Page 19 of A Simple Scandal (Millionaires of Mayfair #3)

Eighteen

G race perched on one of the black velvet sofas that ran parallel to the fireplace in Dane’s study. Across from her sat Honoria and Pippa, who were serving tea.

“Cook made cream cakes, but they aren’t as good as your Mr. Tinniswood’s creations.” Pippa handed Grace a plate of cakes and then served her sister.

“Indeed,” Honoria said with a benevolent smile that betrayed nothing. “Let us change the subject.”

Those last words compelled Grace to brace herself for the inquiry that was sure to come. The first question she would likely face was, " What are your intentions toward our brother?”

“I’m just wondering why you didn’t become ill when you nursed Dane?” Honoria asked, then took a bite of her cream cake.

Grace blew out a silent breath of relief, then shrugged. “I’m not certain. I suffered a mild case of influenza earlier this spring. Dane turned away the doctor before I could ask his thoughts. I think that might have caused his illness. One of the Jolly Rooster footmen also fell ill, but I’ve heard from Winston that he’s on the mend.”

“Has anyone taken ill at Pelham Hall?” Pippa set the plate of cream cakes on the table.

“No. Winston and I were careful about who had contact with Dane.” Grace took a sip of tea for courage. “It’s miraculous that no one else appears to be suffering the same.”

“I’ve heard that sometimes the sickness doesn’t spread to others when they’ve previously suffered from it.” Honoria shrugged. “That might be a wives’ tale.”

Pippa shook her head. “I’m just thankful that everyone is well and happy. Especially you and Dane. Winston said you never left his side.”

Both sisters regarded Grace with a questioning look, then turned their gazes to each other with a knowing smile.

“What?” Grace asked in confusion.

“You and Winston seem to be thick as thieves.” Honoria smirked.

Pippa bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing.

Grace didn’t blink as she knew what was coming. Dane’s sisters would start asking about the two of them. And she would be ready for them. “You both are exaggerating. He was mightily worried about Dane’s health. It’s my understanding that Dane has always been close to him.”

Pippa gently set down her tea. “I’m sure Winston understands how much you mean to Dane.”

“Oh, my goodness, yes,” Honoria gushed. “Along with his cousin, Ritson, who is responsible for Ardeerton House. Winston is wonderful and will quickly become a favorite and confidant.”

“I don’t know Ritson very well.” Heat filled Grace’s cheeks as the memory of Winston rescuing her from a sleeping Dane’s embrace marched into her thoughts. She had no idea what the butler thought of her. Yet, he’d been kind and protective when she’d come to stay with Dane. She smiled slightly at the memory. Besides Dane, his sisters, and perhaps Theo, there weren’t many in her life who thought of her well-being, and she was grateful for Winston and his attention.

The quiet in the room became deafening. Best to lance the wound, as some would say. Grace would face whatever the sisters would ask her. She owed that much to them because of their friendship.

Grace pushed the plate away from her and didn’t touch her tea. She forced herself to hold her hands together in her lap. “I’m sure you both have a thousand questions, and I will try to answer them all. But you see, your brother and I?—”

“Are in love?” Honoria offered, then grinned. “Both of us couldn’t be happier for you and Dane.”

Grace could feel her eyes widened. She might love their brother, but they hadn’t had much of an opportunity to discuss their feelings, particularly after all these years. She huffed out a breath at the difficulty of navigating her friendship and allegiance to the Ardeerton sisters and her allegiance and love for Dane.

Pippa nodded and leaned slightly toward Grace. “I always knew that something percolated between the two of you. Though, frankly, I thought it was more of an animus than an amorous relationship between you.”

“Oh, that’s clever,” Honoria said with a laugh. “Animus versus amorous.”

Pippa dipped her head in acknowledgment. “I try, but my darling husband is a master at such wordplay. Now, about you and our brother.”

Grace bit her bottom lip. “I’m sorry that you found us in his bedroom.”

“Nonsense,” Honoria scolded playfully. “Served Dane right for the way he treated both our husbands.”

“Exactly,” Pippa added, then took a sip of tea. “Now, shall we discuss the wedding?”

Both sisters turned to her with open expressions, signifying they were determined to plan a wedding.

“I have a lovely ivory silk that would be stunning on you.” Pippa’s gaze swept over Grace’s body.

“What about the burnished gold silk that arrived before we left town?” Honoria tilted her head toward her sister. “Look at Grace’s eyes and hair. She would rival Venus in such a color.”

“That is simply brilliant, Honor. Our brother won’t be able to tear his gaze away from Grace with the dress I’m designing in my head.”

“Or his hands off her either.” Honoria sighed.

“She could wear a flour sack, and I would think she was stunning.”

They all turned to face the entrance to the study, where Dane stood in all his glory. Behind him stood Ravenscroft and Trafford. Even she would admit they were all handsome, there was only one who stole her breath. With his gold hair, he could have been mistaken for the Greek god Helios. She sighed slightly as memories of last night rushed through her.

Without a care in the world, Dane strolled to her side and bent down to kiss her cheek.

“Dane,” she scolded. “What are you doing?”

“Greeting my fiancé.” Dane lowered his voice so the others could not hear their conversation. “And my lover, whom I’ve been parted from for way too long.”

She inhaled as another bout of heat flooded her cheeks. Really, she was acting like a schoolgirl instead of a grown woman.

“I love to see you blush.” Then, the handsome, intriguing cad winked at her as he sat down beside her. “I sent your brother-in-law away.”

“Everything all right?”

Dane nodded. “He wanted to discuss settlements. I told him that I had to secure your hand first.” He winked as he brought her hand to his lips. “We have things to discuss that I think might ease your concerns about marrying me. Let’s not tarry. I want us to marry quickly.”

Trafford and Ravenscroft sat down beside their wives. Suddenly, the large study seemed to shrink after the three men settled onto the sofas.

“When is the wedding?” Honoria pressed.

“As soon as?—”

“I return to London and settle whatever concerns Lord Marbury may have,” Grace finished for Dane.

Frowning at her, he tilted his head. “That’s not what I was going to say.”

“What were you going to say?” Pippa asked innocently.

“That when we return to London, Grace will move her belongings, herself, and Theo into Ardeerton House. Meanwhile, I’ll secure the special license.” Dane nodded once, the movement ensuring that everyone knew that his word was law in Pelham Hall.

Pippa gleefully clapped her hands. “Grace will be such a beautiful bride. That will give me enough time to design and sew a dress for Grace.”

Now, Ravenscroft was the one to frown. “That means you’ll be up all night.” He shook his head. “I don’t like it.”

“I don’t like it either,” Grace parroted. When everyone’s attention turned to her, she swallowed that bit of discomfort she experienced when she became the center of attention.

And not in a good way.

“What I mean is…I won’t be moving in with Dane.” Grace clasped her hands tighter.

Dane swiveled until he was facing her. “Yes, you will.”

“No, I won’t,” Grace defiantly corrected him as her heart pounded in her chest. “We’ve addressed this before.”

“No, we have not,” he countered. “We’ve agreed upon marriage.”

“Their first lover’s spat,” Honoria cooed.

Pippa and Honoria sat on the edge of their seats as their gazes bounced between Dane and herself. For the love of all dukes everywhere, this was not a tennis match. Even Trafford and Ravenscroft were watching them intently.

“Did you quarrel with your wife before you married?” Ravenscroft arched a brow as he regarded Trafford.

“Indeed. To make matters worse, I always seemed to be in the wrong and apologizing.” The handsome earl shook his head as he smiled smugly at his wife.

“That’s because you were always wrong.” Honoria tilted her perfect nose in the air and sniffed.

Ravenscroft tilted his head back and roared with laughter. Pippa turned to him with a slight scowl.

“I don’t see what is humorous about this situation.” She crossed her arms and stared at her husband. “If memory serves me correctly, you were apologizing to me practically daily because you were always wrong or behaved poorly.”

“He still behaves poorly and still is always wrong.” A lopsided grin tugged at Dane’s lips.

By then, the entire group was in an uproar with laughter. Grace stole a peek at Dane’s face, where he wore a blinding smile filled with love and affection for his family. It was marvelous for him and his sisters that they were a family who loved freely and could tease one another without anyone bickering or belittling the others.

This would be her life when she married Dane.

She meant if and not when she married him. She would not make any rash decisions about her future.

After the laughter finally died, Dane took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I think you should move in with me.”

Grace immediately shook her head. “Don’t ask me that. It would be unseemly.”

Honoria narrowed her eyes. “Why do you want her to move in before the wedding?”

Pippa’s gaze homed in on her brother’s face.

Dane waved a hand in dismissal. “Grace and I have wasted enough time not being together. Where’s the scandal if we’re to be married.”

Pippa ignored her brother. “Grace, you could stay with us in London until the ceremony.”

Honoria turned to Grace. “I was thinking the same. You could move in with us.”

“Nothing has been decided,” Grace protested. The Ardeerton siblings ignored her and continued their conversations.

“But it would make the gown fittings easier for Grace and me if she stayed at my house.” Pippa looked at her husband. “You wouldn’t mind, would you? Your mother and great aunt would relish the extra company.”

Ravenscroft bit his lips as his eyes twinkled with mirth. “Not only do I not mind, but I would insist upon it. Then Pelham could visit Grace anytime he’d like.” He laughed with glee. “My mother and great aunt could act as chaperons.”

Dane rolled his eyes. “Grace and I don’t need chaperones.”

“You most certainly do. Especially after what we discovered this morning in your bedroom,” Trafford pointed out.

“Careful, old man,” Dane warned. “You’re discussing my future wife. I would hate to call you out for embarrassing her.”

Trafford nodded once, then turned to Grace. “Forgive me, my lady. Pelham is right. Sometimes, our teasing becomes a little ribald. I meant no harm.”

“And no offense was taken,” Grace said in reassurance. “But you see, what I want Dane to understand is that it is imperative that I return to London as soon as possible.”

Honoria sighed in pleasure. “I adore it when I hear Grace say our brother’s first name with such affection.”

Dane shook his head, feigning annoyance, but they all could see the humor in his gaze. “About Marbury.”

“Dane,” Grace said a bit more forcefully. “I’m doing it not only for my reputation and business but also for yours. Marbury believes you deliberately ignored us to play a lurid game of chance with Brixworth. It makes little difference whether it’s true or not. He could cause real harm.”

“I don’t care about my reputation. I’m a duke. Once you marry me, you’ll be a duchess. All of society will be clamoring for your attention.” Dane arched a perfect ducal eyebrow.

“I wish it were that simple.” Grace reached over and placed her hand over his. “It’s not only us I’m worried about, but also my clients. Every day that I’m away, then it appears as if I’ve abandoned them and put my interests first.” She leaned near and lowered her voice. “You see that, don’t you, darling?”

He narrowed the distance between them and lowered his voice. “That’s the first time I think I’ve ever heard you call me darling in years.” He grinned. “I like it. You know what else I like?”

She shook her head.

“You.” He pressed his lips to her cheek but didn’t pull away. Instead, he whispered in her ear. “Yes, I see what you’re saying. Let’s go back to London.” Dane nipped her earlobe.

Thankfully, no one could see what he was doing, or they didn’t seem to care. Both couples were involved in another conversation.

“However,” he murmured, then pressed a kiss to the tender skin below her ear. “I will use that time to convince you to move in with me. And that means you are riding in the carriage with me… without a chaperon .”

“Foolish man,” she murmured.

“Difference of opinion between us.” He grinned like a rogue determined to charm his way into getting what he wanted. “I believe I’m quite brilliant.”

“You always have,” she countered with a sly smile.

“What matters most is that you believe it too.”