My Notorious Gentleman's

#23

"Maybe that's why Lady Laura chose Lord Trevor," Grace murmured. The man he met earlier looked too strong to let himself be set up by a beautiful woman.

George shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't understand either. But if what happens between them is a fight of will, Lady Laura wins. He stopped waiting and went on with his life, as you saw for yourself."

"But you said he thought Lord Trevor was dead?"

"Yes, everyone thought so, even though his family refused to believe," George added.

"People felt sorry for them, and they refused to put a black cloth on the door as a sign of sorrow. But they're right."

"Where was Lord Trevor?"

"That's a closely guarded secret. I don't know either."

"Hm." Grace turned to Lady Laura who was putting her gloved hand on her new fiance's arm.

"I want to know how he felt after his fiancee had risen from the grave again."

"Felt?" George laughed cynically.

"Your mind is so innocent, dear."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, aren't they in love with each other?"

"Why do you say that?"

"If Montgomery really loved that woman, he would have married her a long time ago. Instead, he makes all sorts of excuses. Trust me," murmured George.

"I understand that kind of thing."

Grace pondered this.

"Then why did he leave like a pissed-off man when the woman got here?"

"Preciousness, I guess," said George, shrugging his shoulders.

"Never forget, Gracie. He's a trained killer. He obviously wouldn't want to play someone with a broken heart unless it was possible to draw a woman's attention to him."

"What?"

"Simpati!" George winks at Grace.

"That's why the women covered her. Clever guy. Sympathy always manages to provoke female attraction. I should have tried it sometime. Grieving for a broken heart..."

Grace nodded to George.

"After all, the upper-class women dropped Montgomery's name from their hunting list years ago because she belonged to the jealous women there. But now he is free again and they have a new chance to get it again. You can't blame them for trying." George suddenly shuddered.

Grace turned her face to George. As soon as the young man said it, it felt almost like fate.

A beautiful, cheerful, blue-blooded girl like Miss Calpurnia Windlesham was indeed born and raised to marry a man like Lord Trevor Montgomery.

Callie is a younger version of Laura Bayne. And maybe whatever Laura doesn't have, she'll get from Callie, because she's young and still easy to shape to be a dream wife.

Grace felt her heart hard at the thought, but she refused to dissolve in her disappointment, and her papa's words about Grange needing a rich tenant rang in her ear.

Food, harvest, money.

If that charming and charming Callie could be part of attracting Lord Trevor to Grange, it would bring kindness to everyone, even to the entire village.

Maybe it's good for the guy too, after what he's been through. Grace certainly wouldn't have attributed this to George, because the rascal would have only mocked him. Even Grace couldn't bear to sympathize with the former spy.

Poor guy, Lord Trevor has devoted his life for years to serving the country and risking his life, he said, only then to return home and find that her dream of a happy marriage has been shattered into pieces.

At least that explains why the man's attitude immediately turned cold all of a sudden.

The man deserves better.

After pondering for a while, Grace was now steady with her thoughts. Yep. Lord Trevor must move to his beloved village of Thistleton, purchase Grange, and marry Calpurnia to treat the man's heartache, if the heart has not been completely broken.

After all Grace couldn't possibly get such a man. No, if Lord Trevor was used to liking women like Laura Bayne. Moreover, even though the Man was quite attractive, Grace was not sure that she wanted Lord Trevor.

That man is a different kind of Grace. Men who carelessly kiss women in a dark room. Trained killer, a spy who is forbidden to tell about his past.

And at worst, the man seemed to be an expert at getting rid of others by thinking of them as "a fun diversion". Grace was still upset because of that.

No, Lord Trevor wouldn't be a match, not for Grace. The man can be a nice neighbor, but it takes more than that to make Grace ignore her father, who needs her.

But Callie would probably be a good fit for the guy, Grace thought. A beautiful young girl who is full of life spirit will probably be the perfect counterweight for a former spy to be able to rearrange her life.

Grace has no doubt that Lord Trevor would be right for Callie. In their village, Callie is like a sister herself, and without any intention, Grace argues that the stubborn girl needs a grown man to guide her, rather than a rebellious young man who was as potent as he was.

Of course, George, this silly friend of his, would definitely not be happy if his lover was captured by Lord Trevor.

But judging from the way George treats Callie now, according to Grace the journey that the young man has to go through is still long in order to become a fully grown man who is ready to get married.

Yes, this is the best way for everyone.

Perfectly, Grace concluded, feeling quite pleased with her plan, and she eventually justified George's remarks about her earlier self. Solving other people's problems is his skill.

It's easier than dealing with the problem yourself. Then George gestured towards the dance floor when the musicians had returned from their break.

Grace smiled at her friend and tried to throw the shadow of Lord Trevor out of her mind, the man destined for someone else.

Trying to get back into focus on her current task of keeping Lord Bratford out of trouble, Grace welcomes the man's arm, and they move on to dance.