Had she told them what he’d done last night? Or had she shared his past? How he was a former poor orphan trying to bed a lady.
His insides tightened and he let out a soft groan. Grace’s eyes snapped to his and she stood so quickly her chair fell back, crashing to the floor.
The noise made the other women jump and Grace cried out, her eyes wide. He was at her side in an instant, righting the chair. “There’s no cause for concern,” he said, in a hushed voice that was meant to soothe.
“We were discussing which carriage I should ride back to London in, my mother’s or Jack and Emily’s. I…” She looked up at him, her lip trembling.
“We can’t go back to
London yet,” Diana interrupted. “We need to collect Lady Abernath’s body.”
“I beg your pardon,” Lady Winthrop inserted. “We do not.”
Diana held up her hand. “Listen. We’re going to say we all came out here because of what Crusher did to Abernath. Then we’re going to give her a proper burial. Not only does it serve us, but it helps Harry. And…” Diana paused. “The woman was ill and a victim in her own way. She doesn’t deserve a delinquent’s grave.”
Grace moved closer to Ben. Not only did this plan delay their return to London, it gave her more time with him. “I agree. It’s a solid plan.”
Lady Winthrop stood. “You can’t be serious. The woman stole two of my daughters and I haven’t the first clue why. Feel sorry for her? And why is your sister Cordelia raising her child? I want answers.”
Grace took another partial step toward him, her shoulder brushing his chest. Whatever had made the women quiet, they were over it now and he realized he’d like their silence back because these questions were going to crush him.
He brushed her back with his fingers, trying to give Grace the comfort she craved. Minnie and Diana both stared and he pulled back his fingers. They were two of the most intimidating women he knew. Together, they may very well swallow him whole.
“Lady Winthrop.” Daring approached the table. “I think it best that I explain. But first, I’d like a word with my friend, if you’d permit me.” Then he looked at Bad.
Bad let out an audible sigh. Again? “Of course,” he answered, his fingers brushing Grace’s back once again. She pressed closer.
“Lady Winthrop, can Grace accompany us as well? We’ll only go to the other room.”
Grace’s mother waved her hand. “By all means. Why should any of us stand on ceremony or follow a single social rule? I raised you girls correctly. What’s happened?”
Daring gave Lady Winthrop a wink. “They ran into a gaggle of scandalous lords, my lady. But fear not. They’ve done an admirable job of taming the lot of us.” He cleared his throat. “And that includes Grace.”
Grace shook her head. “Oh no, I haven’t—”
Daring held up his hand. “Baderness, are you or are you not going to marry Grace?”
Bad straightened but he didn’t take his hand off her back. “I am hers if she wants me.”
A ripple of whispers went through the women.
He tightened his hand at her waist. “But Grace deserves a season. So, I am going to wait to make sure I’m her first choice.”
The whispers rose to a roar.
“A season?”
“Why not marry now?”
“What if you’re ruined?” The jumble of her family’s voices were too loud to hear who was saying what.
They continued on and he honestly couldn’t tell who said what.
Grace opened her mouth, her hand lifting to his chest. But before she could speak, Daring did.
“In that case.” He turned to Lady Winthrop, “I was once engaged to Lady Abernath. She threatened to expose an old secret and kidnapped the girls as a form of leverage to get me to confess.”
Lady Winthrop gripped the table. “Why didn’t I learn of this before?”