A Perfect Gentleman(20)

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.”