Tenacious Trents 02 - A Perfect Gentleman (16 page)

“Is something amiss?”

“I am just in a hurry. I was in town too
long. Good day, Mr. Thorn.” She continued on, though she could feel
his eyes bore into her back. Perhaps her rude behavior would
discourage his suit. Then again, was she in a position to
discourage anyone at this moment?

She couldn’t think about that now. Only if it
looked as if her uncle would win would she consider the three
gentlemen who had been paying court to her.

A moment later she heard the horse move down
the path, leaves crunching beneath his hooves and Grace breathed a
sigh of relief. A few steps later she emerged into the field behind
their home. She hurried up the hill and glanced to the back sitting
area. Her father was not outside, which was a bit unusual since
this is usually where he sat to take his tea at this time of the
day. For a moment she considered checking on him, but knew Mrs.
Thomas and Perkins were with him. Perhaps they simply remained
inside today. Grace would ask when she returned.

Continuing past the house, she hurried down
the slope leading to the road and once again picked up her pace and
headed toward Brachton Manor. After she had gone but a short way
Mr. Richards rode in her direction, pausing in the middle of the
road. Grace clenched her jaw, nodded a polite greeting and
continued walking. She did not have time to exchange
pleasantries.

Mr. Richards tipped his hat. “I would like a
word, Miss Cooper.”

Grace forced a smile. “I am sorry, but I’m
rather in a hurry.”

“But it should not take a moment. It is about
your decision.”

She stopped for a moment and narrowed her
eyes. “My decision?” Did he honestly wish to discuss her potential
betrothal to him while standing in the middle of the road?

“I was wondering if you have given my suit
any more consideration.”

Grace took a deep breath and chose her words
carefully and was thoughtful in her tone. It wouldn’t do to
alienate him at the moment in the event she was forced to choose
one of the three for a husband. “I have given it thought. However,
I do have more pressing matters at the moment.”

“If you mean your uncle, your problems can be
solved by simply marrying me.”

Not all of her problems, but she did not have
time, nor did she wish to enter into a debate on the merits of her
marrying any of them at the moment. “I will give the matter more
consideration. Now if you will excuse me.” She turned and walked
away before he had a chance to say anything further.

Really, this was ridiculous, and why hadn’t
she pointed out again that none of them had actually asked her.
They simply assumed she understood. And, perhaps given the
circumstances they didn’t feel an official offer was necessary.
Well, if they thought so little of her, she thought even less of
them.

Rounding the corner she came to the end of
the drive to Brachton Manor. There were already two carriages lined
up in front. Grace should have expected this. The gentlemen who
were to call on Lord Brachton all had conveyances and horses at
their disposal and could travel much quicker on the road than she
could on foot, even though she took a short cut.

She marched to the door, lifted her hand to
knock and stopped. What was she doing? Had she lost all good sense?
A single lady does not call on the home of a bachelor, despite the
time of day, or who else might be present, without a companion or
chaperone. She had been so caught up in worrying about her father
and what Stillwaite could say to Brachton without her present that
she gave absolutely no thought to propriety. If she asked for an
audience right now no doubt her uncle would use that against
her.

But, did she turn around, go back home and
wait for a decision to be made, trusting that Vicar Trent would be
able to dissuade Brachton from handing guardianship over to her
uncle?

Her heartbeat increased and she wiped her
damp hands against her dress. Oh, why hadn’t she wore gloves? No
doubt hair was in disarray and her gown could be nicer but when she
set off for town earlier, she had not anticipated not returning
home before she determined the time of the meeting.

What to do?

Stiffening her spine, raising her chin, Grace
knocked on the door. This was her father and nobody knew better
what he needed than she. If her uncle, or anyone else, censured her
for this behavior she would deal with it. But, this was much too
important to let go to chance.

A staid butler opened the door and looked
down his beak of a nose at her. “Yes?”

“I am Miss Grace Cooper and I wish to speak
with Lord Brachton.”

“I am afraid that is not possible.” He
practically sneered at her. Did unattached woman often come to his
door alone? The servant didn’t seem shocked to find her here.

“I must disagree. He is currently meeting
with Vicar Trent, Lord Stillwaite and Mr. Trent on an issue
involving
my
father and
my
future.”

“Which you should leave to the gentlemen to
decide.” He began to shut the door and Grace took a step forward.
She would not be kept from the house and doubted the servant would
break his composure to actually lay hands on her to remove her from
the premises.

The man looked over his shoulder before
calling for Mrs. Plight. Grace knew her. The woman attended church
and exchanged pleasantries each Sunday.

Mrs. Plight came through a door and stopped
when her eyes landed on Grace. “Miss Cooper, my heavens, what are
you doing here?”

“I need to see Lord Brachton.”

“Oh dear,” she looked beyond Grace. “Where is
your chaperone? It is unseemly coming here unaccompanied.”

Heat flooded her cheeks. Hadn’t she just
given herself the same lecture? But to have someone else censure
her, and a servant in the marquess’ household was a bit
embarrassing. Yet, it couldn’t be helped. Grace straightened to
appeal to the woman. “I know, but there are mitigating
circumstances. I must speak for my father.”

A sad smile came to Mrs. Plight’s lips, one
Grace was so used to seeing from almost everyone in the community
and it only strengthened her resolve. “My uncle would have him
institutionalized.”

The woman took a step back. “Well, I don’t
believe that is necessary. I’ve heard those places aren’t fit for
animals.”

Grace sighed with relief. At least not
everyone wanted to commit her father and if the housekeeper had his
lordship’s ear, there may be help for them yet. “I must be in the
meeting so I can convince Lord Brachton not to send my father
away.”

“It would not be proper, Miss Cooper.”

“That is what I was trying to tell her.” The
butler sniffed. “She should not even be here.”

“Oh, hush, Willard. She isn’t like those
other so-called ladies that show up on Lord Brachton’s door in
London. Those ladies are looking to be compromised in hopes of a
forced marriage or just want an evening of his attention.”

Grace’s face burned at what Mrs. Plight was
inferring. Would the people in her town think that as well when
they learned she arrived here alone?

“Miss Cooper has no intention of marriage and
it wouldn’t even occur to her to try any of the tricks we’ve so
often witnessed.”

It was pleasing that Mrs. Plight thought so
well of her, but it wasn’t that she had no intention of marriage.
She simply lacked a candidate worth marrying.

A tall man, not above the age of thirty,
stepped out from a room further down the hall. He was handsome
indeed with his blond hair, high cheekbones and full lips. If this
was Brachton, no wonder silly females threw themselves at him and
Grace was surprised Mrs. Montgomery wasn’t already here presenting
Audrey to the gentleman. With such a fine catch in the area no
doubt Audrey’s mother would set Vicar Trent aside and reach for a
higher and wealthier connection for her daughter.

“What the devil is going on here?” the man
barked as he came toward them. Though he spoke with perfect
English, there was a hint of Scottish accent.

All civil thoughts for the Marquess of
Brachton disappeared with the tone of his voice. He practically
sneered at her. Had he learned that from his butler or had he
taught the butler? “I tried to make her leave, Lord Brachton,” the
butler informed him in an icy tone, still staring down his nose at
Grace, ending with a sniff of disgust.

Mrs. Plight wasn’t nearly as intimidated as
Grace. “She has every right to be here.”

Lord Brachton raised an eyebrow. “Is she
seeking work, or have another purpose?”

The housekeeper blew out a breath. “This is
Miss Grace Cooper, the daughter of the man who is currently the
topic of discussion in the library. Along with his fate hers will
be determined.”

His face softened and he slowly nodded his
head. “I see.”

“If I might speak for my father?” she
began.

The man smiled down at her, his eyes hooded.
She knew that look of condescension very well and would not stand
for it and spoke before he did. “I have every right to be
present.”

“You don’t trust that your uncle can speak
with regard to the best interest of the family. He is older and
wiser.”

Grace stiffened. “I do not and he is the last
person I would wish to speak on behalf of my father and
myself.”

That eyebrow rose again, as did the side of
his mouth as if he found humor in her statement. “Very well, then.
Please join us.”

Lord Brachton stepped back and gestured for
her to precede him down the hall. She walked until she came to the
room he had exited and entered. Sitting around the room was her
uncle, Mr. Trent and Vicar Trent. Her uncle came to his feet
immediately. “What is the meaning of this?”

Lord Brachton followed her into the room. The
brothers stood as well to show difference to the fact that she was
a female standing and they were gentlemen. Grace was fairly certain
that fact never occurred to her uncle when she entered the
room.

“I’ve asked Miss Cooper to join us.”

“She is a young woman, of delicate
sensibilities, who can only look at a matter through emotion. My
niece is too young to see the seriousness of the situation.”

Thank goodness she had arrived when she did.
Who knew what her uncle had been saying against her or her father
before she arrive.

Uncle Henry looked past her as if he waited
for someone before focusing his attention on Grace. “You did not
arrive here alone did you?”

“As a matter of fact I did.”

He turned toward Lord Brachton. “This is the
exact reason she needs a guardian. Not only does she not have the
good sense not to call at a bachelor household alone, but the other
night she rode in a carriage, without a maid mind you, with those
two.” He jabbed a finger toward Vicar Trent and his brother.
“Someone needs to protect her before her reputation is
destroyed.”

A slight smile formed on Lord Brachton’s
lips. “Is this true, Miss Cooper?”

Heat flooded her cheeks once again. “Yes,
Lord Brachton, but in each circumstance, the actions were
necessary.”

“You see,” Uncle Henry interrupted. “She
doesn’t have the maturity to understand she could be ruined.”

His Lordship seemed to ignore Lord Stillwaite
and remained focused on Grace, making her a bit uncomfortable. “Did
you not see the danger in being alone with two gentlemen, with whom
you are barely acquainted I assume, in what was probably a closed
conveyance.”

Grace drew her brows together. What was he
inferring? “Of course not.”

“And why is that?” He still had that slight
smile on his lips. What did he find amusing?

“I was with Vicar Trent. If a lady can’t be
alone with her minister than a lady cannot be alone with
anyone.”

“He is also an unattached man.”

“A minister,” she pointed out.

“Harmless?” His smile grew wider. Grace
glanced to Vicar Trent, his face bright. Was he angry? Had she said
something wrong? Surely Lord Brachton didn’t infer Vicar Trent
would make advances on her person. It was she who was fanciful. Not
Vicar Trent, who would no more think about kissing and holding her
than he would do so with a cow.

“Yet, you were with two gentlemen, not
one.”

“Mr. Trent?” She glanced at Vicar Trent’s
brother, who had a hand across his mouth, his shoulders shook
slightly. Was he laughing at her?

“He does not have the title of Vicar attached
to him,” Lord Brachton reminded her.

“I don’t see why that should make a
difference. I am sure he is just as much as a gentleman as his
brother.”

This time Lord Brachton openly laughed. “Such
innocence warms my heart,” he said after a moment. “But it does
make me realize I must give serious consideration to your uncle’s
request of guardianship.”

Grace couldn’t believe she heard him
correctly. “Because I came here alone and rode in a carriage with
two gentlemen?” She took a step in his direction, anger rising. “I
assure you that in both cases I acted on my father’s behalf. I did
not put myself in a dangerous position, nor did I use poor
judgment. If I thought either of those gentlemen,” she gestured
back toward Vicar and Mr. Trent, “were dangerous, I would have
never allowed myself to be alone with them.” She took more steps in
his direction. “And furthermore, if a parishioner must worry about
being alone with her minister, then perhaps the minister should
give careful consideration as to whether he is worthy to be God’s
servant.”

With each word and each time she came closer,
Lord Brachton took a step back. He should fear her. Never had she
been so angry in her life. “If a lady must fear her reputation each
time she speaks with a gentleman then perhaps gentlemen should
start behaving as such and then no one need worry about anyone’s
reputation.”

Lord Brachton stopped backing up and crossed
his arms over his chest. “Most gentlemen are just that. However,
some are not, yet one cannot tell the difference by looking at
them. And, you still do not have anyone to protect you.”