Free Saving Grace by Michele Paige Holmes Page A

the servants to task for their gossiping and threatened to dismiss the lot,” Mrs. James added. “He’s planning to dance with Miss Thatcher tonight in hopes of minimizing the damage.”
    “And what of the damage to me?” Nicholas muttered. He didn’t much care what the country neighbors thought of him; he cared even less for the opinion of his peers in London. But his mother would care deeply. She’d had her heart broken enough; he didn’t wish to inflict any more wounds.
    “Why would Preston still want her?” Nicholas asked, though he guessed the reason easy enough. Samuel Preston might be new money, and he might not set store by many of polite society’s rules, but he’d have to be an idiot not to understand that any young, single woman who’d been in another man’s bed — for however brief a time — wasn’t one he’d want to be involved with. To do so would be to risk everything. Only a man besotted with love would be such a fool.
    It had taken time and effort — and marriage to Elizabeth — but eventually, most of Preston’s neighbors had accepted him. And, much to Nicholas’s frustration, he was becoming well respected and making connections and acquaintances in London. But if what Kingsley and Mrs. James had said was true, Preston stood to lose his precarious standing this very night. His other guests — those who’d heard of the incident, in whatever form it was being bandied about — would shun Miss Thatcher and Preston, in turn, as well.
    Nicholas paused, rubbing his hands together almost gleefully. If Preston was to be shunned by the gentry, his business connections would fail. The inheritance he’d come into would last only so long, and the many investments he’d made wouldn’t pay off. It might take time, but he could be forced to lose his estate. Then — and only then — could Nicholas live at Sutherland Hall in peace.
    Of course, there would be a price. Nicholas considered the outcome for himself. No respectable woman would want him — for a while, at least. But he still had his fortune, and in the end, money always spoke loudest.
    Besides, he wasn’t looking for a wife just now anyway. He wasn’t interested in anything until he’d seen Preston driven out and destroyed — as he destroyed my family. All in all, Nicholas deemed the damage to his reputation a small price to pay. Eventually, his part in the “indiscretion” would be forgotten. It was Miss Thatcher and Preston who would not be so fortunate.
    “I thank you for the information,” he said, dismissing Kingsley and Mrs. James.
    Mrs. James nodded and backed out of the doorway, wearing a frown of disapproval. Kingsley, however, made no move and continued staring at him.
    “Is there something else?” Nicholas asked.
    “I only wondered if there was a particular suit you wished to be pressed,” Kingsley said. “I’ll advise your valet now, so he has plenty of time.”
    “Time for what?” Nicholas asked, seating himself at his desk once more.
    “To ready your things for the ball tonight.” Kingsley spoke as if it were a forgone conclusion that Nicholas would attend. Nothing could have been farther from the truth.
    “I am not going anywhere tonight,” Nicholas said. “And if I were, the last place would be a ball hosted by Samuel Preston.”
    “I see. My apologies.” Kingsley nodded and turned to go.
    “Kingsley, why would you think such a thing?” Nicholas felt both perplexed and bothered by the butler’s assumption.
    “Nothing — no reason, milord. My mistake.”
    “Kingsley!” Nicholas’s tone was sharper than he’d intended. He tried again. “It was not nothing . Did I say or do something to indicate that I wished to go?”
    Kingsley hesitated before facing him and answering. “Not at all, milord. I only assumed you would attend because a young lady’s honor is in question, as is your own. And both are matters of significance to the Sutherland name.”

Dearest Helen and Christopher,
    A most