Tenacious Trents 02 - A Perfect Gentleman (10 page)

Matthew turned to look at him. “End your
association with Stillwaite and help Miss Cooper.”

“As much as I would like to do that, it is
impossible, as well as unethical.”

“Then at least leave the uncle’s employ.”

Jordan shook his head. “I cannot.”

Matthew stared hard at his brother. “Then I
suppose we have nothing further to discuss.”

The carriage arrived in front of the vicarage
and Matthew exited. His brother did not follow. “Aren’t you coming
in?”

“I thought it best to take rooms at an
inn.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You are my brother, and
despite our disagreement, you are welcome in my home.”

His brother’s troubled eyes looked back at
him, and Matthew was reminded he was going to speak with Jordan
prior to Miss Cooper’s arrival on his doorstep. There was more
going on with Jordan than met the eye, besides the news that Adele
and Julia were not dead. Matthew still couldn’t comprehend how that
could be a possibility.

“I think it is best if I go into town.”

Matthew kept his hand on the door when Jordan
reached over and tried to close it. “Stay here.” He didn’t ask, but
insisted in a quiet voice.

Jordan clenched his jaw and his eyes narrowed
for a fraction of a second, as if in pain. “No.” He pulled the door
out of Matthew’s grasp, slammed it shut and knocked on the ceiling
of the carriage to let the driver know he was ready to leave.
Matthew watched it pull onto the road.

Grace pushed the food around on her plate.
Her appetite left when she returned home to find her uncle a second
time. What if he succeeded? What if Uncle Henry became her
guardian? Would he marry her off to his choice? She would marry
anyone and endure any kind of humiliation that went with marriage
if her father was able to remain in his home.

Father reached over, grabbed her hand and
squeezed. She looked at him. He offered an encouraging smile.

Grace wished she had an ounce of his
optimism. “We will win, Father. I promise.”

He mouthed the word
I know
. It was the
closest he had come to speaking to her verbally since the accident.
She blinked and looked away. She refused to allow her father to see
her in this state, worried, scared and an emotional mess. He had
enough to concern himself without worrying about her.

She could only pray that Vicar Trent’s
testimony carried some weight. She also had only a few days to ask
others for help. But who? Lord Crew was out of town. She had been
hopeful when Mr. Trent claimed to be a friend of the magistrate,
but now that he was firmly in the enemy camp her concern
mounted.

After dinner was complete, she stacked the
dishes in the kitchen. Her father met her at the bottom of the
stairs, kissed her forehead and shuffled down the hall to his room.
The back parlor had been converted into his bedchamber following
the accident. Grace mounted the stairs and once alone in her room,
sank to her knees and begged God to deliver them from her uncle and
give her the answers, or guidance, she needed to keep her father at
home. She fell asleep, her pillow soaked with her tears.

Even though she tossed and turned all night,
unable to stay asleep for long periods of time, Grace rose with the
sun, put on a wool dress and made her way to the dairy. The warmth
and smell of hay engulfed her when she entered the stable, offering
comfort from the familiar surroundings. She lifted her hand to pet
the nose of one of the cows when she walked by to retrieve the milk
pail. She positioned the stool, sat and reached for the udders.
Exhausted she laid her head against the side of the cow.
What am
I going to do
?

Methodically she went from one cow to the
other, filling pails and leaving them by the entrance for delivery
later this morning.

“I knew you would probably be up and about
already.”

Grace straightened and looked toward the
door. Audrey Montgomery stood at the entrance; the morning sun
glimmered off of her golden hair. A smile pulled at Grace’s lips to
see her friend. “Does your mother know you are here?”

“Heavens, no.” Audrey dismissed with a wave
of her hand. “I doubt mother is even awake yet.” She walked toward
the stall and hopped up on a table not far from Grace.

Grace admired her dark blue riding habit with
the perky, matching velvet hat. Not even a hair was out of place
and Grace knew her friend had ridden from the other side of the
village. Chances were she was unescorted as well, which meant the
visit would be a short one. Mrs. Montgomery insisted her daughter
behave the lady at all times, which meant Audrey should remain abed
until at least eleven and when she did take her chestnut out, a
groom should accompany her. “How was London?”

Audrey shrugged. “Not as I had hoped.”

“Well, the little Season was almost over
before you arrived.” Grace reminded her.

“There were still a number of people there.”
She sighed and toyed with the rope beside her. “I had a chance to
go to balls, soirees, and picnics.”

“It sounds wonderful. What was a
disappointment?” Grace glanced down at the full pail of milk. She
patted the cow on the side, grabbed another bucket and moved to
another cow.

“I much prefer the people here than those in
London.”

Grace lifted her eyebrows. “Don’t let your
mother hear you say that. She has high hopes on you marrying a lord
of some kind.”

“I know.” Audrey groaned. “My aunt introduced
me to several bachelors but I cannot imagine falling in love with
any of them.”

“What did your mother say?” Grace was almost
afraid of what the response would be and suspected she already
knew.

Audrey pursed her mouth, her mother’s usual
expression and started wagging her finger at Audrey. “Love has
nothing to do with marriage. Once you get that silly notion out of
your head you will be able to find the perfect earl, marquess or
duke.”

Grace laughed. “I am so sorry. At least you
don’t have to return until March.”

“Even that will be too soon.” Audrey
grumbled.

“Well, your mother expects you to marry
within the year. It is her plan after all.”

“And there are few choices around here.”
Audrey sighed but perked up a moment later. “What of the new
vicar?”

Grace’s throat tightened. Why should she care
if Audrey was interested in Vicar Trent? She wouldn’t be surprised
if he became smitten the moment the two met and it did not set well
with her. Since they were fourteen, boys, and then men when they
grew older, had been attracted to Audrey with her golden curls,
creamy complexion and soft brown eyes. Why should Vicar Trent be
any different?

Grace must have pulled too hard for the cow
lowed an objection and stepped to the side. Grace patted its back
and apologized before she went back to milking with a more gentle
touch. “You saw him on Sunday, didn’t you? What did you think?”

A blush stained Audrey’s cheeks. “I didn’t go
to church. For two days mama went on and on about how I must
impress the man and by the time Sunday arrived, my head pounded
from the pressure. I stayed in bed all day.”

Grace chuckled. “He is a nice man, though I
am sure his opinion of me is not the highest.”

Audrey leaned forward, her eyes bright with
excitement. “Tell me. What did you do?”

“It is really not all that much, just poor
first impressions,” she answered before telling her about the
instances when she had encountered Vicar Trent. “But, he is patient
with Papa and is going to help him when we go before the
magistrate.”

“Magistrate?” Audrey jumped down and walked
over to where Grace sat upon the stool.

Since her uncle had only arrived yesterday it
wasn’t a surprise Audrey did not know what was happening and Grace
brought her up to date on the letters that had been sent and her
uncle’s arrival and plans.

“Oh, dear. When does Lord Crew plan to
return?” Audrey sank into the hay without a care for her lovely
habit.

“It is only supposed to be a few weeks, but I
hope it is sooner. Otherwise I have only Vicar Trent to count
on.”

Audrey reached over and placed a comforting
hand on Grace’s arm. “If I could, and if anyone would listen to me,
I would give testimony.”

Grace was touched by her friends concern, but
knew it was impossible. Audrey would be dismissed in the same
manner as Grace given they were females and young in the eyes of
the adults around them. Besides, Mrs. Montgomery would have an
apoplexy if her daughter came to the defense of Grace’s father.

“I know you would, and let’s not talk about
that now.” She stood and placed the pail next to the others and
readied herself to milk another cow. “There had to have been at
least one gentleman in London who caught your eye.”

Audrey placed her chin in her hand. “No, none
that I can think of. Though, there were plenty of arrogant…”
Her eyes popped wide and she looked at Grace. “Does Vicar Trent
have family in London? Do you know if he has any brothers?”

Grace hadn’t mentioned Mr. Trent when
bringing Audrey current on the events in her household and was not
certain she should mention the name now, not by the angry gleam in
her friend’s eyes. “Why do you ask?”

Her friend popped up from her place on the
ground and began to pace. “The eldest wasn’t so bad. Lord Clayton
Trent, the new Earl Bentley, it was his younger brother I could do
without ever seeing again.”

Grace chuckled and watched her friend stomp
back and forth.

“Arrogant, reprobate, and all around
scoundrel.” Color high in her cheeks, Audrey turned and pointed at
Grace to emphasize her point. “If I never meet Mr. Jordan Trent
again it will be too soon.”

Oh dear, this was not good. Not good at all.
“I see.” She was not about to inform Audrey that her nemesis had
come to town.

At a loss with what to do with himself,
Matthew took his mare out for a morning ride. He hoped it would
help clear his mind and turned the horse into the woods. If he took
the road, he might be stopped and required to speak with one of his
parishioners. It was his duty to see to their spiritual needs, but
today he could not. Did that make him a bad vicar? It most
assuredly did, but Matthew could not find it in him to care or to
rise above his concerns at the moment and be selfless and
perfect.

He turned his horse toward the town. He hated
that he and Jordan parted with anger between them last evening.
Worse, something bothered his brother, which was more important
than the anger. But, would Jordan confide in him? He never had
before, but Matthew needed to try anyway.

Matthew pulled the horse to a halt. Perhaps
now was not the time given the circumstances? Until the hearing was
complete, he and Jordan were on opposite sides of the issues. Maybe
when this was behind them, he could find out what brought Jordan
here, besides the business proposition.

Matthew turned the horse and headed toward
the Cooper Estate. If anyone needed support and encouragement at
the moment it was Miss Cooper and her father. They had nobody. But,
would she welcome his assistance? Matthew shook his head. The
father might, but Miss Cooper did not seem to care for his presence
all that much.

Well, maybe that wasn’t correct, she did
offer dinner last evening. And, she did seem grateful for his
support with regard to her father, and she had come to him when her
uncle arrived. Yet, she didn’t really seem to care for him.

Matthew stopped the horse again. Why did it
matter whether she like him or not? He was her vicar, nothing more
and nothing less. He should just be happy she came to church and
listened to the sermon, and sang loudly. A smile pulled at his
lips. He could still hear her melodic voice clearly from yesterday.
She had the voice of an angel. A soprano who could make a man weep.
And the way her face lit with joy. It radiated from her entire
being. How could anyone not be affected by her inner beauty,
especially since she carried troubles with her daily? Miss Cooper
was a lovely young woman.