ENTER GRACE THOMAS

Summary: A follow on story for 'The Children.'Adam has a night off, leaving Ben in charge of Cathy and Davy, to spend an evening having dinner and theatre with a lady friend. But events change his plans. NB With many thanks for all of your reviews. You're all so encouraging. I will try and keep your interest. I'm not so good at this posting lark Am trying to put chapter 2 where it should be, after chapter 1, and not as a new story. I couldn't do it. Sorry for the confusion. I'm having no luck so am reposting what I have done so far.

Chapter 1

Before laying down to sleep, Grace was relaxing in bed reading her favourite novel, Jane Eyre. She had had a long and hard day of working and was looking forward to the quiet. Just a little longer with Mr Rochester before her real life took over again, she thought. Her mind had just returned to Rochester and Thornfield when a angry female entered the bedroom.

"Something wrong Myra?" Grace asked with concern for her friend. "I can't do it! I won't do it!" "Do what Myra?"

"Go out with that pompous, aggravating, know-it-all, bossy man." "Oh no. What's wrong this time? I thought you were having a meal together and then the theatre." "Shakespeare!" "Ah, well I guess Shakespeare isn't everyone's cup of tea. But Myra, it's not a whole play. You don't have to sit for hours through a tragedy. I saw the billboard. It's just extracts." Myra looked blankly at Grace. "You know, scenes." Still no response. Grace sighed. "Bits from different plays." "I don't care what it is, I'm not going."

"But you might only think you'll not enjoy it because it's Shakespeare. It's extracts….er, bits from the comedies. Probably Much Ado About Nothing or Taming of the …." "Stop wasting your breath. Going out with that man is something I will not do." "My goodness, I must say he certainly sounds like a horrible man. Who is it? Someone I know?"

"Adam Cartwright." Grace stared open-mouthed at Myra's disclosure. "Are you crazy or what?" "There's no use discussing it. I therefore need you to do your usual job for me." "I can't do that Myra. I can't lie to Adam Cartwright."

"Why not, it hasn't troubled you before." "It has always troubled me, but Adam Cartwright is different." "Don't tell me you fancy him. Well, he wouldn't look twice at you with your lack of attributes." Grace was well aware of the gifts she did not have, but even so hearing it said brought a sudden spasm to her body making her eyes look towards the floor.

"So what makes him so different?" "He will know I'm lying and be mad at me and I don't need a Cartwright mad at me."

"Don't be rediculous. He won't catch on. None of the others have." "Adam Cartwright has a sixth sense about things when it comes to lying. His eyes see into your soul, so to speak. Why don't you just face him and tell him straight to his face that you don't want to go out with him. Simple." "No. I want you to tell him the usual routine and then he'll leave."

"Myra, I'm sorry, but no. I'm not going to lie for you to him." Grace thought in silence for a moment, then carried on. "In fact, I think that this is an opportune moment for me to stop lying for you altogether." "You do that and you're out of here, right now." "I see. Well since I'm already in bed, would you be gracious enough to allow me to stay one more night, and I'll leave first thing in the morning." "That will be just fine. Good. Don't expect me back again tonight. My escort and I are going to have some fun and not some stuffy Shakespeare play." And with that Myra made her way to the bedroom door, turned and as an afterthought said, "Oh, by the way, he's coming here to pick me up anytime soon." She opened the door and left. Grace then heard the slam of the outer door.

Grace was left in shock from both having to speak with Adam Cartwright and her own circumstances of where she could stay. 'I'll find somewhere' she thought. With that she got out of bed and donned her dressing gown, well Myra's dressing gown, picked up her book and made her way into the living room and sat down on the couch. Reading might help her calm down before the inevitable happened. She gave up a little prayer to help her get through this, began reading and waited. Suddenly, after, it seemed, no time at all, there was a knock of the door. Grace jumped up to answer the door. She realised that she liked and feared, no that's too strong a word, was wary of Adam Cartwright, but of course he had never spoken to her except for the obligatory 'good morning' or such, in the street. Another knock on the door startled Grace out of her reverie and she opened the door.

Chapter 2

Grace smiled at Adam Cartwright, who was standing there with his hat in his hands, returning her smile. "Good evening Miss, is Myra inside. I'm a mite late. I hope she is in a forgiving mood." "Please, won't you come in. I'm afraid Myra isn't here." "She isn't? Where is she? I specifically remember I told Myra I'd pick her up at 7.30, although as I've said, I'm a little late. Did she go off in a huff because of that?" "No." Grace took a deep breath, her mind in turmoil. Adam looking at her was making her very nervous. "Myra was called away by her boss. Someone took sick and she was asked to cover for them. Asked me to apologise to you for not being able to make it this evening. Perhaps another time."

"Oh, I see." Grace thought he had believed her, bit her lip, but then she could see his mind working. "Is that the truth?"

Grace lowered her eyes, took another deep breath and said, "That's what Myra told me to tell you… but it's not true. I'm sorry." "I think you'd better tell me the whole truth. I don't like being lied to." "I'm not lying to you." Grace was raising her voice now. "It's what Myra told me to tell you. I then confessed to you that it wasn't the truth."

"Perhaps you should tell me what's been going on between you two Miss….. What is your name, by the way?" "Grace Thomas." "How do you do. I'm Adam Cartwright." "Yes, I know who you are." "Alright, let's get back to the truth."

"I've just told you the truth." "You've told me SOME truth." "I don't know what else I can tell you." "Well, let's start with where is Myra and what she is up to. I recommend this time you leave nothing out or there might be consequences."

"Consequences? I've done nothing but tell you the truth." Grace said, raising her voice once again. "Let's hope you continue with the truth or you just might find out what those consequences are."

Grace's eyes opened wide. I just knew he would get mad at me, and none of this was my fault, she thought. "You can't do anything to me. I've done nothing wrong. But I will say this, I think you should count yourself lucky where Myra is concerned. You've had a narrow escape." "And what do you mean by that?" "Oh, I don't need to go into that, suffice to say she didn't want to go out with you. There I've said it." "And the reason?" "Just accept what I said please." "No, I need more."

"Well, I'm sorry, but there is no more." "I think there is. Your eyes tell me so." "I can't say anything else. She just shouted down your character and you don't need me to tell you all of that." "Yes, I do. Tell me." It sounded like an order. Maybe Myra was right about the 'bossy' part. Grace allowed herself a little smile. "What's so funny Grace Thomas? I don't like being left in the dark." "All right, you win. She called you pompous, aggravating, a know-it-all and bossy man. (That smile came again). And she certainly was not interested in Shakespeare. She's gone out with another man for 'a fun' evening. There, now you know it all. Satisfied?" "Yes I am. Maybe I should wait until she returns." "Um, I don't think so. She won't be back this evening." "Thank you for telling me everything." "You're welcome. Now perhaps you would be kind enough to leave so I can get my rest."

"How about YOU coming with me this evening. I would enjoy your company." Adam invited. "I don't think so Mr Cartwright. Thanks for the offer though, but I need to get my rest. I've had a hard day and have to start again early in the morning." Taking that as a refusal for his company, he started for the door when he noticed the book in her hand, and queried what she was reading. Forgetting that she had kept her book in her hand all this time, "Oh, it's not for a man. It's just a silly romance. You know, things go wrong but all comes right in the end." "It looks like you've had it a long time, judging by the cover." "Actually, no. It's a second hand book or probably third or fourth hand book. But my favourite."

"Oh indeed. What's it about and who is it by? And why do you like it so much?" "You ask a lot of questions. Time is going on and you will miss your theatre performance." Grace was beginning to relax in Adam Cartwright's company.

"Oh that's alright, it doesn't start for a while yet. But at the moment I'm more interested in hearing about your book, especially when it is one I've not read." "It's called Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It's the language and the way in which she writes that attracts me."

"Wasn't she once known as Currer Bell. I seem to recall reading something about her and her family." Adam said, looking at the cover and sitting down in a nearby chair. "Yes. But in those days if a woman author was trying to get something published she would have had to use a pseudonym. I did some research on the author and that's when I found out Currer Bell was in fact Charlotte Bronte. Sorry, I didn't mean to bore you with these facts. I'm afraid I digressed."

"I'm not bored at all. I'm very interested in books, especially ones that are new to me. But please go on with your thoughts on the book."

Grace smiled. She felt Adam Cartwright was sincere in his questions and not making fun of her. "Well, it begins with

her childhood, around 10 years of age. She lives with her aunt and her children who despise her existence. She is sent away to school where she ends up as a teacher. Then she becomes a governess and falls in love with her employer. They are to be married, but Jane is shocked to find out that he has a wife still living. She runs away and finds shelter with a family of one brother and two sisters, who turn out to be cousins. She returns to Thornfield, that's where she was a governess, to find it in ruins. After making enquiries, she finds out that there had been a fire, probably started by the mad wife. Oh sorry, I didn't mention his wife was insane, did I?"

"No, you didn't, but never mind, go on. Did it end well?" "Yes indeed. Her employer tried to save his wife, but she fell from the battlements and died. He was injured in the process. Anyway, to end this narrative, Jane finds him and together they live as man and wife. There, I told you it was a silly romance." "Well yes, but that was just the story." Adam smiled. "But something tells me it's not just the story that keeps your interest in the book. And you've probably read it more than once. Am I right?" "You might be." Grace said with a smile and lowered her eyes in embarrassment. 'Why would he want to know such things?' "Well if you must know, it's the writing that gains my attention. She writes as if she is speaking just to me, personally, and even refers to me now and again within the story, addressing me as 'dear reader'. And of course the English is just perfect."

"You've tempted me to read this book myself. Maybe we could discuss it in more detail once I have done so. What do you think? We could have lunch together one day and compare notes, as they say." "Oh, I don't think so Mr Cartwright. I have very little free time. And that brings me to this evening. So if you wouldn't mind, I would be grateful if you would leave now so I can get my much needed rest." "Yes. Yes of course. And thank you for being honest with me and for telling me about your book. Goodnight then." Adam stood and made his way to the door. Grace held open the door as Adam went through it. "Goodnight Mr Cartwright." "Goodnight again Grace." And with that he left.

They were both left with their own thoughts. Adam musing over his encounter with Grace. She seemed to him to be a young lady of intelligence with strong feelings, and wondering how she became a friend of Myra, who was anything but a lady, after what he had heard of her from Grace. I would be happy to see her again for an animated discussion of literature, he throught. He took himself off to the theatre, alone.

Grace on the other hand was thinking it was true what she had heard about Adam Cartwright. Although he did seem to have a bossy air about him, he also seemed to be a rational man. He really did seem to be interested in what she had to say. And the way he was able to put me at my ease. She thought. Maybe meeting up with him to discuss Jane Eyre would be interesting, if he really meant it. But would I ever have the nerve to do that even if I found time to do that. He's certainly out of my league. With all these things running through her mind, Grace made her way to the bedroom for her last night's sleep there. Then tomorrow, who knows.