Blinded by Grace: Book Five of the Cotillion Ball series (Crimson Romance) (7 page)

“Oh, pooh on Simon.” Jasmine picked up the gown from the table and made her way to the fitting room. Grace didn’t move.

Jasmine turned around, noticed Grace’s hesitation, and snapped her fingers together.

“Here’s an idea. Why don’t you plan on spending the day of the ball with me? We haven’t had near enough time together over the past couple of years, and Lord knows once the baby comes, there will be precious little time to spend catching up with a friend. You can visit the racetrack and see my new house, meet my husband and his partner, Alistair. We’ll have a great time. And then, you can dress for the ball and come with us. Parr and I were planning to visit my folks for a few minutes anyway, before heading out to the ball together. You can meet up with Halwyn there, and we’ll all go to the ball from my parents’ home. It will be a perfect solution.”

“Yes, it just might work. Simon would bar the door if Halwyn were to call for me at the house. But I don’t think he’ll mind me visiting an old and dear friend. I have to say, though, your mother already invited us out to the racetrack later in the season for a party you are planning, and Mother became terribly annoyed about it. So it may not be an easy task.”

Jasmine took hold of Grace’s hand as she led the way to the fitting room. “But you’re such a clever woman. You’ll figure out a way to attend the party, too. You and Halwyn are perfect for each other and you two need to spend time together. This ball is a wonderful way to announce to everyone you are a couple. And you’re going to be stunning in my creation. Halwyn won’t be able to resist you.”

Grace laughed then, as she got caught up in Jasmine’s enthusiasm. “Halwyn is a wonderful man. You used to tease me mercilessly about how in love with him I was, when we were just into our teenage years. He’s delightful and thoughtful, and I’m so pleased we’ve been able to reconnect. Maybe this year will be different from my previous seasons.”

Jasmine’s eyes sparkled as she helped Grace slip the dress over her head. “When he sees you in this dress, believe me, he’ll fall madly in love with you. My brother is a bit slow to realize his true feelings, so we must push a bit. My plan is to provide you with the essentials you’ll need to make Halwyn see he can’t live without you. The rest will be up to you.”

“Well, he does have those glasses now … ” Grace grabbed Jasmine’s hand as their peals of laughter rang out throughout the shop. Grace hadn’t laughed in a very long time.

The following afternoon, Grace joined her mother for tea in their drawing room. There were no guests to entertain, as usual. Grace remembered the lively teas they used to have when her father was still alive and sighed at the bittersweet memory. As Grace spread clotted cream on the sweet scone and took a delicate bite, she cast a sidelong glance at her mother. What had once been a happy woman with a twinkle in her eye was now a hollow shell with an angry, twisted expression perpetually on her face. Grace’s hand trembled a bit, because of what she was about to do. She had never lied to her mother before. But these were desperate times, and she hoped her mother would understand at some point there was no other way to deal with Simon and the situation he was causing them.

She inhaled a deep breath, and then pasted a smile on her face. “You’ll never guess who I ran into yesterday on the street, Mother. Jasmine Fitzpatrick, or rather O’Shaughnessy, now that she’s married.”

“Really, dear? How nice.”

Her mother had lost all interest in the goings-on of society since marrying Simon. Grace was undeterred, but her smile wobbled a bit. She took a deep breath.

“She’s going to have a baby in the fall, and is only just now beginning to show. And she told me all about her dress shop, which is doing a tremendous business. Isn’t it wonderful?”

“Yes, of course, but you must use caution when you meet people on the streets, Grace. You never know who might be lurking in the shadows, waiting to relate your goings-on to Simon. If he were to get wind of you cavorting with the Fitzpatricks, he’d be even stricter with us. Life is hard enough as it is. Please don’t make things more difficult.”

Grace bit her lower lip. Her mother may have given up, but Grace still had some fight left in her.

“We weren’t exactly cavorting, Mother. Merely holding a pleasant conversation on the street. You and I used to love to walk around in the park and talk to the people we met. We haven’t done that in over a year. You were not very gracious to Mrs. Fitzpatrick last week, when she talked about inviting us out to Jasmine’s husband’s racetrack later on this year. The Fitzpatricks are such pillars in the community, Mother; do you not think it would be harmful to our family’s reputation if we turned our backs on them entirely?”

“I was merely trying to prevent Simon from causing a scene if and when the invitation comes in. He’s already told us what few events he will allow us to attend this season, and an outing to the Bronx is not among them. I hope she took my indifference for what it was, and ultimately decides not to extend us an invitation. I’m trying to avoid trouble.”

“But Simon does business with the Fitzpatricks’ bank, and the trust money from Father is there. I don’t think it’s wise to close the door on them completely, but I may have a solution.”

Sophie Huffman picked up a cool, damp cloth and placed it over her eyes. “And what, pray tell, is your solution? Please hurry, dear, for I fear another headache is coming on.”

Grace glanced over at her mother, who pulled her feet up onto the sofa and reclined back.

“I can understand Simon’s concern about spending an entire weekend in the Bronx, riding Mr. Wickersham’s horses and checking out the new racetrack, but Jasmine invited me out for the day, this coming Friday. If I take her up on her offer, and spend the day with her, then, later, when we send our regrets for the weekend, it won’t be a slight, just merely that we have other obligations.”

“Hmmm.” Sophie removed the cloth and pinned her daughter with her gaze. “What you say does have some merit.”

Grace’s heart began to thump, and she cautioned herself not to get too far ahead of the game. She was a long way from sealing this deal.

“Jasmine told me she and Parr will be attending the Haversham ball on Friday night, so they can bring me back into town and drop me here beforehand. I would only need the carriage in the morning, and the driver can turn right around and come back here. I know how Simon hates having to pay a driver to sit around and wait for us.”

“We are going to the Haversham ball ourselves on Friday evening. You could pack a gown for the evening and change into it before you leave Jasmine’s. Then she and Parr wouldn’t need to bring you here. You could meet us at the ball and we’ll come home from there together. It’s best if the Fitzpatricks’ carriage doesn’t show up on our doorstep.”

The pasted-on smile disappeared from Grace’s face, and was replaced by a genuine one. “What a great plan, Mother! Why didn’t I think of it? So, you’ll let me go?”

“What you say about not wanting to get on the Fitzpatricks’ wrong side does make sense. And you have been friends with Jasmine and Heather for years, so it wouldn’t be right to refuse a direct invitation. Simon will only know about it when we are ready to leave for the ball, so I see no harm in the outing.”

“No harm at all, Mother.” Grace helped herself to a second scone, hoping she could masquerade her grin by stuffing her mouth. So far, so good.

• • •

Grace stood with her back to the mirror as Jasmine and Colleen fussed with the shiny silver satin ribbons that adorned the silk satin gown they had created for Grace. The bodice fabric had a muted print on it, which reduced its silver sheen a trifle, but enhanced the texture. Four rows of gathered fabric set off the off-the-shoulder neckline and continued onto the short sleeves, creating even more texture. A delicate row of lace adorned the sleeves at the hemline, and peeked out from the neckline. Five gathered bands of shiny silver silk graced the hemline of the dress, each adorned with a blue ribbon that matched Grace’s eyes. Another wide band of blue ribbon encircled her waist.

“What do you think, Colleen? Should we add one more row of ribbon, here on the front?” Jasmine asked as she held a length of ribbon to Grace’s bodice. Colleen stepped back and narrowed her eyes.

“No, I think this dress doesn’t need any more adornments. It’s beautifully understated right now. I’ll weave a ribbon into your hair for you, Grace, but I think that should be enough. After all, Halwyn is not one for embellishments. Grace herself is all he needs.”

Grace blushed at Colleen’s words, even though she and Jasmine had giggled all day about the best way to attract Halwyn’s amorous attention. It was one thing sharing her aspirations with Jasmine, but to hear Colleen say the same thing was a touch embarrassing.

“Am I so transparent, Colleen?”

Colleen brushed Grace’s hair back from her forehead. “No, lass. T’wasn’t you who tipped yer hand, but Halwyn. When he ordered the dress for you, he had not one moment’s hesitation on what color to put you in, and how he wanted the dress to be fashioned. He must have spent some time thinking about it, and my guess is he’s been thinking a lot about you, as well. He just hasn’t admitted it to the family, and possibly to you, yet.”

Jasmine finished sewing the last of the silver trim on Grace’s hemline, and bit the thread to cut it. “All right, then, Grace, turn around and see yourself.”

Grace closed her eyes and turned slowly to face the mirror. She took a deep breath, and opened them. And gasped at her reflection.

“I don’t even resemble myself. I’m positively grown-up in this gown.” She ran her hands lightly over the shimmery skirt and laughed. “I’m almost afraid to blink, for fear this is a dream.”

“And tonight, when Halwyn sees you for the first time, he’ll think he’s dreaming too. He’ll realize you’re no longer a playmate to me and Heather, but a lush, beautiful woman he has already set his sights on. The other men at the ball will all think Halwyn is the luckiest man on the planet.”

Colleen pointed to the straight chair in front of the vanity mirror. “Sit now, lass, and let me work on your hair a bit. You have such fine black hair and your eyebrows are shaped so lovely. I’ll pull the hair back from your face to highlight your brows, and tie it up at the back with ribbon.”

Grace began to relax as Colleen brushed and pinned her hair. All day, she’d half expected Simon to catch on to her scheme and race to Jasmine’s doorway, demanding that Grace be returned home. But now, in only one more hour, she would see Halwyn for the first time since they agreed to their scheme. Would he regret his impulsive decision? Halwyn was not the type to go back on his word, but would he ever see her as more than a friend of his younger sisters?

As Grace sprinkled her signature scent of lilac water in her cleavage, she had a moment’s dismay. Why couldn’t she have been endowed with a larger bosom? He’d certainly be impressed with her if she didn’t still have the same size breasts she did when she was thirteen. Hot tears pricked at the back of her eyes, but she blinked them away. Well, there was nothing she could do about her bodily deficiencies now. She’d have to impress him with her mind instead. Except her mind had been a jumble since she convinced her mother this visit with Jasmine was necessary. She should have spent more time investigating which townhouses were on the market so they could talk about where they were going to live for their year of marriage. Why hadn’t she thought things through before right now? Blast and damn!

• • •

Halwyn paced impatiently in the parlor. His shoes beat out a steady staccato rhythm. After tonight, there would be no turning back. He and Grace would declare to all of New York society they were serious about each other. He should never have eaten a full dinner, since his stomach had been unsettled all day. What had he been thinking? Not for the first time since he and Grace had concocted their scheme, Halwyn was uneasy about the decision.

“Halwyn, do sit down.” Charlotte patted the sofa seat next to where she sat. “You’re making me dizzy.”

He sat next to her and took her hand. “After this evening, all of society will know I’m declaring myself as a suitor to Grace. Do you think I’m doing the right thing, Mother?”

She removed her hand from his grasp and ran it down his cheek. “My dear boy, I think the pairing of the two of you is perfect. I couldn’t have done better if I’d chosen her myself. All that’s left to do is for the two of you to announce your intentions to marry. You’ve become a delightful man, and I’m so proud of you.”

“Don’t you think you’re jumping ahead a bit too fast?” Halwyn ran his finger around his cravat, which had suddenly become very tight. “We are merely courting, at this point.”

“Grace has loved you for years. She used to follow you around like a puppy dog, just waiting for you to acknowledge her. And now that she’s become a most lovely young lady, I can see why you’re interested in her. After all, you do have a considerable amount of mutual interests. She’s quiet, a book reader, she loves poetry—all things you consider important.”

“I’m not as certain about her feelings as you seem to be, Mother. She’s merely a family friend.”

Charlotte patted his hand and gently squeezed it. “It may be starting out slowly, but you latched onto her before other men could see her value, so there’s more than friendship to your relationship. You don’t give yourself enough credit, Halwyn. Grace could do no better than to have you for a husband. She’ll help you set up your household and then you’ll have a lifetime to get comfortable with each other. Please keep your mind open to the possibility that you’ll be truly happy with Grace.”

Halwyn was desperate to change the course of their conversation, since in his mother’s mind, he and Grace were already wed, and was grateful when his father entered the room, resplendent in his evening attire. Halwyn left his mother’s side and stood next to his father.

“How do you think Simon will react when he sees Grace and me together? Will he threaten to take his piles of money to another bank, do you think?”

“Oh, I suspect you’re going to rile him up somewhat. Can’t wait to see it.” A wide grin split George Fitzpatrick’s face. “The man is most annoying. I almost wish he would take his banking business elsewhere, so we wouldn’t need to cross paths. If not for Grace, I wouldn’t give him the time of day now.”