Tenacious Trents 02 - A Perfect Gentleman (15 page)

She glanced back at the couple. Vicar Trent
was smiling down at Audrey who was talking with animation, her free
arm moving about as if to explain.

“Unrequited love?”

Was Mr. Trent asking the question of her or
himself? The words were so low, she wasn’t sure if she was actually
meant to hear them, and she certainly wasn’t going to ask, nor was
she prepared to answer.

Mr. Trent took Grace’s hand and placed it on
his arm and led her down the walk. Another couple approached. The
gentleman looked like he could be related to the Vicar and Mr.
Trent. The lady had golden hair with laughing blue eyes. They
stopped before her and Mr. Trent quickly made the
introductions.

“I thought you were leaving for Danby
Castle?” Mr. Trent asked his brother.

“We are going to stay on a bit longer. I
received a message that the person I seek in Scotland may have
moved on.”

Mr. Trent’s eyebrows rose for a moment and he
stiffened, as if alarmed, but nodded as if he understood. Grace
didn’t but she also wasn’t interested. There was too much on her
mind and too many worries to be concerned with the travels of a
virtual stranger. Though she was curious as to why they would be
visiting Danby Castle. She had never met the duke herself, but
heard plenty of stories. Her father had visited His Grace on a few
occasions when he accompanied Lord Crew, but that had been before
the accident.

What she was certain of, the Duke of Danby
did not like her uncle, Lord Stillwaite, and had overheard a few of
the choice words the duke had for her uncle when father was talking
with Lord Crew one day. If the couple before her had connections
with the duke, would she be able to use it to her advantage?

The thought of approaching the Duke of Danby
made her about as ill as she was worrying about the outcome of the
upcoming hearing. But, she would do everything in her power to
protect her father.

Matthew found himself accompanying Miss
Audrey Montgomery down the walk in the village, not quite certain
how it had come about. He had stopped in at the bakery to purchase
a biscuit, craving a sweet, to find Mrs. Montgomery and her
daughter. Before he knew what was happening, the mother had
practically pushed them out the door with assurances that she would
catch up to them shortly and would Matthew be kind enough to escort
Miss Montgomery to the lending library. It wasn’t a great hardship
to have the delightful young woman on his arm, but he didn’t want
Mrs. Montgomery to get any foolish ideas. As lovely as Miss
Montgomery was, he felt no pull to court her. Still she was an
entertaining companion but he foresaw no relationship in the future
other than friendship and would discourage Mrs. Montgomery’s plans,
if she were thinking matrimony, as so many ladies with marriageable
daughters do.

He glanced across the street and stopped.
What was Jordan doing with Miss Cooper? The two were walking on the
opposite side of the street, appearing friendlier than the two
should be with her arm linked in his. A moment later they stopped
to speak with John and Elizabeth. This was an interesting turn of
events. Surely Miss Cooper understood she should not be socializing
with Jordan. His brother worked for Stillwaite, and wished to
commit Mr. Cooper to Bedlam.

Had Miss Cooper decided to plead her case
directly to Jordan? Was he charming her, as Jordan always did, to
convince her that his client knew better than she?

No, Miss Cooper would not give in where her
father was concerned, even if Jordan turned the full extent of his
charm on her.

But what of her heart? Matthew had yet to
meet a woman who was immune to Jordan. What if she fell in love
with him? Worse, what if Jordan wanted Miss Cooper? He could
certainly afford to take care of her and her father, and Mr. Cooper
could even remain in his home. As Jordan had no estate of his own,
he could marry Miss Cooper and move here. Then Matthew would have
to look at their happy faces each Sunday morning, and probably
visit them occasionally for dinner.

His chest tightened around his heart. Many
times he had been jealous of Jordan in the past, but never like
this.

“What is
he
doing with Grace?” Miss
Montgomery practically hissed.

Matthew had forgotten the young lady was even
beside him.

“My brother?”

She sucked in a breath and looked up at Matt.
“I am sorry. I should not have been rude. He is your brother after
all.”

Matthew chuckled. “How did Jordan offend
you?”

A blush stained her cheeks. “Not me,
actually, but a friend of mine in London this past spring.”

“I am well aware of my brother’s reputation.”
Matthew smiled down at her. “What did he do?”

The color grew darker. “I cannot say, but I
assure you, Mr. Trent has a lot to answer for.”

What had Jordan done this time? Broken the
heart of a young miss? Did he take advantage of an innocent? No,
Jordan usually avoided the innocent ones as if they were afflicted
with the plague. It must be a broken heart, one of the hundreds
littering the path Jordan had traveled. “Have you confronted
him?”

She huffed and stiffened. “I refuse to speak
to him. I haven’t spoken with him since I learned what he did and
what he is like, nor do I ever intend on speaking with that rogue
ever again.”

Matthew was even more curious than before.
Regardless, even if he had been drawn to Miss Montgomery, her
strong feelings where Jordan was concerned made it impossible to
pursue her. Never would he allow a lady to come between him and his
brothers.

“Why is he here anyway?” She gasped. “I am
sorry. You are brothers and I assume he is visiting you.”

“He is here with Lord Stillwaite.” Jordan
probably wouldn’t have visited, or left the liveliness of London
for a simple visit with him.

Miss Montgomery’s eyes grew wide and she
blinked up at him, hints of her earlier blush long gone. “Mr.
Cooper’s brother? I can’t imagine why unless Mr. Trent has evidence
to help commit Mr. Cooper.”

Ah, so Miss Montgomery was aware of the
situation but not Jordan’s role.

She bit her bottom lip and looked back over
at Grace. “Lord Stillwaite and Mr. Cooper have never been close.
Their relationship bordered on hostile at times.”

Hostile? Miss Cooper had never indicated as
such, though there was no warmth between the two from what he had
observed.

“He didn’t approve of Mr. Cooper buying a
dairy farm when he should be concentrating on his duties as a
solicitor.”

“A man can have more than one interest,”
Matthew agreed.

“He also thought Mr. Cooper a fool for not
making the estate more profitable after he purchased it.” She
glanced at the couples across the street. “I worry for Grace. What
if Lord Stillwaite has his way? What will become of Grace and her
father?”

Again Matthew patted the hand on his arm. “I
intend to help Miss Cooper any way I can.”

Miss Montgomery was silent for a moment and
then she looked up at him, a contemplative look on her face. “If
Grace were to marry, her uncle would lose control of her, their
holdings, and possibly be able to still take care of the father.”
She studied him as if waiting for a reaction.

Was Miss Montgomery suggesting that he marry
Miss Cooper? “I understand that there are three gentlemen vying for
her hand.”

Miss Montgomery wrinkled her nose and frowned
as if disgusted. “Draker, Thorn and Richards are not what Grace
needs, nor would they be best for her.”

“Are there other gentlemen in town who have
shown interest?” Though it sounded as if his concern was for Miss
Cooper, there was a very selfish reason for asking. He wasn’t yet
sure how he felt about Miss Cooper, but he was drawn to her unlike
anyone he had met before. Though marriage for Miss Cooper would be
the best, he wasn’t anxious to see her do so. At least until he
made sense of his feelings toward her.

“No.” Miss Montgomery still studied him.

Was she waiting for him to save Miss Cooper
from her dastardly uncle? He couldn’t make the offer right now, not
when he knew so little about the lady.

“Perhaps my brother may take a liking to Miss
Cooper.”

Miss Montgomery narrowed her eyes and pursed
her lips. “Grace would be safer swimming in shark infested
waters.”

Matthew barked out laughter.

“This is not a laughing matter, Vicar
Trent.”

“I am sure it is not but you are the first
lady I have ever met who is not smitten with my brother.”

“That is because the rest of them are
fools.”

“Ah, it is so nice to see the two of you
laughing and enjoying the day.”

They turned to find Mrs. Montgomery coming up
on them. She wouldn’t be so happy if she knew her daughter was
suggesting he marry Miss Cooper, or so Matthew assumed.

Matthew glanced into the window of the shop
they were standing before and noted the clock on the wall. It was
later than he realized. “If you will excuse me. I have an
appointment to meet with Lord Brachton and need to take care of a
few matters first.”

Mrs. Montgomery straightened. “Is the
marquess in residence? I must call on him.”

Miss Montgomery sighed. “It isn’t a social
call, mother. Lord Stillwaite wants to have Mr. Cooper committed
and take over guardianship of Grace.”

“Thank goodness. Something needs to be done
about that family.”

“Don’t you have an appointment with Brachton
at three?” The younger Mr. Trent asked his brother.

Grace grinned. Now she knew when the meeting
was and Mr. Trent could not keep her away. If she left town now,
she may arrive in time. She would ask Vicar Trent if she could ride
with him, but it would be improper. Besides, she needed to see to
this matter herself. If she arrived with a gentleman, Brachton may
assume she needed assistance and she needed to prove to everyone
she could take care of herself and her father without a guardian or
husband.

“It was very nice meeting you, Mr. and Mrs.
Trent, but I must be on my way.”

The older Mr. Trent placed his hand over hers
when she began to move it from his arm. “You aren’t thinking of
visiting Brachton as well?” His eyes bore into hers.

Grace smiled sweetly up at him. “My plans for
this afternoon are no concern of yours.” She pulled her hand away
from his, breaking all contact. “Good day.” With that she turned
and walked toward home. She would barely make it on foot, but Grace
was determined to be at that meeting.

However, this was one of those days she
wished she had a carriage. Actually, they did have a carriage and
horses but it was too difficult for her to hook the horses to the
carriage without the help of a groom, which they did not have. Not
that she minded walking. She walked everywhere, but when time was
of the essence, a carriage would be welcoming.

Once out of town she turned and took the path
through the woods as it was quicker. It came out just short of her
house, which was settled upon a hill away from town. If she had
gone the opposite direction and taken the road, she would have
rounded to the front of her father’s home, had she not cut across
the fields, but it was a longer route and she didn’t have a moment
to spare.

Hiking her skirts she picked up her pace
along the well-used path. Sunlight filtered through the vibrant
leaves and limbs soon to be bare for the coming winter. As she
rounded the corner, Mr. Thorn was riding the path from the opposite
direction. It wasn’t unusual to meet someone else here as it was a
route often used by those walking or riding.

He was a bit disheveled, but if he had been
riding hard earlier, that would account for his appearance. Mr.
Thorn pulled back on the reins and nodded a greeting. “Miss Cooper,
what a surprise to see you.”

Drat. She did not have time to stop and chat
right now. “Good afternoon, Mr. Thorn.” She kept walking. It was a
bit rude of her, but at the moment she didn’t care.