Never a Gentleman (5 page)

“Miss Fairchild,” he warned, his voice lower, harsher. Not the smooth tones of a town buck. The sound, she thought, of a man
who had fought duels. “You have no family to protect you.”

She stiffened. “As a point of fact, I do.”

Kate flashed a quick grin. “She’s related to half the great houses of Britain,” she said. “Including the Hilliards.”

Grace shrugged. “My grandmother was a Cavendish.”

“I mean close family. Not third and fourth cousins.”

Grace looked up a moment. “There is my Uncle Dawes. He was a general with the Hussars.”

That seemed to make an impact. “General Wilfred Dawes? The Hero of Tarrytown?”

She allowed a smile. “Yes, indeed. He’ll surely stand by me.”

“He’ll turn you out on the streets.”

“Oh, do go away, Diccan,” Kate snapped, waving him off like a pesky gnat. “Somewhere between Brussels and Canterbury, you
seem to have lost that silver tongue of yours. Until you can recover it, you won’t help matters at all.”

“You don’t understand, Kate,” he insisted, sounding sharp. “I really don’t have time to waste.”

Kate didn’t answer. Grace was terrified that they were communicating silently, undoubtedly concocting some kind of conspiracy
against her. It didn’t matter. She had too sharp an image of what her life would be like with Diccan to change her mind.

She actually let out a sigh when Diccan opened the door and walked out. She didn’t think she could have withstood him much
longer.

“It’s not you who will be ruined, you know,” Kate said to Grace after the door closed.

Grace paused, the silence in the room throbbing in her ears. She couldn’t bear to look at her friend. “I’m sorry.”

Kate went on, her voice soft. “Twelve years ago,” She said, “Diccan defied his father by refusing to take holy orders. Once
you meet the bishop, you’ll understand what an unparalleled act of courage that was. He immediately cut Diccan off, and he
hasn’t changed his mind. But Diccan talked his way into any low-level position he could obtain in the Diplomatic Corps. He
says it was so he could get away from his parents. I think it was so he could be his own person. And he has. But his career
balances upon his good reputation.”

Grace’s heart was beginning to thud painfully. Somehow her Guards jacket was in her arms again. She clutched it to her chest,
as if it could help shore up her defenses. “How good can the reputation be of a man who’s been in four duels?” she demanded.

Kate smiled sadly. “Certainly better than that of a man who destroys an innocent woman’s name.” Briefly her gaze dropped to
the bundle of scarlet Grace had clutched to her chest. “You have every right to give Diccan his marching orders,” she said
gently. “He’s been ungracious and rude. But think of this, Grace. Someone made sure he would be found in a compromising position
with one of the most honorable young women in Britain. Do you really think Diccan’s enemies will let the
ton
believe you were the one to break this off?”

Of course not. Who could think that a plain, uninteresting woman would shy from the chance to marry The Perfection? Certainly
no one in Diccan’s circle. “I’d happily
take an ad out in the
Times
to say that he asked and I refused.”

“It would be too late. Letitia Thornton will have already spread her poison. You would both be ruined. I couldn’t bear that
for you.”

“And so I should offer myself up to that vicious pack of jackals, so they can make the rest of my life miserable? I did not
do this, Kate. I shouldn’t have to pay for it.”

“No, you shouldn’t. And yet, you know the world as well as I. Someone made sure you, a respected spinster, were Diccan’s partner.”

Grace almost sneered. “You know perfectly well I wasn’t picked because of my work with the wounded. I was picked because of
my looks. My leg. Whoever wanted to hurt Diccan made sure he was compromised with the last woman on earth he would—or should—marry.
If I accepted, I would only further humiliate him. I can’t do that, Kate.”

Grace had known Kate through terrible times. She had never seen her look so regretful. “You really couldn’t see yourself being
married? I don’t think it would be long before you could lead your life just as you want. You only need to wait long enough
to protect both of your names.”

Grace laughed, surprised at how bitter it sounded. “I have spent my entire life waiting to lead my life just the way I want,”
she said, finally dropping her Guards jacket into her portmanteau. “Every military post, every battle, every whim of the government
and the Army and the general took me farther away from the life I wanted. But I went along, because I knew they needed me.
Well, Kate, nobody needs me now. I don’t want them to. I want to go home to my little estate and raise horses. Alone. I want
finally
to become the Grace Fairchild I’ve always dreamed of being.”

Grace knew Kate couldn’t understand. She could never know what it was Grace had hidden away there. What she had waited so
long to uncover. And she was almost there. She was almost
there
!

Kate looked at her with palpable regret. “And those negotiations Diccan was talking about that could affect postwar Europe?
What if his disgrace destroys those?”

Grace could feel the noose tightening around her throat.

“If there were any other way,” Kate said, those luminous green eyes suspiciously bright as she finally stood, “I would carry
your luggage out of this inn myself and give those busybodies a piece of my mind. But what happened wasn’t an accident. It
was very carefully planned. And if you’re right, if it is your looks the dastards were considering, then they might have been
counting on Diccan to ruin himself by walking away.”

“He’d never do that,” Grace retorted instinctively.

“No,” Kate said, softly. “He wouldn’t. But most people don’t bother to look past Diccan’s facade.”

Grace wanted so badly to get far away from this inn, these people, this disaster. To run all the way back to her home at Longbridge,
where she would be safe. Where she would never again be tempted by Diccan Hilliard’s proposal.

“It’s happening so fast,” she objected, looking out the window toward freedom. “I need to think.”

“What if we simply announced the engagement?” Kate offered. “Work out the rest later.”

Grace’s heart leapt. She turned to her friend with an anxious smile. “Do you think it would be enough to save Mr. Hilliard’s
reputation?”

“I’d certainly think it worth a try.”

Grace tried not to succumb to hope. “By spring no one will remember who I am. I can cry off, say we don’t suit. No blame could
ever be attached to him.” She turned pleading eyes to Kate. “Surely it would give him enough time to finish his important
work.”

“The plan certainly has merit. Let’s ask Diccan.” Kate flashed one of her ineffable grins. “And Grace. After this morning,
I think you have the right to call him by his given name.”

Grace gave way to a small sigh. “I don’t suppose I could simply call him ‘nodcock.’ ”

Kate’s laugh was bright as sunshine. “Of course you can. But I recommend ‘cork-brained cod’s head.’ Much more satisfying.”

“Good-for-nothing jackstraw.”

“Totty-headed twiddlepoop.”

Laughing now as well, Grace shook her head. “No. I’m afraid of all the names you could call Diccan Hilliard, twiddlepoop is
not one of them.”

Kate nodded and picked up another of Grace’s dresses. “Let’s get this bit finished, then, and we can inform Diccan of your
decision.”

Grace was more than happy to comply.

“Did your aunt really leave money to a monkey?” Kate asked as the two walked out of Grace’s room a few minutes later.

Grace smiled. “Oh, yes. I made the mistake of bringing him home to her from India. I wasn’t entirely truthful about the will,
though.”

“Indeed?”

“It wasn’t really equally distributed.” She even managed to giggle. “The monkey got more.”

They were both laughing as they stepped into the front hallway. One look at the redheaded Hussar striding their way wiped
the smile from Grace’s face. “
Maldição
,” she muttered, stopping.

“Tell me it isn’t so, Gracie,” the young soldier begged, his handsome face screwed up in distress as he came to a perfect
military stop before her. “That rum-touch actually sullied your good name?”

“What are
you
doing here?” she demanded.

“On our way to reassignment. Now, spill, Gracie.”

Grace had no idea what to say. Hoping to buy herself a few minutes, she made introductions. “Lady Catherine Seaton, may I
present to you Captain Lord Phillip Rawlston? Phillip, this is the Dowager Duchess of Murther.”

His expression one of awe, he executed a perfect bow over Kate’s hand. “An honor, ma’am,” he greeted her, kissing the air
above her knuckles. “I’ve heard of the great service you offered during Waterloo. You cared for several of my comrades in
your own home.”

Kate waved away his praise. “I cannot say nay to a handsome soldier, Captain, which left me with a surfeit of them littering
my floors.”

Phillip smiled, his austere face lighting. “Be assured at any rate, Your Grace, that you are now an honorary member of Grace’s
Grenadiers.”

“Grace’s Grenadiers?” Kate asked.

A quick blush stained his high cheekbones. “An old club from the Peninsula. The little colonel here kept us all in line. Made
sure we were fed and tended, like an orphanage full of scrubby brats. We are her devoted servants.” He gave another bow. “And
now, yours as well.”

“Thank you, Captain. I am honored to accept.”

“We were just on our way out,” Grace said, trying to take a tentative step by him.

Her escape was short-lived, as Phillip blocked her way. “Not unless I escort you both. I will not have you suffer any more
insults.”

Grace laid her hand on his silver-braided sleeve. “All is well, Phillip. Mr. Hilliard has asked for my hand in marriage.”

“Good,” he said with a brisk nod. “Then I’ll stay to walk you down the aisle. The other lads will make sure Hilliard is waiting
for you.”

Grace tried not to panic. Other lads? Just how many Grenadiers could there be in Canterbury? “Oh, no, Phillip. Lady Kate and
I are going back to London to plan the wedding.”

Young Rawlston stiffened, making all the silver frogging on his blue jacket shimmer in the morning light. “The wedding will
be before you leave town,” he insisted. “I don’t trust Hilliard.”

“Don’t be silly,” Grace objected stiffly. “He is an honorable man.”

Phillip laughed. “Much you know.”

“He is also Lady Kate’s cousin.”

The young man immediately dropped another bow. “Apologies, Your Grace. But you know the scapegrace better than I. Not good
tactics to let him get too far.”

“Phillip!” Grace protested. “I’m engaged to Mr. Hilliard. Isn’t that enough for you?”

“No, Gracie. It’s not. There’s many a slip between cup and lip, my dear. And I don’t put it past Hilliard to slip right away
before the deed is done. Which is why unless I see you two before the vicar by the time we leave, I’ll have to issue him a
challenge.”

Grace hadn’t noticed that they had company, until she heard the two new voices proclaim in unison, “Us, too.”

Oh, no. Two unbearably young men in full Guards regalia, one tall, blond, and thin, the other short, even blonder, and elegant,
were marching up the hall as if on parade.

“We’re just one cannon shy of a military review,” Kate mused.

Grace sighed. “Lady Kate Seaton, may I present Ensign William Tyson and Lieutenant Charles Grim-Fisher. They’re going to try
and intimidate Diccan.”

The two bowed in unison.

“He needs to see that we’re serious,” Phillip said.

“You can be no more serious than I,” Grace insisted. “I want you to stop this nonsense.”

“Nonsense, Gracie?” Billy Tyson asked, bending his lanky frame to frown on her. “Do you know the man’s reputation?”

“I know he’s been the victor in four duels,” she snapped. “And I don’t want to see anyone hurt.”

Phillip lifted an auburn eyebrow. “Has he charged the guns at Mont-Saint-Jean?”

“I sincerely doubt Diccan would resort to artillery,” Kate offered dryly.

“For me,” Grace begged, straightening so they could see she was taller than all three of them. That as grateful as she was
for their support, she did not need their protection. “Do not challenge him.”

“Course not,” Grim-Fisher said with a big grin. “As long as he stands up with you today.”

“I know this suggestion is belated,” Kate said next to Grace, “but why don’t we take this discussion into the parlor?”

Appalled, Grace realized that they had once again drawn an audience of both maids and guests. “Indeed,” she said and took
hold of Phillip’s arm to turn him toward the private parlor.

“I’ll just follow along, shall I?” a new voice asked.

Grace knew her goose was cooked when she turned to see that Harry Lidge had joined them. Her favorite Grenadier, he was in
his sharp green Rifleman’s uniform, a shako under his arm.

“Harry Lidge,” Kate growled quietly behind her.

Grace looked around, astonished at the venom in her friend’s voice. Harry caught sight of the duchess and gave a bow that
was stiff with disdain. “Ah, Duchess. Why am I not surprised to find you at the heart of this little fiasco?”

“Where would you expect me to be, Harry?” Kate drawled. “Waiting for you to start the show?”

“You never waited for anything, my girl.”

Grace whirled around on him. “Enough, Harry. She had nothing to do with it.”

Harry hadn’t taken his eyes off the duchess, who Grace could see trembled with rage.
Good God,
she thought.
Now what
?

“You obviously know each other,” she said.

“Quite well,” Harry said, his voice cold.

“Obviously not as well as I’d thought,” Kate retorted.

Heads in the lobby swung back and forth as if following a game of badminton.

“I think Kate’s right,” Grace demurred, taking Harry’s arm. “Let’s take this into the parlor.”