“Nothing has befallen the child.”
“Good, that’s good,” Berkeley said, his agitation easing.
“Shall I accompany you to your room for a short rest, my lord? You don’t want to be tired when the boy comes inside, now do you?” Peter asked.
“No, I suppose that wouldn’t do.”
With Peter on one side and Tatters on the other, they helped Lord Berkeley to his feet. Peter continued to talk to him about light-hearted things while they made their way to his bedchamber. Once inside, Tatters helped Lord Berkeley remove his jacket, waistcoat, and boots before guiding him to the bed.
“You’re sure the boy isn’t hurt?”
“No, my lord. He’s perfectly healthy and should return shortly. Now you must rest so you’ll be refreshed when you see him,” Tatters said.
“Yes, yes, you’re right,” the earl said as he sank into the pillows and closed his eyes. Soon, the only sound in the room was his steady breathing as he drifted off to sleep.
Tatters led Peter back downstairs. “Thank you, Mr. Wallings. Sometimes when he gets that way, it’s hard to get him upstairs to rest. That was masterfully done.”
“Not at all. I had some experience with parishioners with the same ailment in my last congregation. It’s best not to try to correct whatever they’re saying but merely agree with them and try to distract them.”
“I will remember that. Thank you again for your kindness, Mr. Wallings. Good day to you, sir,” Tatters said, opening the front door.
“Good day, Tatters. I’ll come around again soon to check on Lord Berkeley.”
“Very good, sir.”
Peter walked around the corner of the house and saw Belle grazing on a bit of grass. “Hello, sweet girl. Let’s go visit the Fletchers while we’re out this way.” He climbed up on the bench and clicked Belle into motion.
On the way to Dandridge Manor, he thought about the earl’s sad condition. All the grandeur and wealth the earl possessed meant little when dealing with afflictions of the brain. It was a sad situation, and he planned to visit him as much as possible in the future.
It didn’t take long to reach Dandridge Manor. Jones opened the door. Peter jumped down from the bench, tousling the hair of the boy who ran out to take Belle’s bridle as he walked past him.
“Good day, vicar,” Jones said.
“Jones, good day to you. Is Miss Parker receiving guests today?”
“She is indeed, sir. She’s in the drawing room. Shall I announce you?”
“There’s no need.”
Peter strode into the foyer and turned right to enter the drawing room. He heard Grace’s sweet laughter and wondered who’d given her such pleasure. Perhaps one of her sisters or Lady Kathryn had said something amusing.
However, that wasn’t what he saw as he reached the doorway. Lord Dudley was standing incredibly close to the woman he loved. Grace was giggling, and when she squeezed Dudley’s arm, Peter’s mouth fell open. They were acting very familiar with each other, and it made him question what he thought he knew about her feelings for him.
Had he made a mistake asking Fletcher for permission to court her? Was Dudley also courting her?
Peter had kissed Grace’s sweet lips a number of times, and she’d responded with enthusiasm. He thought he knew her feelings, but now he wasn’t sure. Was she playing a game with his affections? He never would have believed she could be so cruel, but the evidence of the affection between her and Lord Dudley was on full display. There wasn’t anyone else in the drawing room, so they weren’t even properly chaperoned.
Grace was clearly enjoying the young lord’s attention, and it made his heart shatter.
It was too much to take in. His world was upended in a single moment. What had he been thinking? How foolish of him to think she could be happy with him when she could be wed to the heir of the Berkeley title with its vast wealth at his disposal? Dudley could give her anything her heart desired, while Peter could only offer her a modest cottage and a vicar’s income.
Before either of them could see him, Peter turned on his heel and left Dandridge Manor. Luckily, Jones was nowhere in sight, so he didn’t have to try to hide his obvious distress. He hurriedout, not wanting to have to explain his sudden departure. He muttered a quick thanks to the boy holding Belle’s headstall, jumped up on the bench, and thumped the reins on her backside to get her moving. “Come on, girl. Let’s go home.”
He had to get away. As his cart trundled cumbersomely down the drive, he couldn’t get the image of Grace laughing and holding onto Lord Dudley out of his mind. It was clear what his next steps must be. He had to step back from courting Grace, even though his heart was crushed at the thought. He’d been thinking about proposing soon, but now that didn’t seem appropriate. The perfect life he’d dreamed of with Grace by his side was ground into dust.
Silent tears coursed down his face as he drove away.
“Oh, Lord Dudley, surelythat didn’t happen,” Grace said as she wiped away tears of laughter. She couldn’t get the image of him hanging upside down from a tree with his breeches caught on a branch out of her mind.