Blinded by Grace: Book Five of the Cotillion Ball series (Crimson Romance) (6 page)

An uneasiness settled over him, though. True, he was going to help Grace out of her dilemma, and she would help him deal with his problems. His mother would be pleased to have him showing interest in a young lady and would stop foisting women onto him. She would approve of Grace, he was certain. Yes, Grace would be a tremendous help in keeping his mother at bay this season. And he could certainly use her help in finding, furnishing, and staffing a house for him.

But something didn’t sit right with the entire situation. If Grace could not find another man to wed before July, he’d have to go through with this bogus wedding, and be locked in for a year. As a man, divorce was not the stigma it was for ladies, but still. He had hoped to be married with a child by the time he was thirty, and here he was, volunteering to spend a year of his life in celibacy. This business plan of Grace’s may have been her last and final option, but it was unsettling to Halwyn. And usually, when he was unsettled by a business plan, he retreated and found another solution.

He’d have to give this more thought, since right now he had the feeling he’d just walked into a lion’s den, without even a bullwhip to give him an edge. And he kept being tripped up by the scent of lilac water.

• • •

Grace controlled herself while in the bank. As she hurried down the hallway before Halwyn could change his mind and into the bank’s lobby, she was very much the picture of what her name embodied—elegance, grace, and comportment.

Once she got to the street, though, she clapped her hands together and gave a bit of a skip as she walked rapidly toward her home. She had pulled it off! Halwyn agreed to marry her, even if right now it would be in name only. She was hoping, if she presented her plan in the strictest of business terms, he would agree to help her. But her feelings toward Halwyn had always been deeper than any business plan. And, he was the one to suggest they live together for one year. And that they keep the marriage of convenience plan to themselves. Maybe her emotions weren’t so one-sided. Regardless, she had an entire three hundred and sixty-five days to make him fall in love with her. Or to get her heart crushed. Her stomach was not just full of butterflies. It was as if a herd of elephants were prancing through, wearing tutus and carrying umbrellas.

She had to get back inside the house before anyone noticed she had left the premises. It was not suitable for a young lady of quality to be on the streets of New York alone, but she didn’t trust her maid, Clara, not to go running to Sophie—or worse, to Simon—with Grace’s every move. Simon was not at home at the moment to monitor her comings and goings, since he was doing whatever it was Simon did to make money. But her mother was at the house, feigning a headache so she wouldn’t have to face the reality of what her life had become. Grace had given Clara the task of buying her some new hair ribbons, and shortly after Clara left the house this morning, so had Grace.

Her thoughts turned to her mother while she scurried down the street. The measures she had taken with Halwyn involved her mother as well as Grace. They had been so happy before—she, her mother, and her father. But her father died, way too early, and her mother was so afraid of being on her own, she accepted the offer of the first man to come calling, and, as a consequence, turned their world upside down.

Simon was nothing more than a fortune hunter, and he had done nothing since the marriage other than make life miserable for both Grace and her mother. He did not even attempt to hide the fact he was merely biding his time until he gained control of her father’s entire wealth, and had been, since the day he’d wed Sophie. Something hadn’t been right about their entire courtship and hurried-up marriage, but Grace could talk no sense into her mother. Now they were both paying the price for her mother’s haste. But, with Halwyn’s assistance, the nightmare might soon be at an end.

Simon took great satisfaction in verbally tearing down both of them, and taking the monthly stipend they did get from the trust and using it, not for food or clothing, as it was intended, but to waste away at the gaming tables. Well, Simon may have turned her mother into a sniveling, cowering woman, but he hadn’t yet broken her. Grace eagerly awaited the first time Simon and Halwyn came face to face, and Simon figured out what was up. She couldn’t keep the grin from her face.

A street vendor returned her smile. Grace stopped in front of his cart.

“I’ll buy some of your hot peanuts, sir.”

“For a pretty young lady, with such a fine smile on her face this morning, there is no charge.”

Grace pressed some coins into his hand anyway. “Then consider this your tip. Thank you, sir, for making an already glorious day just a bit brighter.”

She popped the hot, salty peanuts into her mouth as she continued the few remaining blocks to her home.

Halwyn was going to court her this season, and risk verbal abuse from Simon, in order to do so. And, after a few months of courtship, they would marry! Simon would not handle the news well at all, she was certain. At the very least, the bank would lose Simon as a customer—no grand loss, once the trust money reverted to her, but probably not the best outcome in terms of business practice.

Simon would make life even more miserable at home, for her and her mother. That much was guaranteed. She could handle it, but was sorry for the elevated abuse her mother would take due to Grace’s actions of today. However, there was nothing she could do about it. Once Grace received the money, which was rightfully hers, with Halwyn’s assistance, she would try to get her mother away from Simon the beast. But until then, her hands were effectively tied. Only Halwyn could help her change things.

Charlotte Fitzpatrick’s matchmaking efforts for her daughters were legendary, and she had Halwyn in her sights this season. By claiming himself interested in Grace, Charlotte would declare her work for the season finished, and much faster than anticipated. Her reputation as a matchmaker would be greatly enhanced by her most recent coup, and she would be sought out for council by other mothers who had daughters of marriageable age. Grace loved Charlotte and George Fitzpatrick almost as much as she did her own parents, and was certain they would not object to her becoming Halwyn’s wife.

She and Halwyn need be the only ones aware of the true circumstances behind the sudden engagement, and subsequent marriage. Grace would help Halwyn find a good home for himself, and would decorate it to suit him. She’d hire the appropriate staff to make his life comfortable. So both Halwyn and Grace had something to gain from this arrangement. It appealed to Halwyn’s business mind, as Grace had gambled on it doing. And since she had come up with the idea, she was pleased with the outcome. They would help each other out of a rough patch. On the surface, it was a flawless plan. Done and done.

Her body tingled as she thought of the year of marriage and the few months of courting prior to it. Being so close to Halwyn for such an extended period of time was her childhood fantasy come true. The few minutes Grace had spent in his arms while they danced the other night were indeed heavenly, and she relived the scenes in her head constantly. His touch had sent shivers of delight through her body, even today when he took her hand.

He was the nicest man she’d ever met, but she hoped underneath his quiet and calm demeanor beat the heart of a true stallion. She had offered to tuck herself away in the country for the year they would be wed, but she hoped he wouldn’t want her to leave his side. Now all she had to do was get him to fall in love with her. She had three months of courtship and a year of marriage to do just that.

Halwyn folded his morning newspaper with a snap and waited for Saffron to leave the breakfast table before he turned to his mother, who was drumming her fingers on the table.

“What is it, Mother? You’ve been exhibiting all the behavior of a caged tiger this morning.”

“Your father told me last night that Grace Wagner paid you a visit at the bank yesterday, and I demand to know what’s going on with that poor girl.”

Halwyn’s gaze narrowed. “How did Father know about my visitor?”

“Feldon told him. He thought the behavior inappropriate, especially when you asked him to close the door on the two of you. So, to cover himself, he confided to your father.”

Halwyn grimaced. “He might be a decent bookkeeper, but if Feldon has a spine, I’ve yet to see it.”

“Leaving Feldon’s anatomy aside, let’s discuss what was so important for Grace to come by herself to see you at work.”

Setting aside his coffee cup, Halwyn removed his glasses and pinched his fingers on the bridge of his nose before replacing them. “She came to me with a question about the trust her father left for her.” He rolled his shoulders, well aware he was leaving out a huge chunk of their conversation. “Then, we moved on to other topics. She’s a surprisingly intelligent woman and I’m going to escort her to the Haversham ball this weekend.”

Charlotte brightened at his words. “Really?” She placed a hand over her heart. “This is a pleasant surprise. I thought you’d try to wrangle out of every invitation this season, and here you are, lining up your own companion for the next big ball. And with dear Grace, too. I spoke with her briefly last night at the theater, and she’s turned into a most lovely young woman.” Tears sparkled in her eyes.

Halwyn cast a glance at his mother before he replied. “I must admit, I haven’t had much to do with Grace for years, but I agree, she’s blossomed into a fine young lady. We had a nice long conversation in the bank. She has a fondness for my favorite poet, Byron, as well as other great literature. I’m quite sure we’ll have a most compatible evening.” Halwyn removed his glasses and ran his hand over his eyes. He hoped his mother would accept what he was saying.

Charlotte tapped her finger to her cheek. “Even though it’s Grace we’re talking about, and I couldn’t be happier for you, this is very out of character for you, Halwyn. I fully expected a battle from you this season, and here you are, with a suitable partner already selected.”

“I don’t know yet about her being a suitable partner, but she has at least agreed to assist me in finding my own residence. Grace will be a great asset in that regard, since I’m totally out of my element. Father and I talked about what all you do to keep this house up and running, and Grace is well equipped to help me establish mine … ”

Halwyn didn’t miss the long and warm gaze his mother sent his way. “I think it’s a brilliant idea, son. Couldn’t have done better myself.”

The unsettledness he had been experiencing off and on since Grace’s visit returned. His mother had acquiesced way too fast for his liking.

• • •

Grace and her maid found their way to Jasmine’s dress shop a few days later. Halwyn had told her Jasmine would have a dress ready for the ball by then.

“Grace, how delightful to see you.” Jasmine grabbed her in a big hug as she drew her into the shop.

There were two employees sitting in front of their sewing machines, which were whirring away madly. Colleen, Jasmine’s lady’s maid and co-worker in her shop, was overseeing a fitting taking place in a small room at the back of the store, but waved a hello to her.

“I’m impressed, Jasmine, with your bustling business. I never would have guessed you’d be the shop owner among us. How is married life treating you?”

Jasmine patted her slightly rounded belly. “It’s a great deal of fun, as you can tell. I’m expecting in the fall. Parr wants a girl, but I’m hoping for a son.”

Grace blushed a bit, and giggled. “Your mother will be thrilled to have another grandchild so close to her. With Ginger, Basil, and Heather all out in Missouri, she can’t see their children as often as she’d prefer. But the fact she can’t see them daily doesn’t stop her from bragging about them.” Grace smiled as she remembered Charlotte Fitzpatrick’s kindness.

“So tell me what’s going on between you and my brother! I was caught a bit off guard when Halwyn told me to create a dress for you. I had no idea he even remembered who you were, much less knew you well enough to order a gown for you.”

Grace could feel the color returning to her cheeks. “Uh, he and I became reacquainted the night of the Cotillion, and he asked me out. Can you believe this is my third season?” She hoped to deflect the conversation away from her sudden relationship with Jasmine’s brother.

“Well, Halwyn is a man of surprises. I thought he’d be single forever, and here he is, with a secret lady for whom he’s already buying gifts. And it turns out to be you. How exciting is that? Let me show you what I’ve got. Halwyn’s exact words were ‘we were to make you ravishing for the upcoming ball.’ He even picked the color of gown he wants to see you in.”

Grace stammered. “I, uh, I don’t believe a mere dress will turn me into a ravishing beauty.”

“Ah, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Halwyn does have new glasses. Here’s the dress.”

With a flourish, she laid her creation—a silver gown with beadwork that caught the light, complete with a delicate, almost fragile, lace around the neckline—across the table.

Grace fingered the luscious fabric as her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t speak. The dress was magnificent, and so much more than she expected. Her mouth opened but no sound emerged as she glanced from the dress to Jasmine.

Jasmine’s hands flew through the air. “Now, I know what you’re going to say. Single young ladies should wear white or pastels until they make a match and find a husband. I consider these rules of society so much hogwash. You should wear a gown that flatters your coloring instead. And you need a richer hue than a washed out pastel. Even Halwyn knows that, which is why he chose this color for you. This is close enough to being what is considered appropriate, so we’re only bending the rules a wee bit. There’s a very fine line between white and silver. And this lace was handmade here in the shop, on one of our new machines. We’ve been trying out different patterns, and I believe this particular one suits you and the dress equally well. Shall we retire to the fitting room so you can try it on?”

“It’s a beautiful gown, but it’s too much. Simon will never allow me out of the house in this dress.”