Chapter 71

The day after returning from South Downs, Grace immediately visited Lady Blackwood to complain. "Grandmother," she began, "Thalia seems to dislike me intensely, and I don't understand why. The riding grounds incident was a misunderstanding—I apologized for my mistake, but she hasn't forgiven me. She displays inexplicable hostility; I don't know why she constantly targets me."

Grace's eyes were red-rimmed, her voice trembling. Seeing her granddaughter's distress, Lady Blackwood took her hand. "My dear, tell me how Thalia Winters has been mistreating you."

Grace sniffled. "Perhaps she thinks I'm taking my brother's affection, so she constantly excludes me. At the base camp, I made beef stew for him, but Thalia ate it herself, claiming it was dreadful. She also refused to let him carry my backpack, declaring that, as his girlfriend, he could only carry her things. Grandmother, is this fair? I've grown up with my brother; is it unreasonable to ask for his help?"

Lady Blackwood frowned. "This Winters girl is behaving appallingly. She's not even married into the family, yet she acts like the lady of the manor, trying to dominate you. And she wouldn't even let your brother help you across the stream; you nearly fell in!"

Lady Blackwood gasped, tightening her grip on Grace's hand. "Dreadful! Grace, were you hurt?"

Grace, lifting her skirt to reveal a wound on her ankle, sniffled, "I was injured." (The wound, a minor scrape from the previous night, had been deliberately reopened that morning to maximize the effect.)

Lady Blackwood, distraught, summoned servants to tend to the injury. "Last night, when I couldn't walk, I asked my brother to carry me to see the meteor shower. Thalia refused, saying… saying…" Grace dissolved into sobs.

Lady Blackwood's eyes flashed. "What did she say?"

"She said I should maintain distance from my brother—that we needed boundaries. She boasted to her friends about marrying into the family and becoming its mistress, declaring she was my brother's future wife and he could only carry her." Grace cried, "Grandmother, should I really distance myself from my brother? Am I not allowed to ask for help when injured?"

"Preposterous!" Lady Blackwood fumed. "She hasn't even officially joined the family, and she's already behaving like this!"

"Grandmother," Grace sobbed, "you must help me!"

"Don't worry, my dear. I'm on your side. At the next family dinner, I'll put this Winters girl in her place!"

The day of the Blackwood family dinner arrived. Asher brought Thalia to the family home, but Lady Blackwood quickly found an excuse to send him away. Thalia sat in the drawing room with Lady Blackwood and Lady Catherine Blackwood. Grace, meticulously dressed in a traditional tea dress, sat beside Lady Blackwood. Thalia wore a cream Chanel suit.

Lady Blackwood eyed Thalia critically. "These modern outfits lack the elegance of traditional British attire. Grace looks far lovelier in her classic tea dress."

Thalia responded respectfully, "You're absolutely right, Lady Blackwood."

Lady Blackwood raised an eyebrow. "You're not yet married into the family. Address me as you would any family acquaintance."

Lady Catherine was startled. Thalia's formal address seemed perfectly appropriate. Why this insistence on informality?

Thalia, noticing Grace's smug expression, understood. Grace had poisoned Lady Blackwood against her.

Lady Catherine intervened, smiling, "Mother, Thalia is Asher's fiancée and will be a Blackwood. 'Ma'am' is perfectly appropriate."

Lady Blackwood sipped her tea. "The engagement is canceled. They are merely dating. It's premature for her to assume such familiarity."

Lady Catherine frowned. What game was Lady Blackwood playing? Lady Blackwood then engaged Grace in conversation, pointedly ignoring Thalia.

Thalia remained unperturbed. She was marrying Asher, not Lady Blackwood. Moreover, Lady Catherine treated her warmly.

Noticing their pleasant conversation, Lady Blackwood's expression darkened. "It's nearly dinner time. Thalia, perhaps you could help arrange the place settings?"

Lady Catherine intervened, "Mother, that's the staff's responsibility. Thalia is our guest."

Lady Blackwood's gaze sharpened. "Didn't you say she's to be a Blackwood? As her elder, what's improper about asking her to help with family matters?"

Thalia found this ironic, given Lady Blackwood's earlier insistence on treating her as a mere acquaintance.

Just as Thalia was about to speak, Asher entered, saying, "Grandmother, my Thalia is far too refined for domestic chores."