Page 42 of The Marquess's Imperfect Brid
Grace felt the color drain from her face as the words cut her like a blade. The Duchess was bringing forth every insecurity Grace had felt since she first met the marquess. She fumbled for words, trying to defend herself or find a way to free herself from the nasty conversation. But her lips, like her legs, were frozen, rendering her unable to escape or explain herself.
“As I suspected,” the duchess said as if Grace’s silence had implicated her in some horrid crime. “I suppose that I should be grateful that you do not insult me by trying to lie about your feelings.”
Grace winced. She wanted to defend herself, but she had always been a gentle, passive soul. And the direct remarks about her appearance made her feel even smaller and meeker. She tried to smile, but even she could concede that she likely looked like a beast in her effort.
“The marquess and I are only friends,” she said softly. “Hehas been kind to me, and I am grateful to him for that.”
The duchess grunted, shaking her head.
“That is Gareth’s downfall,” she said. “He is too kind for his own good, even to those whom he would do well to avoid.”
Each word the duchess spoke stung worse than the last. She understood that she could never hope for a romantic future with Lord Hayewood. Or any gentleman, for that matter. But did the Duchess feel that meant that she did not deserve even friendship?
Unsure of what else to say, Grace shifted uncomfortably. She looked down at the floor, trying to fight back the tears which had begun forming in her eyes.
“I trust, then, that your silence means that you hear and understand me?” the duchess asked. “I will make it perfectly clear, to ensure that you do. Let him go. Leave his life, so that you do not hold him back from the prosperous future that awaits him or tarnish his reputation with the scandal of associating with you.” She paused, smirking cruelly at Grace. “If you truly do care about him, you know that this is the right thing to do. I will not need to discuss this with you again, will I?”
Grace shook her head, unable to look the duchess in the eye again. The Duchess gave a satisfied huff, turning on her heel and walking away without another word. A moment later, Juliet appeared, putting a gentle arm around Grace’s shoulders.
“Are you all right, milady?” she whispered.
Grace nodded, taking a shaky breath.
“The Duchess simply wanted to ask me to leave Lord Hayewood alone, due to my…” she trailed off, choking back tears.
Juliet whipped her head around, presumably in the direction of the duchess. From the corner of her good eye, Grace could see that her jaw was tightened, as was her grip around her mistress’s shoulders.
“Shall I fetch your parents or Lord Neil?” she asked with fierce protectiveness.
Grace shook her head, looking at the lady’s maid as she smiled through her unshed tears.
“No, I am all right,” she said. “I think I just need some fresh air. It will help me compose myself and enjoy the rest of the night.”
Juliet nodded. Then, she gently escorted Grace out of the room, casting one more glare inside the crowded room. Grace was grateful for the loyalty of her maid, but part of her hoped that the duchess did not see Juliet’s stares. However, the part of her that was terribly wounded by such unfair judgments and undeservedly cruel words hoped that she had. It became clear to her right then that she would never escape her flaws. And nor would Lord Hayewood, if he continued to be involved with her.
***
Gareth could not escort Lady Cecilia off the floor quickly enough when his third dance with her finally ended. He knew that their mothers had conspired to ensure that the two of them danced together all evening long. But he had other plans, and he did not intend to allow the three women who had tormented him since his return home to keep him hostage any longer. He bowed a silent parting to Lady Cecilia, disappearing immediately back into the crowd and hiding as he searched for Lady Grace.
When he did not find her at first, he worried, wondering if another gentleman had asked her to dance. But the floor was void of her brilliance, so he searched the crowd with rapidly moving eyes. There was no sign of her distinct red dress, so he thought quickly. Wherever she was, he needed to find her as quickly as he could. He had made his decision. The tiresome efforts of Lady Cecilia and both their families to force him to be with her would end that very night. But he needed to speak withLady Grace and profess his love to her and learn if she felt the same first.
Thinking that she might have gone out for some air, he stepped out onto the terrace. He was thinking over what he would say when he saw her, so occupied with his plan that he did not see her rushing toward the door herself. She collided with him with wide, tearful eyes and pale cheeks.
“Lady Grace,” he said. He put his hands on her shoulders, admiring how, even in her current state, the moonlight illuminated her face and showed him both the raw emotion in her eyes and the raw beauty that was Lady Grace Farraway. “There is something I must tell you.”
Lady Grace blinked, looking up at him with still wide eyes. But she lifted her chin and nodded, choosing to remain silent.
Gareth took a deep breath. There was something troubling her, he could see that. But if she shared his feelings, he could hold her in his arms and make everything all right for her soon enough.
“Grace,” he said, choosing to begin by using her Christian name. “You are the most beautiful, most magnificent woman I have ever met. The time I have spent with you these past days has been the best I have ever experienced. I am utterly in love with you, Grace. You have captured not only my heart, but also my soul. And there is no future that I can imagine without you in it now. I need you by my side for the rest of my days. And I long for nothing more than to be by your side for the rest of yours.”
He held his breath, watching her expression change countless times. His heart was beating harder and faster than it ever had in his entire life. He was sure that he had not misread the look in her eyes when she was with him. He hoped that he had not, at least.
When she finally spoke, her voice was broken and stilted.
“My lord, I…” she trailed off to clear her throat. Her voicewas filled with tears and pain, and she seemed to be struggling to say what she was thinking. But after a moment, she spoke again. “I cannot agree to a future with you. Not now, and not ever. I do not love you, Lord Hayewood. I apologise for anything I have done to make you think that I do.”
Gareth stood staring, devastated. He would have never guessed that he had misunderstood the connection between them all that time. But now that she had said it, it was all he could hear. His heart fell, and though it surely still beat in his chest, he could not longer feel it. He swallowed, his mouth dry and unwilling to move to speak again.
