Grace stood looking at the massive house in the distance. She came to the same spot, just at the edge of a copse of trees, and looked her fill at the empty house most days.  She had arrived two weeks earlier and one week after Melinda Downs. Cybil had been right about the woman. She was a tall and lanky redhead, who wore and abundance of makeup and perfume and did not dress to work. Her tailored clothes were always pristine and never had a spec of dirt on them despite the fact that she worked at a dig site.

Realizing that she was only torturing herself, she turned away from the house and walked back through the trees towards the dig site. They had been pulling artifacts from the earth nonstop since she had arrived and part of her felt like a kid in a candy store at all of the wonderful things they were discovering, but the other part of her was constantly on edge.

They had cleaned up for the day and most of the students who were helping on the dig site had taken the van into town to enjoy some down time. Grace walked over to the portable buildings and sat in a chair outside her door enjoying the cool breeze and the smell of the freshly turned earth. She was so deep in a dream of what could have been that she didn't hear the horse's hooves behind her on the soft grass.

"I thought it was you," The soft welsh accent caught her off guard and she turned to see Tom Hill, Bryce's land manager, dismounting his horse.

"I was hoping you didn't notice me," Grace said as she rose and held out her hand.

Tom had been to the site earlier that day and had been taken around by Melinda, who had showed him all of their new discoveries while taking credit for them all, just as Cybil had feared.

"You're a hard woman to miss even with a large hat and sunglasses." He grinned as he looked around. "Where is everyone?"

"They went into the village to blow off a little steam."

He nodded looking at her closely. "Why didn't you want me to notice you?"

"I'm trying to stay out of sight.  The Earl and I had a disagreement, and I'm not sure that I would be welcome if he knew I was here. Cybil asked that I come and keep an eye on things, and she's a hard girl to say no to." Grace kept it simple.

Tom smiled. "That she is." They were silent for a moment and Grace debated whether she should ask him to keep her presence a secret, but as soon as she had the thought she knew it was unfair of her to ask. 

"Right now it's quiet, but most of the family arrives later this week for the laying of the corner stone for a new village hall in honor of their grandfather. It's rare that they're all here together," Tom shared. It was a blanket statement, and she wasn't sure if he was trying to tell her to keep a low profile or that she hadn't a hope in hell of keeping her presence a secret. She sighed at the thought of having to deal with the Stevenses in mass.

"I won't mention that you're here, but it's bound to get out," he confirmed the latter.

"Thanks for that." She nodded, knowing that he didn't have to do that much for her. She knew Clive was coming that weekend and now she knew why. If the whole family was in residence then it was too good of a chance for him to miss.

"It's good to see you, Grace." He nodded before remounting his horse and leaving her to try and figure out the best escape route.

True to Tom's word, that Friday, the family started to arrive, and Melinda spent most of the day up at the house and off site, leaving Grace to work steadily while doing her best to ignore the butterflies in her stomach at the thought of Bryce being so near.

When Melinda arrived back that evening, she knocked on her door looking for a little chat. Grace did her best to let her know she wasn't interested, but the woman wasn't taking no for an answer, and Grace spent an hour listening to her talk about her new friends.

She did her best to stay as polite as possible but when she could no longer take it she stood abruptly and told her that it was past her bedtime and that she needed to leave. Melinda had looked at her like she was crazy but she had complied, leaving Grace to do her best to forget about all of the Stevenses and their close proximity, but just how close they were became all too clear the next day.

*******

"It seems we've been here before."

Grace closed her eyes at the familiar voice. Maybe she could ignore him and he would evaporate like a mirage.

"Grace?"

She looked up into a pair of sky blue eyes that were so much like Bryce's they made her catch her breath. She stared at Rainer silently, unable to say anything, her face stony. She could hear the chattering around her pick up as some of the students started to recognize him.

He just stared back at her, an odd expression on his face.

It only took a moment for Melinda to slide up next to him and pull him away from Grace, and after a few moments she was able to go back to digging, albeit with shaking hands.

*******

Rainer was livid as he made his way back to the house. What had his brother done to Grace? She looked like a shell of herself, her eyes were dead, and she had no spirit left. He had always admired his brother but in that moment he wanted to hurt him, and it must have been evident as he entered the dining room where everyone had gathered for lunch.

Rainer rarely got mad but when he did he was a sight to behold, just like all of his brothers, and he had the full attention of his family as they stood looking from him to Bryce.

"What – did – you - do – to – her?" His voice was low and every word was drawn out with anger.

Bryce looked up from a letter he had been reading, going still at his brother's anger. He knew who he meant but he didn't know why it was suddenly a topic for conversation, especially in front of the entire family.

"Why is this coming up now?" Bryce's voice was clipped. Grace's and his relationship, or lack of one, was no one's business but theirs. He knew he had screwed up royally, and that he had been completely wrong in every way. He had let his anger and jealously control him, but she had wanted him to believe it. She had wanted him to hate her. The only reason he could think of was that she had discovered feelings for Brian and hadn't wanted him to find out, and he hadn't. He hadn't spoken to Brian about anything but business in almost a year.

He had dug his hole and lost, not only the girl, but his best friend. Not that anyone but the three of them knew that, or ever would.

"Because I just saw her, and she looked right through me!" Rainer hissed.

Bryce, to his credit, barely flinched at what Rainer said, even though his heart was in his throat. He knew if he kept silent the questions would be asked for him.

"Who?" Cassie asked.

"Grace!" Rainer answered not taking his eyes from Bryce's.

"Grace is here?" Elizabeth asked calmly, knowing all was not well with her son and hadn't been for a very long time.

"Yes, at the dig site." Rainer scoured Bryce with his eyes and Bryce didn't dare break eye contact first.

"Why?" Lizzy asked confused.

"How should I know? I was pleased to see her, but when I greeted her she looked right through me as if I wasn't there. So I ask you brother, what did you do to her?"

Bryce remained silent, his anger about to reach its boiling point.  What was she doing here? Why was she here? And who the hell was his brother to lay out his private life like it was the dirty laundry.

There was a tense silence at the table as everyone stared at Bryce and Rainer.

"That's enough," Elizabeth said, rising from the table motioning for Richard. He had witnessed the entire argument and was eager to tell Gertrude, but first Elizabeth had a job for him to do as he listened to her instructions and the hurried from the room.

"Everyone sit and eat," she commanded.

Bryce resumed his lunch and Rainer walked over to the buffet and made a plate sitting at the opposite end of the table from Bryce, remaining silent in his anger. The other Stevenses kept shooting each other glances not sure what was going on around them.

*******

Grace was carrying a newly discovered artifact over to the trailer where they were being stored when she heard the sound of an engine. Melinda must have heard it as well because her head popped out of the trailer where she was staying.

Grace watched as Richard got out of the front seat and started towards her. Grace turned her back to him as she handed the artifact to a nearby student and told him where to take it. Taking a deep breath she turned around and gave him her best smile which wasn't all that great.

Before she could say anything Melinda was there in front of her, cutting off any greeting she might have given.

"Richard, is Clive here? Am I needed at the house?"

"No, Dr. Downs, Miss Grace is wanted at the house." He nodded in Grace's direction, giving her a kind smile. "Ms. Elizabeth sent me to get her."

Melinda looked at Grace skeptically. "That can't be right?"

"I assure you it is." Richard motioned towards the car and Grace realized that her time was up, and she had been fully discovered.

Grace looked down at herself wondering if she had time to change.

"You had better come now, Ms. Elizabeth expressed some urgency in the matter." Richard had read her mind.

Grace followed Richard but was once again cut off by Melinda getting in the car in front of her. "I think I had better come too." Then she closed the door before anyone could object. Richard's manners prevented him from correcting her, and Grace had no reason to care one way or the other, so the three of them rode in silence for the short journey. It was a good thing that she had a healthy heart because if she hadn't she would be dead from fright. She hadn't seen Bryce since he had left her alone in her Savannah hotel room without a word.

As soon as the car came to a stop Melinda hopped out and hurried up the steps and into the house as if she owned it. Grace, who was not so eager, took her time looking at the house as she closed the car door.

"It doesn't change much," Richard said in a friendly way, offering her his arm as they walked up the step together. He must have sensed that she was about to turn and run.

"You're not going to let me make a break for it are you?" Grace gave a weak smile.

"No ma'am, I have my instructions."

Grace nodded and allowed him to lead her up the stairs and into the hall where she could hear Melinda's voice coming from the dining room.