It was fortunate that Grace was innocent in both mind and body; she remained blissfully unaware of how the gentleman watched her too distracted by every small noise from the rattling of branches against the window to her fingertips on the wall to realize that he'd touched her. Later she would recount her irrationality and be filled with regrets, but now she was high on adrenaline and focused on making sure this went smoothly.
... And it was not going smoothly. She would have been silly to assume it would be easy, but she had envisioned sneaking through the hallways and dodging the servants that roamed the halls—not that she'd be tripping over their feet. He caught her easily enough, and for that she was thankful. She wasn't sure how appropriate a smile was given their proximity and the precarious situation at hand, but she mustered one anyways and motioned for him to lower his voice. They could do this. The exit was in sight. Struck by a sudden urge to run as the clock struck one o'clock and filled the air with a loud ringing, Grace stepped into the foyer, only to backpedal a second later.
"Mr. Greengrass should be returning home within the half hour," the familiar voice of the family maid said, presumably speaking to their one other maid by the tone of her voice, "We must have his tea prepared."
Back pressed against the wall, Grace held her breath until the sound of receding footsteps filled the now empty foyer. They were in the clear. She glanced up at the gentleman and gave him a look; now was his time to go.
... And it was not going smoothly. She would have been silly to assume it would be easy, but she had envisioned sneaking through the hallways and dodging the servants that roamed the halls—not that she'd be tripping over their feet. He caught her easily enough, and for that she was thankful. She wasn't sure how appropriate a smile was given their proximity and the precarious situation at hand, but she mustered one anyways and motioned for him to lower his voice. They could do this. The exit was in sight. Struck by a sudden urge to run as the clock struck one o'clock and filled the air with a loud ringing, Grace stepped into the foyer, only to backpedal a second later.
"Mr. Greengrass should be returning home within the half hour," the familiar voice of the family maid said, presumably speaking to their one other maid by the tone of her voice, "We must have his tea prepared."
Back pressed against the wall, Grace held her breath until the sound of receding footsteps filled the now empty foyer. They were in the clear. She glanced up at the gentleman and gave him a look; now was his time to go.
