Teaser

Henry Griffin attempted to keep up with his older cousin’s long strides as they crossed the crowded ballroom. True, he no longer had to run to keep up with Barrett, but he seemed perpetually stuck in his shadow. For instance, people immediately parted for Barrett, Earl Woodhouse, but would not budge for Henry. Perhaps it was because he remained gangly despite achieving the ripe age of one and twenty. Or maybe it was because his shoulders had not broadened like other men his age and his face still occasionally erupted in unsightly red bumps. His hair was the lightest shade of brown without quite being blonde and never behaved. Additionally, his feet were too large. The only portrait he had of his father displayed a handsome, broad gentleman with his stunning wife. Henry could only pray that one day, his parents’ good looks might be reflected in him.

There were more reasons why he felt invisible and unimportant compared to his cousin. Barrett exuded confidence and charm. Henry had never begrudged his cousin a thing, including the earldom or his good looks. However, at the moment he was more than put out. Instead of the cousins touring the continent together as planned when Henry returned home from Oxford, Barrett announced a betrothal. His other friends had already left for the summer, leaving Henry to trail after Barrett once more. Only this time, no fun games laid in Henry’s wake. He would rather pluck his eyes out than watch his cousin court a lady. In fact, that Barrett would play the part of besotted suitor shocked Henry since it was an arranged match.

“Lady Margaret is everything proper and demure. You shall find nothing to dislike about her,” Barrett said.

Henry thought she sounded vacant-headed and dull. He doubted he would find anything to like about her. Not that it mattered. In their family, as long as the countess begot an heir or two she had done her duty. They came from a long line of cold marriages better reserved for frozen mountains than raising children. Henry and Barrett were the first male relations born to the Griffin family in the last century that did not hate each other.

Of course, they were not merely cousins. After his parents died of illness while Henry was still in leading strings, his aunt and uncle Griffin took him in. Ten years later, a carriage accident left Henry and Barrett with only each other. The shared loss had united the cousins. The old earl clung to life for a few more years, but his wife had died instantly. However, Barrett had to take over the running of the estate, or at least the managing of the steward.

Just before they reached what Henry supposed was Lady Margaret and her parents, Barrett held up his hand and whispered to Henry.

“She is not a great beauty but Father did well making the match. She brings a hefty dowry and is from a good family.”

Henry rolled his eyes. Of course, Barrett thought he deserved the best of everything. His wife’s beauty could have little consequence to him as he would never give up his mistresses or other conquests. He merely desired an ornament on his arm. Henry glanced at his future sister-in-law’s father. Did the man know to whom he would give his daughter? Barrett was not a terrible fellow, but he enjoyed his ladies and card tables. Then again, what did it matter? It had all been arranged when they were children and could not be undone now.

Lady Margaret had been facing her mother, but turned as Barrett hailed her. Henry skidded to a stop. Not a great beauty? Ships would launch for her. Henry blinked. Perhaps there was a great difference between ladies of the ton and the women he had seen until now in his life.

“I am most pleased to meet you,” the lovely brunette said while gracefully offering her hand to him.

Henry took it, his own trembling. He bowed over it, thankful his gloves absorbed the sweating of his palms. Barrett nudged his shoe.

“Indeed, the pleasure is mine,” he stammered. “Might I have the honor of a dance?”

Lady Margaret tugged at her hand, reminding Henry to finally release it. She peered at her dance card. “Yes, it seems the next is available.”

“Splendid!” Barrett said. “You two may get better acquainted.”

Henry led the lady to the floor. People now parted for him with the incomparable Lady Margaret on his arm. Her hair was a common shade of brown and her blue eyes were pretty but not striking. However, it was the expression in them that drew Henry. He could not describe them, but they were unlike anything he had seen before.

They joined a line and Henry stood stupidly across from her, seeking to find fault in his cousin’s intended. Beauty was only skin deep, after all. Would she be like all the other Lady Woodhouses and have a heart of ice?

She smiled and nodded as friends passed by on their turn to go down the line. Finally, she squared her shoulders and directed her attention to Henry. “You may stare, Mr. Griffin but you shall not terrify me.”

Their hands joined and Henry nearly stumbled as a sizzle lept up his arm. “I do not mean to terrify you.”

“That is well,” Lady Margaret said with a laugh. “For I mean to be a good sister to you and should hate to begin our friendship on the wrong foot.”

The unsteady skip of his heart at the musical sound of her laugh, concerned Henry. As did the effect her smile had on him. He had already found her beautiful, but a smile made her radiant. He swallowed and cleared his throat. “Forgive me. Barrett told me nothing about your betrothal until earlier today.”

“You did not know of the arrangement?” A light brown curl came loose from her elaborate coiffure and Henry had the insane idea to capture it in his fingers.

“All we ever knew was that Father made a match for Barrett.”

Lady Margaret’s brow furrowed for a fraction a second before it smoothed out again. “How interesting. Do you suppose that it is common for gentlemen to know nothing of their intendeds?”

“I could not say, my lady. Perhaps if the last earl’s health had allowed, you might have been introduced earlier.” She might have been a gentle influence on Barrett.

They had reached the end of the line and now had to await their turn again. Henry looked at her. She looked quite young; she must have just come out.

“What flaw do you percieve?” she challenged him.

“I might return your question, my lady. When did you discover your betrothal to Barrett?”

“I have heard of it all my life,” she acknowledged. Her brows pinched and concern washed over her face. “I have given Lord Woodhouse my condolences and I offer them to you. I cannot imagine losing a parent.”

Henry looked away, unfamiliar with such kindness and uncertain if he liked it. The earl had hardly been a father long before the accident claimed his health and eventually his life. However, Lady Margaret apparently could not conceive of such unhappines. She radiated like the sun bursting through the clouds after a cataclysmic storm.

“Thank you, my lady.”

Lady Margaret lightly chuckled. “If we are to be brother and sister, you must put aside the my lady this and my lady that. What may I call you?”

“Henry will do.”

She grinned at him, white teeth dazzling in the candlelight. Henry’s heart stopped beating. The movements of the dance forced him to move his feet, though he remained unsure how he could live with no heartbeat. When their gloved hands touched this time the organ galloped at full speed like an unbroken stallion. She crinkled her nose up at him, drawing his eyes to a smattering of light freckles.

“I never cared for Margaret. To the ones I care about, I am simply Maggie.”

She danced around him as he stood still, clapping to the beat of the song. Joining hands once more, she smiled again. “Now we really shall be friends, nay brother and sister.”

Returning to their place, Henry willed his heart to return to a normal rhythm. Some form of insanity urged him to clarify what suddenly seemed like a vital piece of information. “We will be friends, but never brother and sister. You see, Barrett and I are actually cousins.”

“Indeed?” Her brows lifted, then immediately returned to their usual resting place. “Barrett has told me nothing about that. To hear him talk, you are his beloved younger brother.”

“I have no memories to the contrary,” Henry confessed. “I was raised by my aunt and uncle before I could toddle on my own. My uncle was the only father I ever knew and my aunt the only mother.” For whatever that was worth. The absence of parental affection and the loss of so much had him turn his attention to the Lord from an early age. Any good and decent qualities in him came from his Heavenly Father.

“Then you have my condolences again, even if the wound was long ago,” Maggie said with a gentle smile when their hands met for the final time. “You shall always be welcome in our home. Family is a precious gift and must always be treated as such.”

Henry wondered if his cousin had any idea how truly lovely his bride was. He wondered too, if Barrett could ever deserve her. And while he escorted Maggie back to her parents, Henry vowed in his heart to always protect Maggie’s, even if that meant from his cousin.

Mood Board

AI Inspiration

Click to learn about other stories in the

Ladies of Grace Series