Grace (A Sinclair Society Novella) Rough Draft

Chapter Six

With the musicale the next day, I was able to keep myself busy if not completely able to focus all of my attention on what needed to be done. My encounter with the maid was never far from my mind, though. What would she be able to tell me about Jonathan's family?

"Gace, did you forget to add Mr. Harper to the guest list?" Mother asked that night as she compared the acceptances with my list. "I don't see his name here anywhere."

"That would be because I did not invite him."

"Oh, Grace!" Mother said with a sigh. "Why did you not invite him when he was here? I know you said it wasn't clear how long he would be in Bath but an invitation—a personal invitation from you—could have made all the difference. He might have stayed to oblige you."

"But I do not wish for him to oblige me, and I must say I am confused," I said. "Do you wish for me to pursue Mr. Harper, Mr. Forrester, or Mr. Bywood? Because I cannot encourage all of them at the same time without damaging my reputation."

Mother glanced over at me. "Have you finally seen sense?" she asked eagerly.

"I'm simply curious. It seems you are enthusiastic about whichever one we are closest to at the time."

"Sadly, Mrs. Forrester has made me aware that her grandson has an unfortunate attachment to a girl in the country," Mother said, turning her attention back to the guest list. "She hopes a more sophisticated lady might change his mind while he is here. I suggested it might be you, but Mrs Forrester doesn't think your heart would be in it."

I knew I had liked Mrs. Forrester for a reason! And I felt guilty for my previous suspicion about her. "Well, she would be right about that. So is it to be Mr. Harper or Mr. Bywood?" I asked. It would make it so much easier to know where Mother had rested her hopes. Either option was an impossibility.

"Really Grace, whichever one we can know soonest. I think it will be easier to see Mr. Bywood on a regular basis. As charming as Mr. harper is, I don't think he will be here long enough to enchanted by you. Especially as you haven't given him a reason to stay."

She said it was such certainty, as though there was no question I would be trying to enchant a gentleman. I didn't think I had said anything to make her think I was coming around to her way of thinking. She would be so disappointed when she learned Mr. Bywood had an attachment, and for a moment, I wanted to tell her right then.

But who knew she would pick for me next!

"Then, Mrs. Forrester still expects her grandson to find someone in Bath?" I asked to shift the topic.

Mother waved her hand. "She is hopeful. After all, there is no official engagement."

But that did not mean both Mr. Forrester and his lady's feelings and heart were not already engaged. This heartlessness on the part of Mrs. Forrester disappointed me. "Well, I cannot think of any young lady who might qualify as sophisticated."

"Perhaps Miss Dunbar? She's pretty enough."

That was certainly a switch given her earlier complaints about the girl. "I think Mr. Forrester level-headed enough to see that whoever caught his eye in the country is better than Miss Dunbar," I said, wondering why she was so interested in Mr. Forrester's romance. Was this fascination with matchmaking a new hobby for her? Some way to occupy her time?

"Yes, I suppose that's true," Mother said with a sigh. "But I shall continue to think on the matter. You never did tell me what you and Mr. Bywood spoke of before you were interrupted by that girl."

"I wanted to know why Mrs. Forrester disapproved of him so much," I said honestly. There wasn't anything remotely romantic about the conversation we had. "And he wanted to know I hadn't married. I think he and I understand each other. I hope he will know how to behave himself when we next meet."