Realm 04 - A Touch of Grace Read Free Page A

the Aldridges, to her betrothed’s home, and, at first, Grace had considered the case of serendipity a fortuitous one for the family she had come to call her own.
    But that foolhardy idea had come before she had heard Lord Averette’s admonishments to his niece, when the girl arrived at Linton Park as part of Lady Eleanor’s family. Grace quickly deduced Lady Eleanor’s brother, the new Duke of Thornhill, had set his eye on his cousin, Velvet Aldridge, but it had also become apparent Lord Averette had held other plans for his oldest niece. The viscount had recently accepted an arrangement with a brute country gentleman named Lachlan Charters for Miss Cashémere Aldridge. The girl lived in Averette’s household, and Grace had watched the viscount manipulate the young woman for his own benefit.
    Many a time, he had forced the girl to spend hours upon her knees in prayer while the viscount had led anything but a life of devotion. Perhaps, Lady Averette and Miss Cashémere had accepted the viscount’s explanation of the man’s sudden influx of income, but Grace had been reared in a household where “creative finances” were commonplace. She had quickly construed Lord Averette skimmed funds from the parish tithes, and as the viscount had “sold” Miss Cashémere to Charters, he would sell Miss Aldridge to another of his cronies.
    And Grace had been accurate in her predictions; Lord Averette had seized upon the first opportunity to remove Miss Aldridge from Thornhill’s guardianship and had demanded the girl join them in Edinburgh, where he immediately bargained for Miss Aldridge’s hand in marriage.
    However, all the man’s stratagems had imploded when a foreigner, of whom she was later to learn was an enemy of both Lord Worthing and Thornhill, had abducted Miss Aldridge from under the viscount’s nose. Lord Averette had given pursuit, and even Miss Cashémere had launched a search for her older sister, but Averette had returned to Scotland without either of his nieces to show for his efforts.
    Grace had privately celebrated each girl’s escape from the viscount’s perfidy. She had learned from Alice Aldridge, Viscountess Averette, that over Lord Averette’s objections Thornhill had claimed Velvet Aldridge as his duchess, and Miss Cashémere would reside with her maternal uncle, Baron Ashton, in Cheshire. The viscount had let his disdain be known throughout his household. He had retreated to his study, had taken to drinking privately, and had reamed each of his servants for the least infraction.
    The madness had escalated with Mr. Charters’ recent appearance on Lord Averette’s doorstep. The Scot had not taken well the news of Miss Cashémere’s extended stay in England. Grace had witnessed Charters threatening Viscount Averette. “I paid good money for the gel, and I’s want her back,” Charters said right before he delivered a meaty fist to the viscount’s chin.
    Then only yesterday, Lord Worthing had made a mysterious visit to The Ridge, the Averette’s estate. Grace had wanted to speak privately with the English lord, but she could not manage an encounter without raising an eye of suspicion from Lord Averette’s servants. She had yet to discover the purpose of Viscount Worthing’s inquiries, but the household had been in chaos ever since James Kerrington’s departure. A man that Blane, Averette’s butler, identified as Baron Ashton, the girls’ maternal uncle, had also made a brief appearance at the manor house; however, Samuel Aldridge had sent the baron away empty handed. Following the baron’s departure, Aldridge had set the household into action to pack his belongings for an extended journey.
    When Grace had learned from Blane that Lord Averette had sent Callum, one of the footmen, to arrange passage to the Continent, she took it upon herself to protect the thoroughly innocent Viscountess Averette. “Send for me if things advance,” she had told Blane.
    Grace had come to the family when