Page 29 of Discovering Grace

Laughter trickled from the old woman, soft and light. “Never, lad. Though if you touch my nets again, it will be a near thing.”

Jacob blushed to the tips of his ears and Grace, taking pity on him, laced her arm through his. “Thank you so much for the visit, Mrs. Harper. Mr. Harper. We have enjoyed the time with you so much.”

Mr. Harper leveraged himself to his feet with a grunt. “Ye are a good girl, Miss Grace, to come lookin’ in on us. And Mr. Barnes. Though I must tell ye, sir, that your visit is more enjoyable when ye come with this one.” Then he winked, bold as brass. “Best make it a habit if ye can.”

Grace’s cheeks burned, but she confined herself to bidding the woman of the house farewell before Mr. Harper let them out the front door. The cool breeze brushed against her face, granting her some relief.

The groom remained at the road, letting his unmounted horse chew up the long grasses lining the way.

“They’re good people,” Jacob said, coming along beside her. “It has been too long since I visited.”

Grace focused her attention on that idea rather than dwell on any more uncomfortable thoughts. “I did not know you had ever been before. It took me by surprise to see you so familiar to them.” As they walked to the cart she nudged his arm gently with hers. “When did you visit last?”

Jacob tucked his hands behind his back and turned his face into the breeze. “About a month ago, with Mr. Spratt. He took me around to all the cottagers and tenants he could think of to introduce me as his replacement.” A lock of his dark blond hair fell into his face and he combed it back with his fingers. “Is the wind picking up?” he asked, putting his hat upon his head once more.

“Not enough to worry over.” Grace came to the cart and rushed inelegantly to climb up without Jacob’s help. “And the Wrights do not live far.”

“Half a mile down the road, if I remember correctly.” Jacob went to his side and stepped up. “What made you think of them? Mr. Wright is employed at Inglewood, is he not?”

“Yes, but they are expecting a child soon, and Esther is away or else I am certain she would make this visit.” Grace took up the reins and with a gentle slap of leather to the pony’s back they were on their way once more. “As this is their third child and Mrs. Wright certainly knows what she is doing, they will appreciate a few little things to make the time go more easily.”

Jacob folded his arms before him and angled his body enough so he could look at her fully. “You are most thoughtful, Grace.”

She had no wish to color under his praise, mild as it might be. Grace tilted her chin upward. His words meant very little, of that she assured herself. “I have always liked visiting with my neighbors. That is all.”

“Indeed? For what purpose?” He lifted one of his eyebrows at her, and a corner of his mouth twitched upward as well. “For the local gossip?”

“Why else? I especially enjoy hearing all the tittle-tattle about the new vicar.” Why had she said that? Grace pressed her lips together tightly and busied herself with the reins to avoid looking at him. She was ill-equipped to tease and flirt. Those were Hope’s tools, not Grace’s.

“I hear he is a tiresome fellow.” Jacob tilted his hat back upon his head. “All his sermons shall be dull and his prayer-making long and drawn out. Half the parishioners will fall into a stupor and the other half will call for his resignation.” He released a deep, dramatic sigh.

“Never,” she said firmly. “Unless he reads directly from a book. I understand he is not a very great reader. Lacks the voice for it.” Her attempt to tease surprised her, and when Jacob laughed it took her a moment to join in his amusement. She had not heard him laugh at all since he discovered it was she and not her sister who remained at home. Perhaps he might one day overcome his disappointment.

Or else he had cheered himself by thinking on Hope’s return in a year’s time.

Jacob corrected his posture, and his hat. “Thank you for that, Grace. I will always have you to keep me humble, I hope.”

She nearly promised that he might. Except Grace knew, before long, it would no longer be her place to speak to Jacob in such a manner. She answered more circumspectly. “I am certain you will do well enough without me to tease you.” She slowed the horses before the Inglewood tenant cottages. “There is a great deal of interest in what subject you will choose for your first sermon. It will set the entire path for your time as a vicar.”

“I have given it a great deal of thought,” he admitted as he swung down.

With the memory of his hands on her waist, Grace tried to lower herself to the ground before he could touch her again. Unfortunately, as one foot hit upon the dirt, her hand slipped from its hold on the seat and she fell backward, directly into his chest.

Jacob caught her around the shoulders and they both stumbled backward, but he acted quickly enough, pushing forward again, to settle Grace firmly upon her feet.

He kept a firm hold upon her.

“Are you unharmed?” Jacob asked, bending down to her ear as he had in the Harpers’ cottage. She nodded, mutely. “Wait next time,” he said softly, giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “Let me help you.”

Her heart fell back into its normal rhythm, though it ached as he let her go to fetch the basket.

Why, after years of successfully burying her feelings for Jacob, was she so undone by such a simple thing as his touch? For so long she had kept her heart still in his presence, had betrayed nothing of her feelings, and Grace would not risk their friendship now. Not when she needed his support, his care.

Perhaps if Hope had been present, Grace needn’t have struggled. Hope had been the perfect buffer, a barrier wall to combat the rising tide of Grace’s admiration, without even realizing how she protected them all. If Grace gave a hint to how she felt, it might make things awkward for Jacob, who preferred Hope. He had seemed amenable to the idea of courting her when she returned, if the gossip died away.

Grace mulled this over in her mind as she followed him to the tenant house door. She stood mutely by his side as he knocked, eyeing his profile discreetly.

What did Hope have that Grace lacked? How could Jacob not see, not understand, that Hope would never be the complacent wife of a vicar?