Grace's Story by L Summer Hanford

Author:L Summer Hanford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: summertime regency romance, clean historical romance, sweet clean regency romance, sweet clean romance, clean romance book
Publisher: Summer Hanford
Published: 2021-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Grace kept her face angled out the window for over half an hour, only turning back to the interior of the carriage when her body began to protest the angle of her spine and she started to worry quite seriously about the sun bringing out too many freckles. To both her relief and dismay, she found Doctor Carter now sat with a small book open before him, angled to catch the light coming in through the window as he read. They bounced along, the road less even as they drew away from London, and Grace wondered how he could manage to read words without feeling queasy.

They didn’t speak again until they stopped for lunch, taken at a coaching inn, as planned. Grimly, that reminded Grace that their goal was to be followed. When they returned to the carriage, having spoken little and inconsequentially over lunch in the common room, Grace couldn’t help but brood on their task.

As they rolled down the lane once more, they were almost certainly being trailed by men who had beaten Doctor Carter and tried to burn down his clinic. Her gaze went to the bandage on his forehead, then dropped to his chest. He’d said he’d suffered more injuries. She longed to see them. To assess them, catalog them, and use them to fuel her anger. So long as she remained angry with the men who’d attacked him, she wouldn’t be frightened. Not much, at least.

She didn’t like thinking of him as Doctor Carter, she realized. Not in the same moment as she considered him shirtless. “May I ask your Christian name?”

He looked up from his book. “Andrew.”

Andrew. A pleasant name. “Mine is Grace.”

He nodded. “I’ve heard Lady Westlock refer to you as such.” He watched her for a moment, then closed his book. “You appreciate directness.”

“I do.”

“You seem rather sure that we will wed. In fact, by making this journey with me, you’re placing your reputation in my hands.”

“In a way, but in a way not. No one knows we’ve gone save Lanora and William. Very few who know us will see us, and those will be country residents on my estate, who have little contact with London. I may be required to weather a rumor or two, but my land and fortunes will nullify that in the eyes of greedy gentlemen.”

He looked a bit startled, perhaps even hurt. “Then you aren’t certain we will wed.”

Grace flashed a smile. “I am, Andrew.” It pleased her when that drew an answering smile from him.

That smile dimmed. “But you do not know me well.”

“You must enjoy listening to me enumerate your qualities.”

He chuckled, a rumbling, rich sound. “I did, rather, but that is not what I mean. You do not know what living with me might be like.” He turned serious again. “I work all hours. I’m rarely home. I sleep little and miss meals.” He grimaced. “I forget occasions. My work is my life.”

Grace nodded. “You will work slightly less, and endeavor not to forget occasions, and there will be no more missed meals.

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