His Saving Grace (Regency Refuge 1) Read Online Free PDF

Grace."
    "Get out."
    Make a note. Riding his horse does not improve Thomas's disposition.
    Climbing out of the coach was awkward without someone to assist her, but Grace managed to get her feet down onto the ground. She was straightening her dress as best she could when Thomas said, "We have a problem."
    "Oh?" she asked, looking up into his belligerent blue eyes. I really do miss the days of twinkling eyes.
    "The inn is booked. I was able to procure but one room." His voice dripped resentment the way a hunting dog drips water after a bath — she felt covered head to toe in it.
    "I suppose I'll be sleeping in the coach, then?" she asked, making only the smallest effort to rein in her own hostility. So much for my decision to return his anger with kindness and his ill manner with my own polite one.
    Ignoring her question, he said, "As distasteful as I find it, we shall be forced to share a room."
    Trying to swallow the self-doubt assailing her at his words, she nodded briskly and said, "Then we shall make the best of it, assuming you don't snore too loudly. Lead the way." It hurt last night because he didn't want to share a room. It hurts tonight because… he still doesn't want to share a room.
    Thomas led her through the tavern and to the stairs. The room they'd been given was larger than the one she'd had the night before. The bed, though wider than the one she'd slept in at the previous inn, seemed to shrink before her very eyes when she thought of sharing it with Thomas, until it appeared barely fit for a small child. Certainly two adults could not fit at all! Putting on the same smile she'd worn that morning for Rupert, she said, "This will do nicely."
    She didn't know what to make of it when Thomas glared at her with his piercing blue eyes before leaving the room. Grace stood there staring at the closed door and wondered if there would be a meal tonight. She was again grateful for the basket Rupert had provided that morning. Not a morsel remained.
    When a soft knock came at the door, she asked, "Who is it?"
    "I've got yer bath water," a rusty voice said from the other side.
    Hurrying to the door, Grace swung it wide, allowing a short, rotund woman with fading blonde hair to carry a tub into the room. A man was behind her with buckets of steaming water. He was as tall as she was short and had a pock-marked face and kind smile. "That looks heavenly!" Grace exclaimed, her smile genuine this time. Maybe he's softening after all.
    "We've got more buckets acomin'. Don't go getting into it yet."
    "Of course not," Grace replied while hiding her smile at the mild scolding. "I'll wait for you to tell me you're done."
    Bucket after bucket came in until the tub was three-quarters full. Then everyone began to back out of the room. Grace stood there, panic setting in. I can't get out of this blasted dress without help! Surely the woman realizes that. Thomas hadn't allowed her to bring a lady's maid. "Pardon me," she said to the woman who had done the talking. When she got a gap-toothed smile in return, she said, "I — I don't have anyone to help me out of my dress. Could you possibly help me with the buttons in the back?"
    "Oh, Your Grace, you're not goin' t' want the likes o' me touching yer fine clothes. I'll let His Grace know 'e's needed. I'm sure 'e won't mind a bit."
    Will he even come?
    Grace swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. What else could she do? Should she order the woman to unbutton her dress? That hardly seemed fair. Having spent little time around members of the ton , Grace felt wholly inadequate in her role as duchess. She dared not do anything that might embarrass Thomas. He was already holding so much against her.
    Only minutes had passed when a knock came at the door. Expecting it to be Thomas, she opened it wide. When she saw Rupert standing there, she blushed. Thomas didn't send his valet up here to undress me! Did he?
    "The proprietor's wife said you needed Thomas, but he is otherwise occupied. Is