the most wonderful woman in London.”
“I just wish I knew how we could set him straight,” Marian added with a thoughtful look.
Tessa was overwhelmed at the support. So much so, she couldn’t bring herself to tell them that the girls had been right earlier when they’d said that it was time and space that had helped them in the end.
And time and space were what she was giving Richard.
That was all they could do.
Eloise seemed to come to the same conclusion. With a sigh, she said, “I don’t think we can force Mr. Grant to know his own heart.”
“No,” Daphne agreed quickly. Perhaps…too quickly. “But we can help my aunt and uncle to rid themselves of this delusion that Tessa is going to marry some pompous, insufferable, stuffed shirt earl.”
“I wouldn’t describe the Earl of Yardley as such. He really is a good man,” Marian offered quietly, almost apologetically. “He’s a good friend to my cousin Felicity and her husband, the Duke of Mandrick.”
Daphne waved a hand as if wafting away those words. “That is well and good for the lady who is to be his wife, but that woman is not going to be Tessa.”
“Hear hear!” Mary cried. When the others stared, she grinned. “What? I was caught up in Daphne’s passionate speech.”
“If only Mandrick were back from his wedding trip,” Marian added with a frown. “Surely, he would be able to explain to Yardley what is what. I have no doubt the Earl would be happy to be a gentleman and step aside in the face of true love.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Daphne said comfortingly. “We don’t need His Grace’s assistance for this matter.”
“Why? What did you have in mind, Daphne?” Tessa asked, wariness clear in her voice. “What do you expect us to do?”
“Don’t fret, dear cousin. It’s already been done.”
Now Tessa truly did fret. “Whathas been done?”
“Well, first I’ve arranged an invitation for Mr. Grant to the ball.”
“Oh, but…” Tessa frowned. “I don’t want him to think… That is… If he doesn’t wish to attend…”
Daphne gestured toward Lydia, a silent prompt, and Lydia leaned forward eagerly, words tumbling out of her mouth. “Mr. Grant asked me to get him an invitation to the ball.”
“He did?” Tessa was momentarily distracted by that unexpected outburst.
“I wasn’t sure if I ought to say,” Lydia continued. “But Mr. Grant asked Luke to ask me and—”
“Of course he’s invited!” Tessa said.
Everyone laughed and Lydia blushed with a grin. “The fact that he’s so keen to come here is a good sign, is it not?”
Tessa felt hope stirring. “It is indeed.”
Daphne grinned at Lydia, who’d apparently become her partner in mischief. “So that is one part of the plan already handled.”
Tessa’s brows arched.One part of the plan?
