Grace (A Sinclair Society Novella) Rough Draft

Chapter Two

"An old friend of my mother is coming to Bath," Mother said that night. She kept her eyes on the hoop in front of her. "We shall have to invite her to dinner, do you not think?"
It was an innocent enough statement. But I had learned to look beyond such statements.

"Certainly," I aid, piercing the fabric with my needle. "I do love conversing with older ones. They have such excellent wisdom to share."

Mother hummed a note. "Mrs. Forester will be here with two of her grandchildren."

Ah, as I had thought. I tried to believe Mother would have been hospitable if this Mrs. Forrester hadn't been accompanied by a single grandson, but I wasn't entirely sure. Most dinners now included someone my parents considered eligible.

Why couldn't I have an eccentric great-aunt who would bestow a vast inheritance on me and I could be an independent lady?

"How lovely she is able to travel with family," I said, pulling my threat taunt. "Will this be their first time in Bath? Has she come to take the waters for a medical reason? Or is she simply looking for the company of society?"

"Yes, and I'm not sure," Mother said. "But you must be sure to show her grandchildren about town. It would be a gracious thing to do."

"Oh, yes. I do know all the best shops to visit."

Huffing, Mother sent a glare at me. "While I'm sure Miss Forrester will appreciate that, I doubt young Mr. Forrester would find such excursions to be to his taste."

So, there was only one Mr. Forrester. Well, that was better than I had thought.

"I'm sure Miss Forrester and I shall enjoy each other's company immensely," I said. I paused to study my work, frowning when I noticed I had pulled a few stitches too tight and the fabric was bunching. "Is she out?"

"Naturally. Mr. Forrester is about your age, I believe."
I hadn't asked about Mr. Forrester. "How nice," I said, keeping my tone neutral. "Do you know if Miss Forrester is musically inclined? If she is, I will be glad to add her to our musical program."

"You will have to ask her when you meet," Mother said impatiently. "Your grandmother didn't give me Miss Forrester's list of accomplishments or a list of her likes or dislikes."

No, but I was willing to bet there had been a detailed account of Mr. Forrester's prospects. "I look forward to meeting them. I'm sure anyone whom Grandmother enjoys will be charming company for us. When shall they be arriving?"

"In the next day or two. I thought perhaps a picnic would be an excellent way to become acquainted."

"An interesting notion." One which I was not going to encourage. Who else would we invite? "Perhaps the Forresters are not inclined to go on a picnic? I think we should wait until we meet them before we start making any particular plans."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mother shake her head. "There's no need to pretend ignorance, Grace. You know as well as I that I think Mr. Forrester would be an excellent match for you. He is of good family and is the firstborn."

"You think any single gentleman would be a good match, Mother. That is the problem. Any gentleman who is over the age of one and twenty and is unattached is acceptable in your eyes."

"Now that is not true!" Mother exclaimed. "Mr. Ingram is unattached and I have never tried to arrange a match for you with him."

 That was true. However, at the same time... "You brought Sir Anthony, a widower with a fifteen-year-old daughter to dinner six months ago," I said defensively. "He is closer to Papa's age than mine!"

"He is a respectable and well off gentleman." Mother's voice went up several octaves. "Your future would be secure if you were the wife of a baronet. You could bear him an heir and then would be assured of a home for the rest of your life."