Seduced by His Touch by Tracy Anne Warren Page A

afternoon,” he said as both of them rose from their seats. “What do you say to ices at Ford’s, then a walk to Beechen Cliff? I hear there are no finer views of the city than from that location.”
    “It sounds delightful.”
    And truly it did, she thought. But she needed an opportunity to consider her choices—and some distance from him while she did so. What better solution than a journey out of the city?
    “I am afraid, however,” she continued, “that we shall have to postpone the outing. I haven’t had an opportunity to tell you, but Aunt Jane is traveling to Bristol tomorrow. I am to go with her.”
    Originally she had planned to remain at the town house, one of her aunt’s female acquaintances happily agreeing to keep her company for a couple of nights. But Grace knew her aunt would be thrilled by her change of plans, as well as with her companionship on the journey west.
    “Bristol.” His dark brows shot straight. “How long are you going to be in Bristol?”
    “Only a couple of days. Likely little more than the weekend. Aunt Jane is visiting an old school friend who just moved north. I am certain we shall not remain long.” But long enough, she hoped, to enable her to make some decisions.
    Jack looked completely nonplussed, as though news of her departure had thrown him off balance. Moments later, however, he recovered his usual affability. “Well, I wish you a good journey and shall count on seeing you upon your return.”
    “Yes. I shall send you a note the moment I am in town again.”
    His expression eased at her assurance. “Good. And not a moment later, mind, else I too find myself with a sudden need for a trip to Bristol. Four days at most and I shall expect you back.”
    “Four days,” she agreed. She only hoped that four days proved to be enough.

Chapter 8
    “A re you certain you don’t wish to remain a couple days longer?” her aunt asked as they stood together in the bedchamber where Grace had slept the last three nights.
    Grace handed a pair of books to the maidservant, who was helping her pack. “I have had a lovely time here with you and Mrs. Duggin, but I would rather return to Bath today as planned. You stay and visit a while more. Truly, I do not mind in the least.”
    Aunt Jane’s lips firmed with clear indecision. “Yes, but you will be all alone at the town house. What will you do, rattling around by yourself?”
    “I am sure I shall find ways to occupy my time. And I will hardly be alone, not with eight of your servants in residence,” she countered. “I assure you they shall keep me well-fed and eminently comfortable.”
    “Just so. But I fear your father would not approve.”
    “Then let us not tell him, and that way he won’t be displeased.”
    Her aunt’s eyes glittered with surprised enthusiasm at the suggestion. “I suppose you are right in that.”
    “Besides,” Grace continued, “it is not as if I am a girl any longer. At five and twenty I am quite capable of looking after myself.”
    A soft smile lightened her aunt’s face. “From my perspective, five and twenty is plenty young. But I am forgetting that you can still send for Mrs. Twine to come visit. She won’t mind in the least. Promise you will send for her the moment you arrive.”
    Seeing that her valise was packed, Grace reached for her spencer of lightweight fawn sarcenet. Slipping it on, she fastened the short row of buttons, then turned to dust a kiss over her aunt’s cheek. “I shall be sure to let her know I am returned.”
    “I will only be another day or two.”
    “Stay as long as you like. I shall be fine.”
    Yet an hour later as she sat in the coach traveling back to Bath, Grace wasn’t sure how “fine” she actually was. Despite the time away, she was no closer to making a decision about her situation than she had been when she’d left.
    She’d told Terrence she would consider his offer of marriage, but each time she started to do so, her thoughts seemed to shy away and