Chapter 441

"But for someone as polite and obedient as Alexander, the first time he ever pushed back was when he begged Nicholas and said he loved Grace. He already had someone he cared about and didn't want an arranged marriage. "Nicholas was furious. He figured some woman had gotten into Alexander's head, so he got in touch with her parents…" Margaret trailed off, lost in memory. Grace's parents were plain, honest folks who worked the land. They had never met Phillip or Margaret in person, and neither had Nicholas. Everything had been handled through an assistant. … Back at the Grant residence, Valeria tried to help Margaret upstairs to rest, but Margaret said she still had prayers to finish and went to the chapel in the back garden. Valeria headed upstairs alone. She met a housekeeper carrying a fruit platter, who mentioned that Nicholas and Sebastian were in the study. Taking the fruit platter herself, Valeria walked to the study door. She lifted her hand, ready to knock, when she caug