Free [MacKenzie Sally] The Naked Laird(book4me.org) by The Naked Laird

swallowed, trying to gather her scattered wits. “And this issue would be…?”
    “Love.” Lady Grace blurted out the word and then turned bright red.
    “Oh.”
    Apparently that little four-letter word was the plug that, ejected, opened the floodgates.
    “Yes, love. I don’t know what to do. Lord Dawson has been very attentive, and I lo—like him very much, but my father hates him.”
    Not a small problem. “Does your father have a good reason for his feelings?” Nell would not have thought Lord Dawson a blackguard, but then what did she know? “Sometimes men are more aware than we of another man’s background and”—how to say this?—“unsavory habits.”
    Lady Grace shook her head. “I’m sure Papa knows nothing about Da—Lord Dawson. He’s never met him.”
    “What?” Well, perhaps an actual meeting wasn’t necessary. Reputations did precede people. “Why do you think your father hates the man? Perhaps you are mistaken.”
    “Oh, no, I am not mistaken. Papa would definitely hate Da—Lord Dawson if he knew about him. He hates all Wiltons on principle for something that happened years ago when Papa was young.”
    “Oh.” A family feud à la Romeo and Juliet, perhaps. However entertaining the play might be, it would not act well in real life. “That doesn’t seem particularly enlightened.”
    “No, it isn’t, but Papa isn’t particularly enlightened. He’s stubborn and opinionated and, well, somewhat overbearing. But he is my father. My mother died when I was very young, so it’s been just the two of us for such a long time.” Lady Grace’s voice caught slightly. “I love him. I don’t want to hurt him.”
    “Of course you don’t.”
    Grace glanced at Nell and then looked away. “He’s arranged for me to marry a neighbor.” She might have been talking of darning socks, she sounded so unenthusiastic.
    “Is the neighbor old and fat?”
    Grace laughed. “Oh, no. John is perfectly presentable. Quite unexceptional. He would make someone an excellent husband.”
    “But not you.”
    “No, um, that is he would make me an excel—a suitable husband. I do like him when he’s not prosing on about his plants.”
    “Hmm. Are you certain you can’t discuss this with Lady Oxbury? She did bring you to London for the Season. She must have had in mind finding you a more appropriate husband.”
    Lady Grace shook her head vehemently. “Oh, no. Definitely not. As I said, Aunt Kate has troubles of her own, not that she has shared them with me. But something is amiss between her and Lord Dawson’s uncle, Mr. Wilton.”
    “I see.” They were almost back to the house and Nell still had no clue why Lady Grace was telling her any of this. “Well, you must know that I am not one to give advice of a marital nature.”
    “But that is exactly why I wanted to speak to you, Lady Kilgorn. I mean, I don’t wish to pry, but, well, married love…it doesn’t last, does it? It’s not important for contentment?” Lady Grace frowned. “I don’t have the experience of my parents to advise me since my mother died when I was so young, but from what I know of Aunt Kate’s marriage, she rubbed along tolerably well with Lord Oxbury even though she didn’t love him. And looking around the ton—there just aren’t that many love matches.”
    “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been to London.” The house was very close now. Could she break into a run and end this uncomfortable conversation?
    “But—I know it is none of my concern, I am fully aware of that, but…was yours a love match, Lady Kilgorn?”
    “Yes.” There had been no question of that. She’d been completely, insanely in love with Ian as perhaps only a seventeen-year-old girl could be. He’d been almost a god to her—certainly a hero. She’d been blind to all his faults…as he’d been blind to hers. She’d never doubted he’d loved her. And if life had been different…
    But life was as it was.
    “And so love isn’t enough.” Lady