Being the second son, Peter had limited career paths available to him that were acceptable for a gentleman—become a vicar or join the army. Joining the army even as an officer was the last thing he wanted to do. He detested war and blood and had seen too many soldiers who came home from the battlefield as broken men, and not just from their physical injuries. He also wanted no part in killing other soldiers.
When he finished his university education, he’d reluctantly begun his career in what his mother had told him was his true calling, the church. He wasn’t sure that life in the church was exactly his true calling, but he’d decided to let her believe it if it made her feel better. His mother had always been his biggest supporter.
Turns out, she’d been right. He thoroughly enjoyed preaching and helping his parishioners.
He had never been sad to leave the glittering events of the Season before, but that had changed when he met Baron Fletcher’s ward, Miss Grace Parker. He met her at an event he attended with his university friend, Viscount Easton, and was immediately smitten with Miss Grace. He especially liked her strawberry-blond hair, which refused to be tamed, and her green eyes, which shone with intelligence. They’d seemed to bond almost immediately. He’d never met a woman who loved nature as much as he did, and he’d been overjoyed every time they met attonevents. He wondered, if his father hadn’t forced him to go to St. Mary’s, if there was a chance they could have formed an attachment to each other. It was what he’d most desired.
There was no sense in focusing on the “what ifs.” He had to give up the notion that he could court Miss Grace. She was in London, and he was miles and miles away. Instead, he needed to concentrate on his new duties. As long as the new vicaragehad a decent garden in which he could enjoy a bit of nature, he would do his best to be content with this new position and the opportunity his father had given him.
“Here you are, my lord,” the maid said as she placed a steaming bowl of stew, along with a slice of hot bread and a mug of ale, in front of him. “Would you like anything else?”
“No, thank you, miss. This smells delicious.”
Miss Grace Parker pacedin front of the drawing room windows in their London townhome, waiting for the Devon family carriage to appear. Her friend, Lady Kathryn, should arrive soon, and she could hardly wait to start on their journey to the family’s country estate, Dandridge Manor, near the town of Reading. With repairs underway at their London home, the plan was to stay at the country manor for the summer to escape the chaos.
It would be a nice respite from London, especially since she had caused a small scandal at the last musical event she’d attended by wearing a rich purple gown. The older matrons had been appalled. That color was frowned upon for a young, unmarried woman, especially one who had not yet had her debut, but Grace hadn’t cared. She loved that dress, and even her brother-in-law, Baron Fletcher, had complimented her on the color.
Her older sister, Audrey, had advised her to change, warning her about what the gossipmongers would say, but she was too stubborn.
“Audrey, it’s only a dress. No one will even notice me,” Grace had told her sister.
How wrong she’d been.
They had noticed her, and not in a good way.
Now she wished she’d listened. “Audrey, I’m so sorry,” she’d said when they returned home that night. “I should have listened. Please forgive my stubbornness.”
“Of course, dearest, but I would counsel you to listen when sound advice is given in the future. Will you promise to do that?”
Grace nodded. “Yes, I promise.”
It would be good to be absent from London for a while. Her absence would give the gossip a chance to die down. She certainly didn’t want that incident to be the topic of conversation next spring when she made her official debut into Society. That small misstep was something she never wanted to repeat and was glad they were leaving London for the summer. In the future, she would take Audrey’s sound advice.
The only pleasant thing about that whole debacle was that she’d been able to sit with Mr. Wallings during the performance. He was so affable, he hadn’t cared about the color of her dress, and she thoroughly enjoyed his company and wanted to continue their acquaintance. Then his letter came to the house. She was sad to learn he was leaving London for a new post as a vicar. While she was happy for his promotion, she was devastated to know she wouldn’t see him around London anymore.
She had to admit to being rather excited about finally going to visit their country home, Dandridge Manor. Although she and her sisters had always been aware of the estate, as it had been mentioned a few times over the years, their late father had said he’d never liked the country and had never taken them there.
Her brother-in-law, Jacob, the new Lord Fletcher—a quite distant relation, there having been no other heir—was vastly different and had promised to take them all for a visit, but first the house needed a thorough cleaning and some repairs to fix years of neglect. Fletcher had also learned that valuable paintings and silver had been sold off years ago by the formerbaron, but fortunately, the manor had not been completely gutted of its contents. True to his word, that day had finally come, and Grace was ecstatic.
“Grace, dearest, you’ll wear a hole in the carpet if you keep pacing like that,” Audrey, the newlywed Lady Fletcher, said.
“When will she arrive? Do you think she’s changed her mind? What if she hates the country? Has Lady Devon accepted your invitation to come to Dandridge Manor in August?”
Audrey chuckled at the stream of questions. “Calm yourself, Grace. I’m sure it won’t be much longer now, and yes, Lord and Lady Devon have accepted the invitation. They will arrive for the last two weeks of August. Seeing as we’ve never been there, I wanted to make sure the manor was in good repair before they came to visit.”
“That’s good. I’m sure Lady Kathryn will enjoy having her family with her.”
“Have you finished packing everything you want to bring?” Audrey asked. “We’ll need to stop for the night at an inn. It’s too long a journey to do in one day. Did you also pack a valise for the overnight stay?”
“I have. Beckwith has taken everything out to the carriage.”
“Very good.”
“I’m so happy we have our own carriage now. No more smelly hackneys,” Grace said.
“I know. Jacob has worked incredibly hard to organize all the preparations for our journey. He’s a wonder when he wants something done.”
Jacob Stanford the new Baron Fletcher, had been a successful newspaper owner in New York City who gave up his old life and the ownership of his paper to take up the title and marry the love of his life, her eldest sister, Audrey. Grace had been thrilled when they finally admitted their feelings for one another. They were so happy together, and Jacob’s concern for both Grace’sand her younger sister Mia’s welfare never ceased to amaze her. He truly was the best brother-in-law she could have ever wished for.