Page 49 of Only By Grace
“They know you were manipulated and they love you more than anything. Your brother knows you were not being spiteful.”
“I don’t know if I will ever be able to forgive myself for being such a fool.”
Grace could sympathize completely with that notion.
“Mother says I was only infatuated and my heart will heal in time. I will never be so reckless as to love again. Who would even want me now?”
“Anyone would be a fool not to want you, my lady.”
“You are very kind to say so, but it is not as though this can be hushed up.”
Grace felt bile in her mouth at those words. How conveniently her own situation was to be erased as though it had never happened. She was to pretend they’d merely gone on a little visit to Ireland, when her whole world had been overturned. Perhaps she should be grateful, but she was devastated.
“Are you going to marry my brother?” the girl asked, clearly oblivious to what had just occurred between Grace and Carew. Grace had been distracted in her introspections, and Maeve’s words shocked her.
“I-I…” Why did Grace hesitate to answer truthfully? Because it would make it more real?
“I have always wished for a sister,” Maeve continued, again oblivious to the discomfort the words inflicted.
“I do not think she will be me, though I should be delighted to call you such.”
“But I just saw you outside.”
Grace gasped. “I am sorry you saw that. He does not intend that we should wed, however.”
“How dare he treat you in such a manner! And he was lecturing me!” Maeve’s sadness quickly turned to fury.
“Please, my lady, do not be angry with him. It is my fault entirely, and it was an accident that placed me aboard his ship. I would no more wish for him to be shackled to someone he did not wish for than for you to be estranged from your family.”
“It certainly looked as though he was participating well enough,” Maeve argued.
Grace reached out and put a hand on Lady Maeve’s arm. “Please,” she pleaded. “It was a mistake. Would you want someone forced to marry you when they did not wish it?”
“No, of course not. I just do not understand his behaviour.”
Nor did Grace, but she did not wish to dwell on it any longer. In fact, she would beg Patience and Ashley to leave on the morrow. Being forced to see Carew and pretend she was not heartbroken was about the worst thing she could imagine at this moment.
The girl let out a heavy sigh. “I suppose you will be leaving soon, then.”
“Yes.”
“How I envy that you can leave. There is nothing for me here, and I will be shunned unless I marry quickly.”
Sadly, Grace knew that to be true. It was the way of their world.
“You have parents who love you. I envy you that.” She would give anything to have her parents back.
“Oh! Forgive me. I did not mean…”
“You could not know,” Grace reassured her. “They have been gone a long time now, and my sisters love me well. I am certain I would feel the need to escape were I in your shoes. In fact, perhaps something might be arranged whereby you can come to England with us for a while.”
Her face lit up at the prospect. “Oh, do you think so?”
“My sister, Joy, will be entering Society, and I know she would welcome the company. I realize you were unable to meether last night, but she has come with us. Shall I ring for her and you may become acquainted?”
“I would like that very much. I confess I did not notice the others with us, only that there were others present.”
Grace pulled on the bell-rope to ring for a servant.
