Page 30 of The Marquess's Imperfect Brid
It took Grace a moment to remember that they were still looking for clues. But just as she became aware of herself again, she saw a large cookie hidden on the shelf beneath the food preparation table. She pointed it out, grabbing it to find that there were words drawn on it in frosting.
“The smallest packages offer the biggest melodies,” they read in unison.
Grace looked at the marquess, melting as his eyes met hers.
“Can I assume that you already have a guess, since this clue seems to suggest something of a musical nature?” he asked.
Grace grinned as an idea came to her.
“I think that is a safe assumption,” she said. “Follow me.”
With a laugh, Grace burst out of the kitchen doors, with the marquess following right behind her.
“I would never have guessed that I would be racing today,” he said with a breathy laugh.
Grace giggled, picking up speed.
“And if you do not hurry, you shall be beaten by a half blind woman,” she said.
The marquess laughed heartily, catching up so that he was directly behind her.
“And I might allow that, were it not for the fact that you could traverse this house with your eyes closed,” he said. “And I do not know the first thing about Farenley Manor’s hallways.”
Grace laughed, breathing heavily with the effort of running while laughing.
“Then I suggest that you keep up,” she said.
They headed toward the music room, continuing their banter. Grace felt emancipated from all the troubles of the world, the barriers that separated her from Lord Hayewood and the things which made her so different to the rest of the world. Right then, they were just two friends working together to solve a riddle and earn a prize. Yet at the back of her mind was the fear of losing him to a woman like Lady Cecilia. He could never truly love her as anything other than a friend, she knew. But knowing that he would marry someone more beautiful and more accepted than her was heartbreaking. Still, she tried to focus on the present and enjoy every moment she had with him.
When they reached the music room, Lord Hayewood was the one to spot the oddity. There was an ornate bowl turned upside down, peeking out from behind one of the legs of the pianoforte. It was a small bowl, so small that Grace would never have seen it. But he led her to the instrument and picked it up, revealing an intricately carved music box. Inside there was a small note.
“Congratulations, treasure hunters. Enjoy your prize,” they read once more in unison.
Grace met the marquess’s eyes once more, reveling in the joy of the moment, and in the warmth and affection she saw there.For one brief moment, she dared to hope that perhaps, she could have a chance at love after all. She shook away the thought before the saddening reality could ruin the special moment for her.
“Come,” she said, gesturing toward the hallway. “Let us go show Mother that we have won.”
As Grace walked back through the manor to find her parents with the music box cradled in her hands, she knew that the treasure hunt had been more than just a game, at least for her. It had shown her the true depth of her feelings for the marquess, and just how strong the connection they shared was becoming. No matter what the future held, she wanted him to always be a part of it.
Chapter Seventeen
“Grace, I simply cannot decide which of these to wear,” Anne said, bursting into her elder sister’s chambers the following day. Her robe was open, exposing the cotton of her cream-colored nightgown, out of which she had yet to change. She was juggling three satin dresses: a pink one, a pale orange one and a sea foam green one. Her eyes were wide with excitement, and she was bouncing up and down in the doorway of Grace’s chambers.
Grace laughed as Juliet ushered the younger girl inside the room, closing the door firmly behind her. Grace surveyed the dresses, trying to focus as her sister, who was clearly beside herself about the fair which they would be attending in just a couple of hours, could hardly stand still.
“I do love pink,” she said, thrusting the pink dress in her sister’s arms. “But this orange is just the right shade for my skin, is it not?”
Grace giggled again and nodded but did not get the chance to speak.
“However, this green one accents my eyes,” she said. “And I have the prettiest necklace that will match it.”
Grace managed to catch her younger sister by the shoulders as she flitted about. With her own dark blue satin day dress with its matching shawl and slippers hanging and awaiting its stay to be fastened, she looked into her sister’s eyes and with another laugh held up the green dress.
“You gave two very good reasons why you were considering this one,” she said. “And should you wear the necklace, it will only add to the compliment the color adds to your eyes. Now tell me, why is this so important to you that you can barely still yourself to dress?”
Anne’s eyes widened, and she looked at her elder sister as though she were mad.
“Because it is the village fair, silly,” she said incredulously. “We have waited for this all year long, and it is the most exciting thing in the whole world.”
