Tenacious Trents 02 - A Perfect Gentleman (33 page)

Grace couldn’t focus. She knew she should be
paying attention to Vicar Trent’s prayer and pray herself, but she
could not stop thinking about his words. He could not quit being a
vicar. It wasn’t fair. What was he going to do? Where would he
live? If he gave up the post, he would no longer be allowed to live
in the vicarage. Where would he go? How would he support himself?
Would he return to London? She might never see him again. She had
to make him change his mind. Even though she vowed not to see him
outside of church, she didn’t want him gone. The thought of never
seeing him again was almost too much to bear.

This was so unfair and Grace wanted to march
over to the Montgomery household and give Audrey’s mother a piece
of her mind.

The prayer must have ended, not that Grace
noticed until everyone around her began to stand. Vicar Trent was
already gone. Was he waiting outside to greet the parishioners like
he did each Sunday morning or had he already returned to the
vicarage to write to his superiors? She had to stop him before he
did something he would regret. Vicar Trent could not have thought
this through. He was simply upset and perhaps tomorrow he would
rethink the matter. He was a perfect vicar and this community
needed him.

The few people that had attended the service
were filing out through the doors and Grace grabbed her reticule
and rushed down the aisle. Audrey stepped into her path.

“I am sorry. I must go.” She really didn’t
want to be so rude to her friend, but she had to speak with Vicar
Trent.

Audrey looked crestfallen. “Are you angry at
me because of my mother?”

Grace stopped and took a deep breath and
turned to her friend. “No, of course not.”

“I am truly sorry. I tried to make her stop,
but mother would have none of it.”

“Nobody can control your mother, Audrey.”
Grace grasped her friend’s hand. “Nobody blames you for what
happened.”

“How is your father?”

Grace felt herself smiling. “He is going to
recover. He is awake more and eating.”

“Oh, that is so good to hear.”

Grace glanced to the door. She didn’t wish to
be rude, but she and Audrey could talk anytime. She needed to stop
Vicar Trent. The few parishioners were lining up and she breathed a
sigh of relief. He hadn’t left, thank goodness. There was still
time to change his mind. She waited until everyone else had left
their seats and took the last place in line. Audrey stood beside
her.

“What would your mother say if she saw you
talking to me?”

“I am sure I would get a lecture. She tried
to keep me from attending services but I pointed out that as a good
Christian, I should be here regardless of the circumstances.”

Grace fought not to giggle. Audrey had
invented more reasons than she could count to avoid attending
services. She hated having to sit for so long. “She believed
you?”

“Mother sees and believes what she
wants.”

“Clearly,” Grace offered in a dry tone.

When they reached the door, Grace stood back
so Audrey could go before her. Vicar Trent greeted those ahead of
them, nodded his head, said thank you a few times, but she couldn’t
quite hear all of the conversation. Hopefully those who had been
listening to him today would spread the facts instead of innuendo
and he might be able to retain his position and good reputation in
the community. Hers would be forever ruined, but Grace couldn’t
find it in herself to care. All that mattered was that Vicar Trent
escaped this madness unscathed. He had done nothing wrong but come
to her aid and for that he was being punished and she would not
stand for it.

“I wish to apologize for the damage my mother
has caused,” Audrey said to Vicar Trent.

He simply chuckled. “I know well enough how
hard it is to live with a difficult parent. Do not worry, Miss
Montgomery. All will be well in the end.”

How could he believe all would be well when
he was leaving? He was abandoning her.

Audrey moved on and Grace stopped before him.
Their eyes met and held. Breath lodged in her chest. Why did this
man have the power to make her speechless? One look into his clear
blue eyes and all thoughts left her mind. She wanted to cling to
him. Kiss him. Hold on and never let go.

“I would like a word with you Grace, if you
can spare me a moment.”

“Of course, but I don’t wish to cause you any
further trouble.”

He lifted her hand and put it through his
arm. “You are not the one who has caused the trouble, as you well
know.”

“Yes, but others… “

“Hush, forget about the others.”

A few parishioners still stood in front of
the church watching them. She shouldn’t have stayed to speak with
him. This would only fuel the gossip. Lord Crew moved among them,
directing people to their carriages, as if he wished to leave her
and Vicar Trent alone. Surely he knew the damage such a situation
could cause and he was her guardian. What was he about?

When it appeared that almost everyone was on
their way home, Vicar Trent led her to a bench beneath a tree,
which still held a number of its golden and red leaves despite the
winds from the other night.

“I wish to speak with you as well.” She
settled onto the bench and he took a seat beside her.

“What do you wish to tell me?” Humor lit his
eyes and he smiled at her. He was at ease in a way that she had
never seen him before. He was more handsome now that his face was
relaxed, as if all tension had been washed away. How could he be so
calm? Wasn’t he worried about his future? He almost looked happy
and she had never seen Vicar Trent happy before.

“I would like you to rethink your
decision?”

“Which decision?”

“About resigning! What other decision could
there be?”

He chuckled before he placed an arm at her
waist and pulled her close. “Oh Grace, I have made many decisions
since I saw you last.”

She struggled to pull away. “What are you
doing? This is unseemly, Vicar Trent.”

“Matthew,” he corrected. “I am no longer a
vicar, or I won’t be for very long.”

She turned to face him, breaking contact.
“That is just it. You must remain a vicar.”

“Is it that important to you?”

“Of course it is important to me.” What did
that even matter? “Have you even thought about the repercussions of
your resignation?”

He laughed this time. “Yes, I have and it is
the best decision. Trust me in this.”

Grace went pale and her shoulders dropped.
She simply stared at him. Was that disappointment he read in her
eyes? Was it so important to her that he remain a vicar? As much as
he didn’t wish to, if it meant that much to Grace, he would do just
that. Matthew had resented his father for making these decisions in
his life and he had no idea how much of a burden, or how unhappy he
was until he essentially quit today. It was if a weight had been
lifted from him and he was free. He could do and be who he wished.
Yet, he would remain a vicar for Grace. The difference was it would
be of his own choosing if it made her happy.

“What will you do now?”

The euphoria he experience only moments ago
evaporated, replaced by a knot of tension in his stomach. What if
she said no? Matthew took a deep breath. “I think I would like to
be a gentleman farmer.”

Her brows knit together. “But you don’t even
like chickens.”

“I love them on my plate at supper, and I do
enjoy eggs in the morning.”

“So you are leaving?”

His eyes bore into hers. He hadn’t realized
how important it was for her to say yes until this very moment.
What would he do if she rejected him? “No Grace. I am not going
anywhere?”

“Where will you live? They will take the
vicarage from you.”

“I plan on living with you and your father.”
There he said it.

Her eyes grew wide. “You can’t do that. What
would people think? We’ve already scandalized them.”

“I would hope they didn’t think it odd that a
husband live with his wife.”

She opened her mouth and looked as if she
were about to say something, but didn’t. It was as if the words
would not form. Matthew didn’t want to give her any more time to
think and took her hands in his.

“Grace, I would be honored if you would
consent to be my wife.”

She still stared at him. She shook her head,
looked away, and then turned back to him again. “Have you lost your
mind?”

It wasn’t exactly the answer he hoped for,
nor the reaction.

He smiled at her and squeezed her hands. “No,
I have not.”

She yanked them away and stood. “My answer is
no, though I do thank you for the offer.”

She stomped away from him and Matthew rushed
to go after her. “Grace, wait.”

She wheeled around. “I will not have you
rescuing me any longer. It is kind of you to want to save my
reputation, but I will not marry because those in this village
think I am ruined. I refuse to allow you to sacrifice your life,
your future, for me.”

“It is far from a sacrifice.”

“You are only making the offer because you
feel responsible, because you are a gentleman and it is expected
that when a gentleman is found in a young woman’s bedchamber that
he must marry her.”

“No. That isn’t why.”

She faced him, hands fisted on her hips,
practically glaring at him. “If Mrs. Montgomery hadn’t spread her
vicious rumors would you be offering to marry me now?”

Matthew knew he had to be very careful in how
he answered. “No, not now.”

Grace threw up her hands and huffed. “That is
exactly why my answer is no. There is no more emotional attachment
to it than the offers I received from Draker, Thorn or
Richards.”

“They didn’t offer,” Matthew said quietly. “I
am the one asking.”

“I do appreciate being asked for a change.
But I cannot marry you. It would not be right, or fair to you.”

Matthew reached for her but she stepped out
of his reach.

“Did you not hear me say ‘not now’ a few
minutes ago?”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with
anything?”

He took a step toward her but was careful not
to reach out for fear she would run away from him. “I had already
begun thinking about marrying you.”

She stilled and looked at him.

“I was reluctant to declare myself because I
have only known you a few weeks. A marriage is for a lifetime. What
if we didn’t suit?”

“You still don’t know that we will. It is no
reason to marry.”

“There is every reason to marry. I can’t live
without you.”

She tilted her head and studied him.

“I know now that I want you as my wife. I
think I knew it the first moment you walked in to church, tardy by
the way.” He smiled on at her. “I was drawn to you instantly. It
was because I was trying to be reasonable and not allow emotion or
desire to cloud my judgment that I didn’t express myself
sooner.”

“How do you know enough time has passed that
this is the right decision?”

“I don’t. But does anyone ever?”

“Much has happened since you arrived. I
understand your need to set things right. That is no reason to
marry.”

“Are you not listening to me?” He knew he
shouldn’t raise he voice but he had to get through to her. “I don’t
care what anyone thinks any longer. I only know that I desire you.
I get little done because I am thinking about you. I want to have
the luxury of holding and kissing you whenever I wish. I don’t want
to live without you.”

She was staring up at him.

He took a deep breath. “Grace, I think I am
in love with you.”

Her eyes began to glisten with tears. He
prayed they were from happiness and not because she was about to
hurt him by setting him aside.

A shot rang out.

Grace stiffened and her eyes grew wide before
she collapsed against Matthew.