Page 59 of Romancing the Scot
Grace decided to tell him everything. Beginning with their time in America with Joseph Bonaparte, she told him what she knew about their destination in Brussels. Fighting back her emotions, she detailed the brutal murder of her father and the servants traveling with them. She ended by telling him about her escape through the alleys and ditches of Antwerp’s waterfront and about how she ended up in the sealed crate bound for Baronsford.
“Although I can only assume the diamond is part of the Bonaparte treasure. I never saw it before the day Jo showed it to me. I had no idea it was hidden in my dress,” she said. “I can’t forgive myself for what happened to Mr. Darby. The violence has followed me.”
“I know he would face those men again,” he said gently. “He’s in good hands. We’ll make sure he gets the care he deserves.”
They continued to ride along at the slow pace he’d set.
“About the diamond,” he said. “It’s no secret that many have been trying to lay their hands on the wealth amassed by the Bonapartes. Some of those men are staunch loyalists of Napoleon who want to use that treasure to raise an army and restore their emperor. Others are surely after it simply to line their own pockets.”
Grace didn’t like the idea of Daniel Ware fitting into one group or the other. She wanted to believe he was carrying the diamond from Joseph to his wife, Julie, in Brussels. Her father, in spite of his flaws, was a man of honor.
In the distance Baronsford reared up imposingly through the fog and mist. Hugh’s arms tightened around her. She was thankful to be back here.
“I don’t understand why my father didn’t tell me anything about the diamond. I was his confidante. I was the one who made the arrangements for our crossing. He trusted me. I can’t imagine why he would hold back such information. If I’d known, I could have made sure it was better protected. Thatwewould have been better protected.”
Her father was a cautious man when it came to Grace’s safety. At no time during their crossing did she think he was worried for her. The bloody rooms at the inn in Antwerp flashed back into her mind’s eye. Those men, dead at the hands of murderers. Grief tried to force its way back in her mind and she shivered.
“Maybe your father didn’t know about the diamond, either,” he suggested. “Or if he did, perhaps he misjudged the danger in carrying it.”
Grab the chit.The harsh words came back to her.
“If the two attacks are related, and if the jewel was what they were after,” she replied, “why take me? Who would carry a diamond like thatwiththem? None of this makes any sense. I don’t know what good I would have been to them.”
Grace’s words halted as Jo rushed out into the courtyard ahead of the housekeeper, the butler, and a band of servants.
“Why is everyone coming out?”
“To greet you. To welcome you back.”
As emotions surged within her, Grace tried to cover her reddening face with her hand, but there was nowhere to hide.
Hugh whispered in her ear as the household ran to them, “Regardless of your past, regardless of what brought you here, my sister and all these people—and I, most of all—have come to care for you, Grace. Pray, don’t run away from us again.”
Chapter 21
A half-dozen maids, led by Mrs. Henson and Anna, buzzed about the room making certain Grace was no more than a mannequin in the undressing and dressing process. Jo stood at the end of the bed, directing everyone with the efficiency of a field commander maneuvering his troops. All this just to put Grace into dry clothes.
Once the drill was complete and the ankle inspected and wrapped, ‘General’ Jo sat on the bed beside her.
“I think you’re right about the ankle being sprained. But we’ll still have Dr. Namby look at it when he brings Darby back to Baronsford.” Jo tucked the bedclothes around Grace. “I was about to say we’ll have to lock the good doctor in Baronsford’s attics if we want to keep any information about your health private, but I’m fairly certain Mrs. Namby and Lady Nithsdale are at this very moment inventing the details of the attack over their tea.”
Grace looked up, relieved at the trace of a smile on her friend’s face. This was much better than her expression of panic when Hugh insisted on carrying her up to the bedchamber.
“A tray of food, Mrs. Henson, if you please,” Jo ordered as the maids took away towels and wet clothes. “I know for a fact Miss Grace has had nothing to eat today.”
As the room emptied, Grace reached over, taking Jo’s hand.
“Thank you. And I’m truly sorry for holding back the truth. I—”
“Hush. I never want to hear those words from you again,” Jo scolded gently. “I can only imagine. Witnessing your own father’s murder. And then locked in a crate for five days.”
After carrying her up, Hugh had drawn his sister into the sitting room for a few moments. Now she knew that he’d passed on to Jo what Grace had told him earlier.
“It must have been terrifying, not knowing what was to become of you,” she continued. “And when you opened your eyes here, who were we? Strangers? No, Grace. You had every right not to trust us.Iwouldn’t trust us.”
Grace smiled as she pulled Jo into her arms.A friend.She’d never known a kinder, more forgiving person.
“Answer one question,” Jo asked, pulling back.
