Read Online His Saving Grace (Regency Refuge 1) by Heather Gray - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Heather Gray
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the task while she was lying down in it.
"Are we there yet?" came her sleepy voice.
"Indeed we are. I was trying to get you comfortable so you could sleep."
"Will you stay with me tonight?"
"You need your sleep, Gracie."
She leaned up on one elbow and inspected her husband. Her eyes perused every part of him before lingering on his face. "I can't do anything about the fact you're leaving tomorrow. The only thing I have control over is how I spend my remaining time before you go, and I want to spend that time with you. Please give me that gift before you're gone from here."
Feeling he was more blessed than any man should have a right to be, Thomas leaned in and tenderly kissed his wife. Then, standing, he said, "Come here. Let me play lady's maid for you once again."
****
The sun was barely creeping into the bedroom when Grace awoke the next morning. Finding herself alone in her chamber, she called, "Thomas?" When she got no answer, she jumped out of bed, frantically searched through one of her trunks until she found a dressing gown, then raced out the door and down the stairs. If he left without bidding me farewell, I will…
She was met at the bottom of the stairs by Rupert. "Did he leave?" she demanded.
Before Rupert could even answer, Thomas's voice came from her left. "I would never leave without saying goodbye, Gracie. I wanted to let you sleep a bit longer while I took care of some items pertaining to the estate here."
She pivoted toward him, relief coursing through her veins. "How much longer?" she asked, her voice raw with emotion.
"About an hour," he said. "Go back up and get dressed. There's a second dress hanging in your wardrobe. I'll be up in a few minutes to help you. You want to look your best. Later today you and Rupert will be interviewing lady's maids."
I don't care about getting a lady's maid, you toad!
Trying to calm her racing heart and knowing she should be more refined than to race down the stairs in her sleep attire, Grace turned toward the steps that led back to her chamber and put her hand on the banister.
Thomas's voice stopped her. "And, Gracie?" She circled to look at him. He winked and said, "I'm glad to know I'll be missed."
Trying to smile past her sadness, she nodded before making her way back to her chamber. I can't let him see how upset I am. It will serve no good purpose if he leaves here fretting over me.
The dress she found in her wardrobe was a cross between purple and red, but with an earthier hue. It was bold, not the sort of color one normally found in a day dress. She dug through her trunk until she found a clean chemise. After quickly donning it, she washed her face and hands at the basin in her room. She brushed out her hair and pinned it up into place, detached from the action as though witnessing it from afar. That task complete, she began to climb into the new dress.
She heard the door behind her open and glanced over to see Thomas approaching. He gave her a broad smile and said, "I knew that color would suit you. Let's get you buttoned in, then I want to have a proper look at you."
Grace obliged by turning her back to him. "You're getting quite good at this," she said as his fingers deftly took care of the row of buttons.
Putting his hands on her shoulders, he lightly spun her until she faced him. He took a couple steps back and gave her an appraising look. "The color is called puce, you know."
"I wondered," she said. "Being I was unmarried, I've never been allowed to wear such bright colors before." I've always thought that was a senseless rule.
"It's beautiful on you." His loving words were a boon. She wished she could freeze this moment in time and lock it away in her heart for safekeeping.
There were so many things Grace wanted to say, but the ability to pull her chaotic emotions together into cohesive thoughts was beyond her. The pain of Thomas's leaving was already upon her. Instead, she asked, "Why do you keep staring?"
"I want to store up this
"Are we there yet?" came her sleepy voice.
"Indeed we are. I was trying to get you comfortable so you could sleep."
"Will you stay with me tonight?"
"You need your sleep, Gracie."
She leaned up on one elbow and inspected her husband. Her eyes perused every part of him before lingering on his face. "I can't do anything about the fact you're leaving tomorrow. The only thing I have control over is how I spend my remaining time before you go, and I want to spend that time with you. Please give me that gift before you're gone from here."
Feeling he was more blessed than any man should have a right to be, Thomas leaned in and tenderly kissed his wife. Then, standing, he said, "Come here. Let me play lady's maid for you once again."
****
The sun was barely creeping into the bedroom when Grace awoke the next morning. Finding herself alone in her chamber, she called, "Thomas?" When she got no answer, she jumped out of bed, frantically searched through one of her trunks until she found a dressing gown, then raced out the door and down the stairs. If he left without bidding me farewell, I will…
She was met at the bottom of the stairs by Rupert. "Did he leave?" she demanded.
Before Rupert could even answer, Thomas's voice came from her left. "I would never leave without saying goodbye, Gracie. I wanted to let you sleep a bit longer while I took care of some items pertaining to the estate here."
She pivoted toward him, relief coursing through her veins. "How much longer?" she asked, her voice raw with emotion.
"About an hour," he said. "Go back up and get dressed. There's a second dress hanging in your wardrobe. I'll be up in a few minutes to help you. You want to look your best. Later today you and Rupert will be interviewing lady's maids."
I don't care about getting a lady's maid, you toad!
Trying to calm her racing heart and knowing she should be more refined than to race down the stairs in her sleep attire, Grace turned toward the steps that led back to her chamber and put her hand on the banister.
Thomas's voice stopped her. "And, Gracie?" She circled to look at him. He winked and said, "I'm glad to know I'll be missed."
Trying to smile past her sadness, she nodded before making her way back to her chamber. I can't let him see how upset I am. It will serve no good purpose if he leaves here fretting over me.
The dress she found in her wardrobe was a cross between purple and red, but with an earthier hue. It was bold, not the sort of color one normally found in a day dress. She dug through her trunk until she found a clean chemise. After quickly donning it, she washed her face and hands at the basin in her room. She brushed out her hair and pinned it up into place, detached from the action as though witnessing it from afar. That task complete, she began to climb into the new dress.
She heard the door behind her open and glanced over to see Thomas approaching. He gave her a broad smile and said, "I knew that color would suit you. Let's get you buttoned in, then I want to have a proper look at you."
Grace obliged by turning her back to him. "You're getting quite good at this," she said as his fingers deftly took care of the row of buttons.
Putting his hands on her shoulders, he lightly spun her until she faced him. He took a couple steps back and gave her an appraising look. "The color is called puce, you know."
"I wondered," she said. "Being I was unmarried, I've never been allowed to wear such bright colors before." I've always thought that was a senseless rule.
"It's beautiful on you." His loving words were a boon. She wished she could freeze this moment in time and lock it away in her heart for safekeeping.
There were so many things Grace wanted to say, but the ability to pull her chaotic emotions together into cohesive thoughts was beyond her. The pain of Thomas's leaving was already upon her. Instead, she asked, "Why do you keep staring?"
"I want to store up this
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