Chapter 19

Fourteen months later…

Dear sir,

I recently had the good fortune of visiting the gardens at Hardacre Hall in Derbyshire. What I discovered there took my breath away. Whilst the garden is young yet, I have never before seen the new fashion for Italian gardens delivered with such skill and delicacy of hand. The vista leading down to the lake past the fountains was so beautiful I found myself profoundly moved and, I confess, horribly jealous.

I want such a garden. If you would kindly meet with me at your convenience, I would be pleased to discuss a new venture for a garden on a scale far larger and more ambitious than the one at Hardacre Hall.

―Excerpt of a letter to Mr Hartley De Beauvoir, from His Grace, The Duke of Kingston.

5th May 1851, Brightling Place, Chelsea, London.

"So, your mama will pick you up next Friday, is that all right? You'll be with us for an entire week this time," Hart said, glancing down at Arthur, who was holding his hand as they walked through the gardens. The boy nodded happily, scrunching up his nose. A dusting of freckles scattered it. He was a sweet child, though just as mischievous as any little boy of his age ought to be. The grand house that Hart had promised his wife looked lovely in the sunshine and the gardens, whilst still young, were already a riot of colour. Arthur grinned at him.

"Yes, Uncle, I've been looking forward to coming. Is Alex here yet?"

"No. He'll be here later, though. He's travelling down from university this afternoon."

There had been a good deal of wrangling with the duke over Alex, but the young man had dug in his heels and told his father he'd never speak to him again if he didn't let him go to university. After seeing how courageous his sister had been, Alex had grown in confidence and fortitude and would no longer allow his grace to bully him. Of course, it helped that Hart had promised to fund his education and give him an allowance if his father was so short-sighted as to cut him off. In the end, it hadn't been necessary. Alex had prevailed, though as far as Beresford was concerned, his eldest daughter was dead to him.

Fidelia seemed perfectly content with the arrangement.

"That's good, I like Alex. He's good fun," Arthur said with a smile before asking hopefully: "Are the strawberries ready?"

"You have strawberries on the brain, young man," Hart said, laughing. "But yes, they are. I've saved the biggest one, it's huge. You'll never fit it in your mouth in one go."

"Bet I can," Arthur replied seriously.

Hart snorted and shook his head. "Never mind that. I've got something else to show you today."

"A surprise?" the boy demanded eagerly.

"Well, sort of. You knew he was coming, after all."

"He?" Arthur said curiously and then his eyes widened. "The baby!"

He let go of Hart's hand and ran pell mell the rest of the way down the lawn to where Fidelia was sitting in the shade of a tree beside the ornamental fishpond. She got up, holding out her arms to Arthur as he ran at her, wrapping his arms about her waist.

"Aunt Lia, did you have a baby?"

Hart laughed and hurried after him, finding emotion rising in his chest as Arthur kissed Fidelia and hugged her tightly as they looked over the bassinet beside her. Ambrose Inigo De Beauvoir gurgled merrily, his little legs waving about as he gazed up at the canopy of leaves overhead, entranced by the movement.

"Oh, he's so tiny!" Arthur exclaimed in wonder, leaning into Fidelia and hugging her again. "Well done, Auntie. He's splendid."

Fidelia laughed and leaned down to kiss Arthur's cheek. "You are rather splendid too, Arthur. I swear you've grown another inch since I saw you last."

"It was only four days ago," Arthur said, grinning. "But maybe. Mama says I'm growing like a weed."

"That you are," Hart said, ruffling his hair before lifting his baby son into his arms. "Here, come and meet Ambrose."

Hart settled himself on the bench, and Fidelia joined him, with Arthur sitting between them. "Careful now, support his head, yes, like so," Hart said, carefully giving his son into Arthur's arms.

Arthur bent down and pressed a kiss to the baby's head. "We are going to be friends," he announced. "And I shall take you on lots of adventures. Your papa has the best place to go exploring with huge greenhouses and fields full of trees, and he'll take us fishing too, and your mama is just lovely. She's ever so kind and pretty and she never gets bored with playing games. You just wait and see. Everything is going to be splendid."

Hart blinked hard, finding it necessary to swallow the lump in his throat, but he glanced up and caught his wife's eye. She was smiling too, her eyes shining with happiness.

Yes, he thought to himself, everything is going to be absolutely splendid.