Ashes and Ice Read Online Free Page B

easily over melon slices and strawberries that Mr. Barker is far more interested in Mr. Barker than in anyone else.” Grace flashed Miranda a smile before placing her bonnet and shawl aside.
    When she turned back to her husband, she found him most furious. “I will speak to you later, Miranda. For now, I will have words with Grace on the matter. Come to our room, madam, and let us resume this discussion.”
    Grace followed Peter, knowing that he would lash out at her in his anger. How many times would this be the course of their discussions? He always flared up like a fire feasting hungrily on old wood. Then he would become calm and apologetic, almost childlike in his desire to please. Sometimes Grace thought she’d married two different men.
    They entered their bedroom, and before Peter could close the door, Grace jumped in to speak. “Please hear me out before you take offense with me.”
    He turned to eye her, the rage held in tight restraint as he replied, “Very well.”
    Grace took a seat and began to pull off her gloves. “I did not purposefully set out this morning to cause you irritation or pain. I am sorry that I have apparently managed both. As Miranda stated, we realized your busyness and thought only to take care of the situation ourselves. Your mother found it acceptable, and in your father’s absence, as well as your own, we believed this to be the only necessary authority on which to act.”
    “Are you finished?” he asked in a low guarded tone.
    “No.” Grace surprised them both with her answer. She threw her gloves aside and worked to keep her own anger in check. “I’m tired of your accusing tones and angry lectures. Don’t think me to be so ill-witted that I believe for one moment this is about Miranda. Oh, certainly you wish to have control over her life, but we both know that this behavior of yours is fueled by my desire to help ease the tensions between our family and Mr. Paxton. So rather than chide me for accompanying your sister on her outing, why not simply deal with the real issue at hand?”
    Peter’s jaw tightened, and Grace could clearly see that her words had struck a chord. He paced the room a moment before stopping directly in front of her. “You had no right to interfere. You are my wife, and as such you answer to me. My sister is unmarried and answers to our father, and in his absence she, too, answers to me. Do you understand?”
    “I understand that you wish to control the lives of the people around you. I understand that you hold no respect for God or His authority over you, yet you demand that others allow you your rightful authority over them. Seems to me there are double standards in this.”
    Peter shook his head, his sandy brown hair falling onto his forehead. “I do not care what it seems like to you. Grace, there are certain rules of society and decorum that I expect you to honor. My father has expected no less from my mother and sister, and I expect no less from you.”
    “You knew before marrying me that I didn’t agree with this philosophy of life,” Grace replied. “You blamed it on Karen, but in truth, I was raised to believe women have the ability to reason for themselves.”
    “Perhaps that’s why your father arranged a marriage for you with Mr. Paxton.”
    Grace frowned. “My father arranged that engagement based on Mr. Paxton’s blackmail and nothing more. He wouldn’t have forced me into such a relationship had there been another way. And you and I wouldn’t be married now had I stayed behind to be the dominated little woman that you demand of me now.”
    “Perhaps that would have been for the best,” Peter snapped.
    Grace was silent a moment, the strength of his words a blow to her heart. “Yes, perhaps you’re right.” She bowed her head and wondered why it should be that this man she loved so dearly should hurt her so deeply.
    For several moments neither one spoke, then Peter came to her and put his hand under her chin. Lifting her