The Outcast's Redemption (The Infamous Arrandales) by Sarah Mallory

Author:Sarah Mallory [Mallory, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-06-30T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Grace planned to spend the next day shopping for bride clothes with her aunt. She was obliged to remind Aunt Eliza several times that gowns such as those described in the society pages were not at all suitable.

‘I am marrying the squire of Hindlesham, ma’am, not the Prince of Wales,’ she declared over breakfast, when her aunt was once again poring over the latest newspaper to be delivered. ‘You have already squandered enough of your money on me and I would not have you waste more buying gowns I will never wear.’

‘Oh, very well.’ Aunt Eliza sighed, closing the newspaper and placing it on the table beside her. ‘But you must have a new silk for the wedding day, then you will need bonnets and reticules and a new redingote. Not to mention nightclothes.’

Grace concentrated fiercely on her breakfast. She did not want to think about nightclothes. She was resolved to do her wifely duty, but the idea of being intimate with Loftus was quite, quite different from the excitement she felt when she thought of Wolfgang. She closed her eyes. It could not last, this foolish infatuation that she had conceived. She did believe that. She did.

Grace was suddenly aware that a silence had fallen over the breakfast room. Opening her eyes, she saw her aunt staring in consternation at the newspaper.

She said sharply, ‘Aunt Eliza?’

Silently her aunt passed the paper across the table. Grace looked at the closely printed words and felt a chill as one paragraph stood out from the others. It was slyly phrased, calling Wolf ‘Mr W— A— of A—le’, but there could be no mistake. There could not be many men charged with murdering their wife ten years ago and stealing a valuable necklace. And a reward. Two hundred guineas in exchange for a man’s life.

‘Oh, my dear.’ Aunt Eliza’s anguished whisper brought Grace’s head up.

‘What can we do?’ she asked bleakly. ‘I do not even know how to reach him.’

Grace wanted to stay at home, in the hope that Wolf might call and she could warn him, but her aunt did not agree.

‘We are not expecting him and your nerves would be in shreds by the end of the day, my love. Let us instead write a note for Mr Peregrine. Jenner will see that he gets it, should he call. Trust me, my love, we are much better distracting ourselves in Bond Street. Now, you take Nelson for his morning walk and I will order the carriage.’

Grace wondered how Aunt Eliza could think of shopping at such a time, but a little reflection persuaded her that there was nothing to be gained by remaining in Hans Place. However, it was difficult to concentrate on silk or muslin or lace when she was constantly looking about her in the hope of seeing a very tall, dark gentleman on the street.

* * *

They returned to Hans Place to discover there had been no callers during their absence. Grace tried to hide

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