Grace by Jo Grafford

Author:Jo Grafford [Grafford, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JG PRESS
Published: 2020-10-30T05:00:00+00:00

Over the next couple of weeks, they settled into a companionable routine of breaking their fast in her sitting room, which she insisted was purely to keep up appearances after his parents returned from Rose Haven.

Charley didn’t care what her reasons were. He was just glad to receive another invitation to her rooms so soon.

As it turned out, it took no coaxing whatsoever to convince her mother, Lilly, and Mags to move into the remodeled carriage house.

“It’s perfect!” Miranda Byrd declared. “There’s no place I’d rather be than close to you, love,” she assured.

“Well, you don’t sound the least bit surprised.” Grace rounded on her new husband with an accusing glint in her eyes. “Is this more of your maneuvering behind my back?”

They were standing on the rear veranda in their cloaks and jackets, while a mid-November wind whipped at their hair and clothing.

“Now, Grace!” her mother admonished. “Three months is a long time to be away. A lot has happened during that time.”

“So I gather.” Her daughter’s tone was dry as she gave Charley another withering look.

He reached over to tuck a stray tendril of hair behind her ear, preparing to enjoy whatever bristling from her came next. Fortunately for him, Grace didn’t possess a vindictive bone in her body. Her continued questioning of his motives merely came from her lack of security in his affections, something he was striving night and day to set to rights between them.

“Do not blame him.” Mrs. Byrd chuckled. “The truth is, Martha and I were working on an agreement for me to move to the carriage house long before Charley bought the place.”

“Oh?” Grace blushed prettily, her gaze still hooked on his.

See? I’m innocent this time. He took advantage of her confusion to caress her cheek before lowering his gloved hand. Since he was already leaning forward on the railing with one boot propped on the lower rail, he only had to lean a few inches closer to whisper in her ear. “I’ll accept whatever apology you manage to scrape up, doll.”

“Yes,” her mother prattled on. “She even consulted me on the paint and furnishings, since your sisters and I will be the ones living there. In case you’ve forgotten, she owns that warehouse across town, and it’s chock full of furniture. Or was,” she amended with a smile. “Lilly and Mags claimed quite a number of lovely items, leaving it less full than before.”

Since Mrs. Byrd was reasonably distracted, Charley continued to tease his wife. “A kiss from you would do just as well as words.” His gaze fastened on her lips, which were pink from the cold. He’d never forget the one kiss they’d shared at their wedding, nor the way her mouth had gone all soft and trembly beneath his.

“Well, I’ll be!” Miranda Byrd exclaimed, glancing over her shoulder at them. “I might as well be talking to myself, since you lovebirds have all but forgotten my presence.”

Grace swung her head guiltily away from him, but he held his ground, lightly splaying his hand against the small of her back.

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