“This is Miss Ella.” She pointed to Grace. “What do you want with her?”
Rebecca started up from her crouch. Her eyes grew wide with astonishment then narrowed as she peered at her old friend, seeking some familiar feature. “Grace, is that truly you?”
“It is.” Grace pulled off her cap and took a few stumbling steps toward her friend. “What brings you to Nethercross, Rebecca? It is so good to see you again!”
She’d had no idea what a jolt of joy it would bring to see one of her school friends in the flesh again after so many years.
“Grace, it is you!” At last, a smile of recognition lit Rebecca’s features.
The two friends fell into an affectionate embrace.
When at last they pulled apart, Rebecca introduced her new husband. “It is thanks to Sebastian that I am here. I was disappointed that none of my school friends could come to our wedding, though I quite understood your reasons. Sebastian suggested we take our bridal tour through the kingdom and call upon each of you. It was the most thoughtful wedding present he could have given me.”
Grace smiled at Viscount Benedict without the slightest qualm. His obvious devotion to Rebecca made it safe for her to indulge in that innocent pleasantry without worrying where it might lead.
But she addressed her words to her friend. “You seem to have found as kind a husband as I could wish for you. I did so long to attend your wedding, but I had my responsibilities.”
She drew the girls forward. “This is Phoebe and Sophie. Their elder sister is around somewhere. Phoebe, will you go find Charlotte and tell her who is here?”
“Yes, Miss Ella.” Phoebe dashed off in the direction her sister had gone.
“Charming children.” Lord Benedict winked at Sophie. “Miss Ellerby, you appear to have done as fine a job raising them as my dear Rebecca did with her charge, who is now my sister-in-law.”
It pleased Grace to hear his lordship praise Hermione, with whom she felt well-acquainted from Rebecca’s letters over the years. “I cannot take nearly as much credit for my pupils, sir. I have only been at Nethercross a few months, whereas your wife spent many years at Rose Grange.”
“But I had only one pupil to your three,” Rebecca protested. “It is obvious the children like you very much, even after such a short time. Isn’t that right, Sophie?”
The child gave a vigorous nod. “Miss Ella doesn’t get cross when I wake up with bad dreams. She rubs my head and helps me get back to sleep.”
“She used to do the same thing for me when we were at school,” said Rebecca. “Even then she had a tender heart for anyone who was upset or lonely.”
Her friend’s praise touched Grace deeply. “It was the least I could do after the number of times you and the others stuck up for me.”
Rebecca grew pensive. “Can you imagine what our old teachers would say if they knew I wed had such a fine husband? After all their efforts to impress upon us that we were too poor and plain to aspire to marriage. I’m certain they thought you were the only one of us with the beauty to attract a husband.”
Her friend’s kindly-meant remark stung Grace. Her looks had never secured her the sincere regard Lord Benedict clearly felt for Rebecca. And no wonder. Superficial charms were only capable of attracting superficial interest.
Fortunately she was spared the necessity of answering when Phoebe returned with Charlotte. Grace introduced Lord Steadwell’s eldest daughter to her guests.
“Will Lord and Lady Benedict stay to tea, Miss Ella?” The tone of Charlotte’s question was more like a hint.
Grace realized how long she had kept the Benedicts standing outdoors. She hoped they would not feel unwelcome. However, she felt awkward offering them the hospitality of a house that was not hers.
Once again Charlotte came to her rescue. “I hope they will. I should like to hear how you became friends at school and about the others in your circle.”
That was all the reassurance Grace needed. With Lord Steadwell away in London, Charlotte was lady of the house. Her wish to have their visitors stay to tea gave Grace the authority to extend an invitation, which was readily accepted.
“Splendid.” Charlotte looked in better spirits than she had for weeks. Perhaps Rebecca’s visit was just the diversion she and her sisters needed to take their minds off their father’s marriage plans. “I’ll go along and tell Cook.”
“I hope you will tell us all about your wedding,” Grace begged Rebecca as they made their way into the house.
While her friend described her joyous nuptials, Grace pulled on her unbecoming cap with a faint stab of regret. It had been such a pleasant sensation to feel the summer breeze ruffle her hair. But she hoped none of the servants had spied her from the house. The last thing she needed was to become the subject of gossip that might reach the ears of Lord Steadwell.
As Grace replaced her cap, Rebecca shot her a questioning glance. Grace replied with a subtle shrug to communicate that she would explain later if they could find a private moment.
The six of them enjoyed a convivial tea. Lord Benedict seemed a trifle awkward to be the only gentleman among five females, but the girls soon drew him out, asking where he lived, how he had come to meet his bride and how many horses he owned. Under cover of their lively conversation, Rebecca and Grace were able to exchange a few quiet words—enough for Grace to learn that her friend was deeply in love with her new husband.
“Every morning I’m afraid I will open my eyes to discover all this happiness is only a dream,” Rebecca whispered. “But I am always grateful to find it is true. Even when I was at odds with Sebastian over his brother’s engagement, I could tell what a good man he was. I never imagined he would think of someone like me for a wife.”
“I believe Lord Benedict is fortunate to have you.” Grace reached under the table to give her friend’s hand a warm squeeze. “I am delighted he recognizes his good fortune and makes you so happy.”
Her friend’s joy in her marriage forced Grace to acknowledge a yearning for that sort of connection. Though she must admit there was only one man she thought of in that way. Unfortunately, he had no interest in any relationship that might put his heart at risk.
After tea, Lord and Lady Benedict took their leave.
“I know you have your duties,” said Rebecca as they departed, “but I hope we can see each other as much as possible while I am in the neighborhood. Would you and the girls care to take a carriage ride with us tomorrow?”
She went on to suggest a number of other outings to which Charlotte, Phoebe and Sophie responded eagerly.
“Don’t forget Lord Maidenhead’s masquerade,” Rebecca’s husband reminded her. “We took the liberty of securing you an invitation, Miss Ellerby.” The earl reached into his pocket and drew out a handsomely engraved card.
When he offered it to her, Grace drew back as if he were trying to give her a giant spider. “That is kind of you, Lord Benedict but I could not possibly attend.”