Page 25 of Romancing the Scot
Outside of his work at the judiciary, he had to decide on the matter of fixing the dam. Truscott needed an answer from him about hiring Irish vagrants. Not that they had much choice. The dam needed to be repaired before the autumn rains put additional pressure on it.
And his family’s imminent arrival was pulling on his attention, as well. The household had been hard at work preparing for them, but he wanted everything to be perfect for their stay.
Inevitably, the one image he’d been trying not to think about flashed into his mind’s eye. Grace, looking down at him from the upper floor of the east wing when he rode up to the house yesterday. The moment had startled him. Unable to look away, Hugh stood motionless as a schoolboy, gawking at the loose ringlets of gold drying around her shoulders. He knew the eyes fixed on him were sapphire blue. Her lips fascinated him, and she had a deep richness to her voice that flowed over him like silk. And there were the things she said. Even in a feverish state, she intrigued him.
When she moved out of his sight and rational thought returned, he’d been happy to see that she was well enough to stand by the window. Her body was recovering, even if her mind was not. Jo told him afterwards about Grace’s complete lack of response in seeing the dress, the coins, and the jewel. And their guest had made no more mention of her father.
Grace might not remember him, but Hugh imagined that a very distraught man was at this very moment scouring the dockside inns and warehouses of Antwerp.
“I don’t believe you’re quite presentable enough for an introduction.”
Hearing Jo’s voice, Hugh turned around. Seeing Grace standing with her in the doorway brought on that same unexpected surge of pleasure, just as it had yesterday.
She was a hand taller than his sister and thin enough to float away on a light breeze. A straw bonnet barely contained the braided, pinned-up blond tresses. She was wearing a dark blue spencer jacket over a white dress, and he tried to banish from his mind the image of her standing in his study in a nightgown. Where she stood, she was silhouetted by the bright sunlight behind her, making any close scrutiny of her face difficult.
“Perhaps we should come back at a later time,” Jo said, breaking the silence.
“Introductions?” he repeated, keeping his eyes on Grace. “Now is as good a time as any. Give me a moment.”
Hugh rolled down his sleeves and retrieved his coat from a peg. She was watching his every move.
An introduction was unnecessary, but Jo went through the paces for form’s sake. Not trying to hide her sisterly admiration, she spun out his title, military distinctions, and position on the Commissary Court like a barker in a traveling side show. He was half expecting her to include “bearded lady” in her list of accolades.
Somewhere in the course of the lengthy introduction, Hugh noticed their guest’s gaze flick furtively past him to the contents of the carriage barn. She was obviously not as impressed as Jo was with his credentials.
“Miss Grace,” he said when his sister finished.
“Lord Greysteil.”
He bowed, and as she curtsied he noticed a blush color her cheeks.
“Since we don’t know your surname, I hope referring to you as ‘Miss Grace’ is not inappropriate.”
“That will be just fine, m’lord.”
“I’m delighted to see you up and about. You’re feeling better, I take it.”
“Indeed. Everyone has been so attentive and kind. I couldn’t help but improve.”
Seeing her now, he noticed more than her improving health. Her gaze was direct, her manner poised and confident. Her face had a serious mien; she was not given to smiling without cause. Though Hugh knew that many women employed it as a weapon to charm a new acquaintance, Grace was not one of them.
“And you’re feeling well enough to allow my sister to drag you out for a walk, I see.”
“Grace has been insisting on getting a breath of fresh air,” Jo explained. “I thought we could go off in the direction of the bluffs overlooking the river. We don’t want to go too far and overtire her.”
Hugh glanced at the mess around him. It would still be waiting if he joined them.
“But before we get started,” Jo continued, “would you be kind enough to entertain Grace for a few moments while I speak to one of the stable hands about horses for tomorrow?”
“You ride?” he asked Grace.
“Your sister suggested the outing. We’ll find out tomorrow,” she answered. “And I promise to be cautious. I want no broken bones that might worsen my condition or lengthen my stay at Baronsford.”
“I’ll have the lads choose the gentlest mount for her,” Jo assured him, leaving the two of them on their own.
Hugh stepped out the wide-open doors into the sun. This close, she wasn’t quite so brave in her open appraisal of him. She continued to gaze into the barn. A lock of golden curls had escaped the confines of the bonnet and now dangled about her lips. When she reached up to brush it back, he noticed the unadorned ring finger.
“You’re too weak to join us in the dining room, but strong enough to walk to the river,” he teased. Last night, she’d taken a tray in her room. “I hope it’s not the company that’s keeping you away.”
