Blinded by Grace: Book Five of the Cotillion Ball series (Crimson Romance) (11 page)

Grace could barely contain her excitement as she boarded the carriage behind her mother and stepfather as they prepared for the ride to the Bronx for the weekend. Two glorious days with Halwyn! Surely she could find a quiet corner somewhere for them to talk, and possibly to finish the kiss that had almost happened. It would be better if Halwyn initiated the kiss, but Grace wasn’t opposed to orchestrating it herself again if need be. Hopefully, this time, Simon would not break things up before they got to the good part.

She thought about the upcoming weekend’s activities. Jasmine had been so excited earlier in the week, when Grace stopped by the shop to see her. They discussed at length the events Jasmine, her husband, and her in-laws had put together to showcase the horses and the racetrack. Tonight, there was to be a formal dinner to get the weekend started. Approximately twenty people would be in attendance, most of them investors in the racetrack or board members at the bank, with a few friends sprinkled in. Grace guessed Simon could be considered an investor in the racetrack, since so much of the monthly stipend from the trust was disposed of by his ill-advised bets on the horses. He certainly wasn’t a board member of the bank, or, for that matter, a friend of the Fitzpatricks.

Fortunately, she was a friend of theirs. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick and most of all, Halwyn, were going to save her financial life. She hoped she could someday repay them for all their kindness. But those thoughts would have to wait for another day. Right now, she was excited about the weekend. After the dinner tonight, there would be entertainment in the parlor. Saturday morning would include a tour of the stables, and a short ride on some of the horses. The afternoon would be comprised of the opening of the track for the season. Ladies would dress in their finest, with wide-brimmed hats to keep the sun from their faces, as they enjoyed the horses galloping past the grandstand. The weekend would be capped off with a dance on Saturday evening. She only hoped the outfits she had packed would be considered good enough for Halwyn’s intended, even if they were several years old.

“Don’t think I can’t read your mind, Grace,” Simon’s voice boomed across the carriage. “I know you’re plotting ways you can be alone with your lover. But your mother and I have other plans for you.”

Grace’s back stiffened at the slur her stepfather gave to her reputation, but other than that, she didn’t allow him to see how his words affected her. Simon was a mean man and she couldn’t find any good in him. What had her mother seen to make her fall in love with him? Grace mentally compared him to Halwyn. No contest there. She smiled as she glanced over at Simon, hoping her true feelings for the man would be obscured by her sunny disposition. Her hand smoothed out a wrinkle in her blue muslin gown, and she was pleased to see her hand did not quiver. Not even Simon could make her miserable today.

“What kind of plans do you have for me?”

“Well, for one, I’ll be partaking in the horse ride tomorrow, and I want to be certain you and Halwyn Fitzpatrick plan to do so as well, so I can keep the two of you in my sights.”

“Yes, of course we want to. I’m excited about being able to ride a horse at something more than a trot, which is all that’s allowed in the park.”

“Good.” Simon rubbed his hands together, and Grace experienced a sudden chill. Whatever could he have planned? She caught her lower lip between her teeth and began to worry. When she tasted her own blood, she ceased her actions, but not her worry. Perhaps forcing Simon and her mother to attend this weekend’s festivities was not such a good idea after all.

• • •

Sophie and Simon Huffman, and Grace, emerged from their carriage and were greeted by an entourage headed by Jasmine, along with Lydia Smith, Jasmine’s mother-in-law, As Lydia led the older couple into the parlor for some tea and refreshments after their journey, Jasmine spirited Grace away from the group, leading her upstairs to the room which had been set aside for her for the weekend.

“Wait until you see what we’ve done,” Jasmine cooed, taking Grace by the hand. When she got to the door of the room, she turned and said, “Close your eyes for a moment.”

Grace smiled at the childish game, closed her eyes, and allowed Jasmine to lead her into the bedroom. Certain that Jasmine had done something silly, such as having her sleep in what would soon be the nursery; she waited, impatiently, for Jasmine to give her the command to open her eyes. She caught the rustle of fabric as she stood in the doorway with her eyes shut. What was Jasmine doing?

“All right, everything is ready. Open your eyes.”

Grace obeyed, and gasped in shock as she took in what Jasmine had been staging. On the bed were two new ball gowns in jewel tones of burgundy and teal blue. Draped over a chair was a butter-colored riding habit. Matching shoes and boots were lined up at the foot of the bed.

“What is all this?” she asked, as her hand reached out to touch the luxurious fabrics.

“It’s all Halwyn’s idea. Your stepfather has made Halwyn angry, and anyone who knows my brother is aware his anger is not something you should rile up. I’ve never seen him in such a fury before. Halwyn’s not usually the demonstrative sort. Even though he was on the wrestling team in college, he doesn’t place much stock in fisticuffs. He will fight your stepfather subtly instead. He came to me on Monday, and said he wanted you to have new outfits for each event taking place this weekend. He even ordered nightclothes and a wrapper for you. You really didn’t need to pack a thing.”

Grace let her breath out slowly. “Simon will be furious.”

Jasmine’s face broke into a sly grin. “And won’t it be fun?”

“I’m not sure about this, Jasmine. I think Simon already is at the end of his patience. New clothing, paid for by Halwyn, will only push him over the edge.”

“Well, I’m certain Simon is planning to somehow thwart you and Halwyn from going forward. Otherwise, he would have found a way to weasel out of the invitation, even if it did mean slighting my family. But we have plans of our own. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I can’t wait.” Jasmine’s eyes were bright as she glanced at her best friend.

“What plans?” Grace caught some of Jasmine’s enthusiasm.

“Maybe I shouldn’t tell you. I’ll leave it to Halwyn.”

“No, Jasmine, you can’t start and not finish. If your family has something planned, the earlier I am made aware of it, the better I can counter any repercussions Simon will have. You simply must tell me now!”

“All right. But you must plead ignorance when Halwyn makes his big announcement. He put in an offer on the house you both agreed was the best one, and it’s been accepted! So, in the next few weeks, you’ll be busy buying furniture and draperies for your move into the house before the Fourth of July. You and Mother will be so caught up in outfitting Halwyn’s home, you’ll have little time left over for Simon to make you miserable.” Jasmine danced around the room in her excitement.

“What wonderful news! I love the house we picked out. It’s very much to Halwyn’s taste.” Grace lowered her head. “And mine … ”

Jasmine grabbed Grace’s hand and jumped up and down as they had done when they were children.

“The house isn’t the best part. And if you tell anyone I’m the one who leaked the information, I’ll disavow all knowledge of the conversation. But our family heads to the Hamptons, to Mother and Papa’s vacation home there, for a week or so each July. Admittedly, it’s a bit of a trek from Manhattan, but it’s tradition for New Yorkers to celebrate Independence Day there. Halwyn’s planning on asking if it would be all right for you to marry while everyone’s there. Won’t it be wonderful? You’ll become my sister-in-law before your birthday and before another summer goes by.” Jasmine grabbed Grace in a hug. “So, you see, anything Simon has planned is going to be overturned by the big news Halwyn will impart this weekend.”

Jasmine’s enthusiasm spread to Grace, and her heart was light for the first time in a long time. The niggling fear she got from Simon in the carriage was forgotten as she rode the wave of headiness. She was going to marry Halwyn by the Fourth of July! Everything was going to be all right now.

• • •

Halwyn and his father were in the racetrack’s stables, accompanied by Parr. Each horse had a story, and Parr was weaving their history into a tale of their accomplishments over the past few years. His Irish brogue made whatever he was saying quite pleasant to hear, and Halwyn listened to the lilt in his voice rather than focusing on his words. He let his mind drift, and it went to the same place it had been going more and more. Grace. He could almost smell her lilac scent.

Tonight, he would detail to her, and to her mother and stepfather, the timeline he had planned. Now that he had purchased a home for them, there was no need to wait. The sooner he could remove Grace from under Simon’s rule, the better. Halwyn worried about Sophie Huffman, too, but there was little to be done there, unless Sophie specifically requested the help. It had been her decision in the first place which landed both herself and Grace into this quagmire the union had become. He might not be able to help Sophie, but he could help Grace. And he didn’t want to waste any time in accomplishing his mission.

Even with the knowledge that there was no alternative to the course they were proceeding on, he was surprised by a couple of things. First, his mother was wholeheartedly in favor of the union. Her reaction worried him, since he was well aware his mother had marriage—a true marriage—on her mind for him this year, and, if he and Grace went forward with the marriage as currently agreed upon, a true union would be impossible, and his mother would be disappointed when they divorced. She already thought of Grace as one of her daughters. Second, Simon’s reaction to Grace and Halwyn’s engagement seemed a bit extreme. True enough, in the manner of a seasoned fortune hunter, Simon thought he had devised a foolproof system to make certain the money reverted to Sophie and, consequently, to him.

But Halwyn and Grace had thwarted his efforts. He’d accused his stepdaughter of stooping to the worst possible actions while in pursuit of a husband, and, as a result, people were now talking behind her back about her. Halwyn had been made aware of the veiled comments, just as he was certain Grace had, and it made his blood boil. Well, soon enough she’d have more wealth than any ten of the people who were now hurling slurs at her, and wouldn’t need to care what other people thought, said, or did. But Simon could still cause problems up until her twenty-first birthday, in July. Halwyn would have to be vigilant.

“This is the horse I thought you could ride tomorrow, Halwyn.” Parr’s voice finally broke into his thoughts. Halwyn roused himself from his reverie and ran a hand down the fetlock of the black horse in question.

“A fine piece of horseflesh, this one is,” Halwyn exclaimed. “I think you’re right.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Halwyn spied Simon Huffman, who had silently entered the stables and joined their group, but loitered behind them. Halwyn decided to extend a hand of friendship toward him, to see what happened.

“What do you think, Simon? Is this horse a fine specimen or not?”

Simon seemed a bit startled to be addressed directly. He took a sidelong glance at the horse shifting in his stall before he replied. “A bit too much horse for George, maybe, but you should be able to hold him in check.”

George bristled at the comment. “I’m not so much older than you, Simon. I can still ride a spirited steed.”

Parr stepped between the men. “But I think this one will be Halwyn’s mount for tomorrow. We’ll find another better suited to you, George. And I’d be happy to advise you, Mr. Huffman, on a horse for yourself.”

“That won’t be necessary, young man. I’m perfectly capable of finding my own mount. I’m quite a good judge of horseflesh.”

“Aye, as you wish, sir.” Parr backed away from the conversation.

George walked with Simon as they toured the other horses in the barn. Simon found one he was partial to, and declared it would be his mount for Saturday’s ride. To signify an end to the discussion, he pulled a cheroot out of his pocket.

“Beggin’ your pardon, sir, but there’s no smoking allowed in the stables.”

A flash of anger came over Simon’s face. Halwyn noted the play of emotions as Simon turned to Parr. “You are a young whippersnapper, aren’t you? Who do you think you’re talking to?”

George tapped Simon on the back. “Lighten up, Simon. This is my new son-in-law you’re talking to. We can have a cigar on the walk back to the house. It’s nearly time to get ready for dinner anyway.”

Simon sent Parr one more nasty stare before he turned and left the stables with George.

Parr and Halwyn shared a glance. Parr lifted his shoulders. “Sometimes, ’tis best to just let things go.”

“You’re too easygoing, Parr. How did you ever get Jasmine to fall for you? She’s quite the opposite.”

Parr smiled. “Ah, there’s where you’re wrong. My Jasmine is the sweetest woman ever.”

“I’ll admit, she’s settled quite a bit since she married you, so well done. But Simon is not someone you can let your guard down around. He’s one nasty man.”

“Aye, I’ll be keeping my eye on him, then.”

Halwyn’s nerves jangled as he waited with the other men for the arrival of their women. This was the first time he’d ever had a woman to claim, and he wasn’t quite sure how that knowledge sat with him. Tonight, he was going to share with Grace his mother’s idea for a wedding ceremony in the Hamptons over the Independence Day weekend. It was little wonder he couldn’t stand still.

He spent the afternoon doing what he did best—analyzing the plan from many different angles. He now had a brownstone of his own, having put down money on the house he and Grace had examined a few days earlier. It was close enough to his family’s home that he could walk over for a visit anytime he wanted. But he would have his own space, finally, without feeling the restrictions so many people crammed under one roof caused. He would be gloriously alone.

With Grace.

His heart began to beat faster, and he ran a hand down his formal dinner jacket. Surely he was imagining things. He wasn’t nervous about the evening. He didn’t get nervous, ever. It was one of his assets that had been finely honed while he was at Yale. He had nerves of steel every time he faced a wrestling opponent. His record of wins was quite impressive, because he refused to be intimidated. No man, large or small, was able to penetrate his outward demeanor.