“I thought it best to take rooms at an inn.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You are my brother, and despite our disagreement, you are welcome in my home.”
His brother’s troubled eyes looked back at him, and Matthew was reminded he was going to speak with Jordan prior to Miss Cooper’s arrival on his doorstep. There was more going on with Jordan than met the eye, besides the news that Adele and Julia were not dead. Matthew still couldn’t comprehend how that could be a possibility.
“I think it is best if I go into town.”
Matthew kept his hand on the door when Jordan reached over and tried to close it. “Stay here.” He didn’t ask, but insisted in a quiet voice.
Jordan clenched his jaw and his eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second, as if in pain. “No.” He pulled the door out of Matthew’s grasp, slammed it shut and knocked on the ceiling of the carriage to let the driver know he was ready to leave. Matthew watched it pull onto the road.
Grace pushed the food around on her plate. Her appetite left when she returned home to find her uncle a second time. What if he succeeded? What if Uncle Henry became her guardian? Would he marry her off to his choice? She would marry anyone and endure any kind of humiliation that went with marriage if her father was able to remain in his home.
Father reached over, grabbed her hand and squeezed. She looked at him. He offered an encouraging smile.
Grace wished she had an ounce of his optimism. “We will win, Father. I promise.”
He mouthed the word I know. It was the closest he had come to speaking to her verbally since the accident. She blinked and looked away. She refused to allow her father to see her in this state, worried, scared and an emotional mess. He had enough to concern himself without worrying about her.
She could only pray that Vicar Trent’s testimony carried some weight. She also had only a few days to ask others for help. But who? Lord Crew was out of town. She had been hopeful when Mr. Trent claimed to be a friend of the magistrate, but now that he was firmly in the enemy camp her concern mounted.
After dinner was complete, she stacked the dishes in the kitchen. Her father met her at the bottom of the stairs, kissed her forehead and shuffled down the hall to his room. The back parlor had been converted into his bedchamber following the accident. Grace mounted the stairs and once alone in her room, sank to her knees and begged God to deliver them from her uncle and give her the answers, or guidance, she needed to keep her father at home. She fell asleep, her pillow soaked with her tears.
Even though she tossed and turned all night, unable to stay asleep for long periods of time, Grace rose with the sun, put on a wool dress and made her way to the dairy. The warmth and smell of hay engulfed her when she entered the stable, offering comfort from the familiar surroundings. She lifted her hand to pet the nose of one of the cows when she walked by to retrieve the milk pail. She positioned the stool, sat and reached for the udders. Exhausted she laid her head against the side of the cow. What am I going to do?
Methodically she went from one cow to the other, filling pails and leaving them by the entrance for delivery later this morning.
“I knew you would probably be up and about already.”
Grace straightened and looked toward the door. Audrey Montgomery stood at the entrance; the morning sun glimmered off of her golden hair. A smile pulled at Grace’s lips to see her friend. “Does your mother know you are here?”
“Heavens, no.” Audrey dismissed with a wave of her hand. “I doubt mother is even awake yet.” She walked toward the stall and hopped up on a table not far from Grace.
Grace admired her dark blue riding habit with the perky, matching velvet hat. Not even a hair was out of place and Grace knew her friend had ridden from the other side of the village. Chances were she was unescorted as well, which meant the visit would be a short one. Mrs. Montgomery insisted her daughter behave the lady at all times, which meant Audrey should remain abed until at least eleven and when she did take her chestnut out, a groom should accompany her. “How was London?”
Audrey shrugged. “Not as I had hoped.”
“Well, the little Season was almost over before you arrived.” Grace reminded her.
“There were still a number of people there.” She sighed and toyed with the rope beside her. “I had a chance to go to balls, soirees, and picnics.”
“It sounds wonderful. What was a disappointment?” Grace glanced down at the full pail of milk. She patted the cow on the side, grabbed another bucket and moved to another cow.
“I much prefer the people here than those in London.”
Grace lifted her eyebrows. “Don’t let your mother hear you say that. She has high hopes on you marrying a lord of some kind.”
“I know.” Audrey groaned. “My aunt introduced me to several bachelors but I cannot imagine falling in love with any of them.”
“What did your mother say?” Grace was almost afraid of what the response would be and suspected she already knew.
Audrey pursed her mouth, her mother’s usual expression and started wagging her finger at Audrey. “Love has nothing to do with marriage. Once you get that silly notion out of your head you will be able to find the perfect earl, marquess or duke.”
Grace laughed. “I am so sorry. At least you don’t have to return until March.”
“Even that will be too soon.” Audrey grumbled.
“Well, your mother expects you to marry within the year. It is her plan after all.”
“And there are few choices around here.” Audrey sighed but perked up a moment later. “What of the new vicar?”
Grace’s throat tightened. Why should she care if Audrey was interested in Vicar Trent? She wouldn’t be surprised if he became smitten the moment the two met and it did not set well with her. Since they were fourteen, boys, and then men when they grew older, had been attracted to Audrey with her golden curls, creamy complexion and soft brown eyes. Why should Vicar Trent be any different?
Grace must have pulled too hard for the cow lowed an objection and stepped to the side. Grace patted its back and apologized before she went back to milking with a more gentle touch. “You saw him on Sunday, didn’t you? What did you think?”
A blush stained Audrey’s cheeks. “I didn’t go to church. For two days mama went on and on about how I must impress the man and by the time Sunday arrived, my head pounded from the pressure. I stayed in bed all day.”
Grace chuckled. “He is a nice man, though I am sure his opinion of me is not the highest.”
Audrey leaned forward, her eyes bright with excitement. “Tell me. What did you do?”
“It is really not all that much, just poor first impressions,” she answered before telling her about the instances when she had encountered Vicar Trent. “But, he is patient with Papa and is going to help him when we go before the magistrate.”
“Magistrate?” Audrey jumped down and walked over to where Grace sat upon the stool.
Since her uncle had only arrived yesterday it wasn’t a surprise Audrey did not know what was happening and Grace brought her up to date on the letters that had been sent and her uncle’s arrival and plans.
“Oh, dear. When does Lord Crew plan to return?” Audrey sank into the hay without a care for her lovely habit.
“It is only supposed to be a few weeks, but I hope it is sooner. Otherwise I have only Vicar Trent to count on.”
Audrey reached over and placed a comforting hand on Grace’s arm. “If I could, and if anyone would listen to me, I would give testimony.”
Grace was touched by her friends concern, but knew it was impossible. Audrey would be dismissed in the same manner as Grace given they were females and young in the eyes of the adults around them. Besides, Mrs. Montgomery would have an apoplexy if her daughter came to the defense of Grace’s father.
“I know you would, and let’s not talk about that now.” She stood and placed the pail next to the others and readied herself to milk another cow. “There had to have been at least one gentleman in London who caught your eye.”
Audrey placed her chin in her hand. “No, none that I can think of. Though, there were plenty of arrogant…” Her eyes popped wide and she looked at Grace. “Does Vicar Trent have family in London? Do you know if he has any brothers?”
Grace hadn’t mentioned Mr. Trent when bringing Audrey current on the events in her household and was not certain she should mention the name now, not by the angry gleam in her friend’s eyes. “Why do you ask?”
Her friend popped up from her place on the ground and began to pace. “The eldest wasn’t so bad. Lord Clayton Trent, the new Earl Bentley, it was his younger brother I could do without ever seeing again.”
Grace chuckled and watched her friend stomp back and forth.
“Arrogant, reprobate, and all around scoundrel.” Color high in her cheeks, Audrey turned and pointed at Grace to emphasize her point. “If I never meet Mr. Jordan Trent again it will be too soon.”
Oh dear, this was not good. Not good at all. “I see.” She was not about to inform Audrey that her nemesis had come to town.
At a loss with what to do with himself, Matthew took his mare out for a morning ride. He hoped it would help clear his mind and turned the horse into the woods. If he took the road, he might be stopped and required to speak with one of his parishioners. It was his duty to see to their spiritual needs, but today he could not. Did that make him a bad vicar? It most assuredly did, but Matthew could not find it in him to care or to rise above his concerns at the moment and be selfless and perfect.