Page 24 of Forever & Again
“Undeniably so,” he agreed, holding her gaze as he leaned in closer. “But you could admit that you find me at least mildly entertaining.”
Grace opened her mouth to retort, but the words faltered. A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. “You are slightly less unbearable than usual,” she admitted, the edge of irritation softening.
Oliver stepped back, giving her a playful bow. “I shall count that as a victory.”
Grace shook her head before she turned away, a little breathless and her heart still beating too fast.
“Do not forget,” Oliver called after her. “We have plans tomorrow.”
Grace stopped mid-step, glancing back at him as he winked. Suddenly, the thought of enduring Sarah’s wrath after strangling him seemed much easier to face than whatever Oliver had in store for her.
Chapter Twelve
Grace lightly touched the tip of her boot to the last step on the wooden staircase that led to the ground floor of Somerton’s main hall. She slid her leather-covered foot from side to side, slowly applying pressure and listening for any sign of a creek.
She noticed this particular step had a tendency to groan, but was hoping that if she was gentle enough, she could avoid being detected by Matthew and Sarah, who were just around the corner in the sitting room.
She had thought about leaping to avoid the troublesome spot entirely, but that would have been utterly unladylike. Considering she was sneaking off with Oliver to partake in a secret archery competition, she had to hold onto whatever semblance of propriety she could.
Grace breathed a silent prayer as she placed her full weight on her foot, bracing for the creek.
Silence.
Grace exhaled a sigh of relief before lifting her other foot and placing it on the floor.
Creeeeek.
The sound echoed through the quiet hall, and Grace froze in shock at the betrayal of the usually quiet floorboard.
“Where areyesneaking off to?”
Grace looked up to see Matthew leaning against the doorway. His Scottish lilt was always exaggerated when he was up to no good, and the twinkle in his eye suggested that he already had a suspicion as to where she was going. It seemed as though he hadn’t shared his thoughts with Sarah, as she pushed her way past her husband, quickly making her way to Grace’s side.
“Come sit with us!” Sarah said, looping her arm through Grace’s and turning her towards the sitting room. “I feel as though we haven’t seen each other in days,”
It had only been about 14 hours, Grace deducted, but at one time she also would have felt craved for her best friend’s company.
The wave of guilt returned as she looked at Sarah. This was the first day in nearly a week she had felt well enough to leave her bed before afternoon tea. She still looked slightly pale, and her golden curls, which were usually piled neatly on top of her head, were haphazardly pinned and falling out in every direction. But Matthew still looked at her as adoringly as he had when they were children.
Grace pulled back gently, and Sarah turned to look at her in surprise. Her light blue eyes widened slightly—a perfect mirror of Benjamin’s.
Grace swallowed the lump that rose in her throat and shoved down the familiar ache that rose in her chest every time she was near Sarah. How was she supposed to tell her dearest friend, the one who had held her through life’s hardest heartbreaks, that she was the one causing her the most pain?
“Grace?” Sarah’s head tilted in expectation, her hand resting lightly on her stomach. “Please come and sit with us.”
Grace forced a smile. None of this was Sarah’s fault, and causing her and her unborn child distress would benefit no one. But the tears were pressing hot and heavy behind her eyes, and she knew if she did not escape quickly, she would be unable to keep them at bay.
“Darling,” Matthew stepped in, wrapping an arm around his wife’s waist. “I just remembered that I asked Grace to accept an invitation to have tea with Mrs. Wellick on your behalf.”
Grace’s eyes snapped up to meet Matthew’s, who gave her a soft, understanding smile.
“I am feeling perfectly well,” Sarah demanded. “We can both go.”
“No!” Matthew and Grace objected in unison. Sarah’s brow furrowed in confusion. Grace held her breath, eyes locked with Matthew, waiting for him to continue. It was his lie after all.
“It is far too hot for you to ride in the carriage today, Lizzy,” Matthew offered smoothly. “You just started feeling like yourself, so let Grace go today, and I promise the next invitation that comes is yours to accept.”
Sarah hesitated for a moment, and Grace was worried his plan wouldn’t work. When Sarah set her mind to something, there was usually no deterring her. It was fully possible Grace would soon find herself in a carriage with a very cranky pregnant woman, off to have tea with a completely unsuspecting Mrs. Wellilck.
