Lord of the Storm: The Common Elements Romance Project (Regency Gothic Book 1) by Arietta Richmond

Author:Arietta Richmond [Richmond, Arietta]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Dreamstone Publishing
Published: 2019-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Grace opened the folded piece of paper as soon as the footman had left the room. Its contents only added to the churning turmoil of her thoughts.

“My dear Grace,

I regret that I must depart from Hesterton Park in this manner, and I hope that you will not be cross with me. Indeed, Lady Bromley is right in telling me that I must return home at once in order to ready myself for the Ball! Theodore and I will surely join you at Chesterport Grange in a few days.

Your most devoted friend,

Amelia”

‘She is positively enamoured of him, and obviously distraught! And my mother is attempting to prevent her telling me that…’ Grace thought, with surprise.

‘And I hold the key to her happiness – in part, at least – and yet she chooses to shy away from me, to believe my mother’s opinion of my future rather than asking me. She is convinced that I am to marry her secret love! Oh, if only you knew, my silly friend, that I can’t, couldn’t consider… how could I when I love…’

Her heart beat frantically at the thought – she had never before allowed herself to conceive of her own feelings with such sincerity and clarity. Her mind stilled, then turmoil replaced it as she allowed her thoughts to finish that sentence ‘when I love Theodore’.

Grace began nervously pacing around the room, unable to contain her feelings any longer. The gravity of the events which were about to unfold loomed about her as the dark clouds had loomed over the ruins of the Spectre’s Cloister in her painting – turning the image of a grand and illustrious Ball into a dark future of certain doom and unhappiness.

There was nothing to be done about it. Grace desperately wanted to seek Amelia’s counsel – she felt that she could not think properly without her by her side. The time was short, as the party was set to depart early in the morning of the very next day – Chesterport Grange was a long drive away, and Lady Bromley insisted that they should arrive early, no doubt to give Max ample time to walk about with her daughter, even though they would be staying there for a few days. How painful it would be for poor Amelia to see them!

Grace stopped in the middle of the room and turned to the writing desk. She took a deep breath and sat in front of it, selecting a new piece of paper and sharpening her quill. Hardly knowing what she would write, she began – straining to preserve her beautiful penmanship under the shiver of anxiety which beset her.

“Amelia,

You will forgive me the directness of the words that follow. I do not know why you could not be sincere with me about the truth of your feelings – and I shall not be cross about it either.

But I shall tell you mine.

I hope it will come as no surprise to you that I am very much fond of

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