“No, I’m not. I would,” Grace said, “but as it happens, I am telling the truth. It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault, really. I wish it were. It would be so much easier that way.”

“To have someone to blame?”

“Yes.”

And then Amelia whispered, “I don’t want to marry him.”

“Thomas?”

Thomas? Whatever was she thinking? “No,” Amelia said. “Mr. Audley.”

Grace’s lips parted with surprise. “Really?”

“You sound so shocked.”

“No, of course not,” Grace quickly replied. “It’s just that he’s so handsome.”

Amelia gave a little shrug. “I suppose. Don’t you find him a little too charming?”

“No.”

Amelia looked at Grace with newfound interest. Her no had been a tad bit more defensive than she would have expected. “Grace Eversleigh,” she said, lowering her voice as she darted a quick look toward the dowager, “do you fancy Mr. Audley?”

And then it was more than obvious that she did, because Grace stammered and spluttered, and made a noise that sounded rather like a toad.

Which amused Amelia to no end. “You do.”

“It does not signify,” Grace mumbled.

“Of course it signifies,” Amelia replied pertly. “Does he fancy you? No, don’t answer, I can see from your face that he does. Well. I certainly shall not marry him now.”

“You should not refuse him on my account,” Grace said.

“What did you just say?”

“I can’t marry him if he’s the duke.”

Amelia wanted to swat her. How dare she give up on love? “Why not?”

“If he is the duke, he will need to marry someone suitable.” Grace gave her a sharp look. “Of your rank.”

“Oh, don’t be silly. It’s not as if you grew up in an orphanage.”

“There will be scandal enough. He must not add to it with a sensational marriage.”

“An actress would be sensational. You will merely be a week’s worth of gossip.” She waited for Grace to comment, but she looked so flustered, and so…so…sad. Amelia could hardly bear it. She thought of Grace, in love with Mr. Audley, and she thought of herself, drifting on the tide of other people’s expectations.

This wasn’t how she wanted to be.

This wasn’t who she wanted to be.

“I do not know Mr. Audley’s mind,” she said, “or his intentions, but if he is prepared to dare everything for love, then you should be, too.” She reached out and squeezed Grace’s hand. “Be a woman of courage, Grace.” She smiled then, as much for herself as for Grace.

And she whispered, “I shall be one, too.”

Chapter 17