Chapter 16

Chapter 16

"Mama, can you tell Aunt Emma that we need to leave soon," called Henry.

"In about half an hour," Arabella replied. "I know you're excited, but you should arrive at the castle at the correct time. Lord Robert and the Dowager Duchess Helena are very kind in letting you join Freddy's lessons. It's kind of Aunt Emma to offer to help with the tutoring too." However, Arabella and her Aunt Grace were all too aware of the motivation behind Emma's interest in teaching the boys.

"Very well, Mama. It's exciting, though. The Reverend Colbrooke says we can put the boat in the water this afternoon to see if it's watertight. If it is, then the repairs will be much easier."

"It looked like a sturdy boat to me," Arabella reassured him.

Henry almost jumped up and down in excitement. "Then, after luncheon, we're going fishing, and you'll be there too. You told me how Papa loved fishing, so I'm bound to be good at it."

"He loved being by the lake at Farrington Hall. I think it might have been your papa's favourite place. He'd have enjoyed being with you today, but we must carry on as best we can without him."

"You're not as sad as before, Mama," Henry said thoughtfully. "I think it is doing you good to live at Horton Hall.

She gave him a hug. Always so serious and growing up far too quickly.

"Well, the weather is lovely. It's a perfect day for adventures," she said.

After waving off Henry and Emma, she spent a pleasant morning alone in the garden at Horton Hall with her notebook and graphite pencil, jotting down ideas for her book of poetry. She held her head up to the sunshine, feeling its warmth on her face. The pergola she found had shade but let the dappled sunshine through.

As lunchtime approached, she went to the kitchen to collect a wicker basket of cold cuts, cakes, and homemade lemonade for the boys' picnic.

Judd, her coachman from Farrington Hall, came across to the kitchen while she was there.

"Would you like the pony and trap for this afternoon, My Lady?" he asked.

She thought for a moment and nodded. "That's a good idea. There's room enough for all of us to return by trap. I need to get used to driving it."

She smiled. "How are you doing here, Judd?"

"I miss Farrington, of course I do, but there is a large stable here, and your uncle has given us that cottage, so I can wed Tabitha sooner than we'd ever hoped for."

"I'm glad to hear it. I can't thank you enough for helping us escape from the hall that night."

"Your cousin Christopher, Mr Farrington, is an unpleasant man. My ma wrote me that it is rumoured the creditors are chasing him for unpaid bills."

Arabella nodded, somehow unsurprised, wondering if money troubles might be why he had been hounding her for sole guardianship of her son.

"It isn't my place, My Lady, but I'm going to say it anyway. There's been a man in the village asking questions about you and Master Henry at the Beehive Tavern. They think he came from York. He wasn't from around here."

Her heart sank, but this wasn't a surprise. She'd expected Christopher to want to know their exact whereabouts. But Judd's next words shocked her.

"I told Tabitha, and she said I had to tell you. He was asking if Master Henry had been up to any mischief or been involved in any accidents."

Ah, he had sent spies.

"Most of the folks round here dislike strangers. They've taken a liking to Master Henry, though, and he spends a fair bit of time at the stables at the Beehive. No one told the man anything, and they made out they hadn't seen you or the little lad."

She felt scared and relieved at the same time. Money was a motivator, and if the man from York paid for information, it would only be a matter of time before someone told him about Henry's latest scrapes.

"I believe it is fair to say that Christopher Farrington is determined to find reasons to take Henry away from me. And, of course, Henry has such an adventurous spirit that he is always falling out of trees or almost getting run over by galloping horses. If any more strangers arrive, then let me or Sir Joseph know, please Judd."

"Very good, My Lady," Judd replied.

"I'll be over directly to collect the pony and trap. I'll tell the cook she can add a few more goodies to the basket as I no longer have to carry it to the lake."

She began to move away, then remembered something and turned back. "Judd, I'm so sorry, but I didn't ask when the wedding will be. Are you hoping for a summer wedding?"

"Aye, My Lady. I reckon it will be around harvest time."

"Tabitha will make a lovely bride. You're both lucky to have found each other," concluded Arabella.

***

She enjoyed the clackety-clack of the pony and trap as she drove down the lane to the furthest shore of the lake. The path was smooth and easy for Snowdrop, the pony, to trot along. The picnic hamper was now far too heavy to carry and safely stowed behind her.

As she slowed Snowdrop to a walk, she thought she heard voices and stopped the trap near the lake under the shade of an oak tree. She gave Snowdrop some oats and led the pony to the water's edge to drink.

The pony, a sturdy white Galloway, had been perfect on the journey.

I must remember to ask Sir Joseph if there is a horse I can ride in the stables, she thought.

Hearing a voice, she looked up to see Jason Brown, one of her uncle's men, who had taken on the role of steward at Castle Montbury.

"Jason. If you are here, then I suspect my son and the others are not far away," she called to him.

"Just down there, My Lady. If you give me the reins, I'll settle and tether Snowdrop. She knows me very well."

"Thank you, Jason. I'd appreciate that. In fact, I'd be glad of some help carrying that heavy wicker basket."

At that moment, another figure appeared. Robert smiled in greeting. Arabella waved at him, ignoring her racing pulse and the butterflies twirling in her stomach. She hadn't seen the duke for several days and hadn't expected him to be there for luncheon.

He went up to Snowdrop and patted the pony.

"I'll tether the pony, then I will help her ladyship with the wicker hamper," Jason told Robert.

"I'll take care of the basket if you see to the pony," said Robert. He went to the trap and lifted out the basket. "I can see why you brought the trap," he said to Arabella with a laugh. "Your cook has been very generous."

"Here, let me help you," said Arabella. "It's heavy, and there are bottles of lemonade in there, too."

"A veritable feast. Jason, the Reverend Colbrooke, and I have set up rugs for us to sit on under the shade of a willow tree right by the lake."

As Arabella bent to take the basket handle, their hands brushed, and she felt the now familiar tingle of excitement racing through her veins. She smiled brightly, showing no signs of her reaction to his touch.

Robert took the weight of the basket, and she saw she wasn't needed. They walked together in companionable silence, and she gasped in wonderment at the rugs and a table for the food to be set out. Of course, this was a picnic for a duke, and it looked as if it might be a very pleasant occasion.

"Mama, mama, come and look at the boat. We're about to put it in the water. We're just waiting for Mr Brown and Lord Robert to help us push it." Henry couldn't hide his excitement.

What a scene, she thought. There was Dash, with Mickle, following the boys and looking interested in everything they did. Emma stood to one side, talking to Nathaniel.

And then from the other path appeared Elinor and the dowager duchess, accompanied by Jim, the stable hand, carrying a second sizeable basket.

"We couldn't miss seeing the boat launched," said Elinor. "Have you just arrived?"

"Yes," said Arabella. "I've brought the pony and trap and a very large hamper filled by the cook. I'm not sure we'll be able to eat it all!"

The three ladies settled on the rugs on the ground, spreading their skirts around them. Arabella gasped when two footmen arrived, clearly expecting to serve the picnic on china plates.

She felt a moment of pride seeing that Mrs Alton's contributions measured up to those of the chef at Castle Montbury.

Henry and Freddy showed the dowager duchess their sketches and work on the project. Elinor complimented her son on the neatness of his writing, and he glowed with pleasure.

Henry told Arabella how to age a tree by counting the rings in its bark and showed her a bark rubbing he'd done that morning.

As soon as Jason Brown returned, they went to the edge of the lake to watch the boat being launched. Robert was clearly in charge as they pushed the wooden frame to the lake edge and heaved it onto the water with a final effort. Robert surprised them all by jumping into the boat as it left the land. He reached out a hand for Henry, then Freddy, and Nathaniel handed them over to him.

Would they sink? It didn't matter, thought Arabella, they were having such fun.

Robert held a metal pail, ready to bail out water, but the old wooden boat seemed almost watertight. "There's a little water coming through, but it's between the joints, and that's normal after a wooden boat hasn't been in the water for a long time. By tomorrow, the joints will have swelled up and closed together," he explained.

All she could hear was the excited shouting of the boys. They fell silent for a moment, and Robert called out that he was going to row them a little way into the lake.

The boys waved as they rowed off along the edge of the lake.

"You mustn't worry," said the dowager duchess. "Robert spent longer on that lake than he did in the castle when he was growing up. I think you were down here much of the time, too, until I decided it was time for you to start behaving like a young lady," she said to Elinor.

"Quite right, Mama," replied Elinor, "and I'm going to shock you now and tell you that tomorrow I am going to climb into that boat and sail on the lake."

"I believe I might join you," said Arabella, smiling.

"There isn't room for three adults and two small boys in that boat." The dowager duchess laughed. "If there were, I might be tempted myself. It's been many years since I rowed to the island in the middle with your father." A dreamy expression came over the dowager duchess' face at the memory.

"I suspect you might be the best at rowing in the family," said Elinor, laughing. "Now let's get this food sorted out as the boys, and I include my brother Robert as a boy, are going to be hungry after their adventure."

At that moment, she heard the sound of voices, and a man, who reminded her a little of Robert, accompanied by one of the most elegant women she had ever seen, joined them on the lakeshore.

"How quaint," said the woman. "You're having a picnic. Your Grace, how modern you all are."

To Arabella, the words carried a hint of sarcasm and disdain.

She moved over to the table and lifted the lid of the wicker baskets. "It's a feast. I'm so sorry we can't join you, but I have an appointment in town. It was such a lovely day we thought we'd look at the lake before the confines of the carriage."

Again Arabella couldn't help feeling that this was all beneath the new arrival.

The woman's focus of interest then turned to Arabella. The dowager duchess came forward to make the introductions. "Lady Arabella Farrington and Miss Emma Thraxton, I'd like to introduce you to Rosalind, Duchess of Wyndale, and my son, Simon, Lord Orsdale."

The dowager duchess paused and smiled at The Duchess of Wyndale before saying, "And they are engaged to be married."

Arabella offered her congratulations, feeling quite comfortable with social etiquette. Emma appeared beside herself with nerves, seemingly tongue-tied and in awe of this great lady.

As the dowager duchess led her son and his betrothed to look at the wooden boat out on the lake, Emma whispered to Arabella, "She must send for those clothes from Paris. I've never seen anyone as grand."

They left Lord Orsdale at the lakeshore and returned to take a glass of lemonade before returning to the castle. Arabella found herself talking with The Duchess of Wyndale.

"You're a widow, I believe," said the duchess. "As am I."

Arabella murmured that, yes, this was the case.

"And I've seen your son at the castle?" asked the duchess.

"Henry, yes, he joins Master Frederick for lessons with Reverend Colbrooke," replied Arabella.

"The vicar? I believe children should be sent to school and not mollycoddled at home. How old is your boy?" the duchess asked, almost demanding an answer.

"Just eight years old," answered Arabella, wondering what interest the duchess could have in Henry.

"Then he should be at school. What are you thinking of?" asserted the duchess.

"I believe I know what is best for my son," Arabella replied coolly before trying to change the subject. "You are driving to York this afternoon?"

"For some shopping. I need to order a gown for the summer ball at the castle."

"Have you tried the haberdashery shop in the village?" asked Arabella. "Mrs Cribbage and her team have excellent fabrics and are talented seamstresses."

"Mrs Cribbage?" choked The Duchess of Wyndale in surprise. "I've sent for Madame Dubois to come to York from London and meet me there. She will make my gown for the ball. I don't think that can compare with a Mrs Cribbage of Montbury village." Her deep, contralto laugh held no warmth.

I don't like her. She is haughty and proud, but it's more than that. I feel uncomfortable to be this close to her. Maybe it is her perfume? It's not like me to dislike people.

Ignoring The Duchess of Wyndale's dismissive comment about the local seamstress, Arabella continued, "The children have done an amazing job with the old boat. They have oiled the wood and made it look magnificent. Of course, without the Duke of Montbury's encouragement …"

Something made her stop and look at the duchess, who scrutinized her with a strange expression.

"You know the Duke of Montbury well?" asked The Duchess of Wyndale. "I've known him since my first season in London."

Arabella noticed that both Elinor and the dowager duchess were looking at The Duchess of Wyndale in surprise.

The Duchess of Wyndale didn't seem to notice and continued, staring at Arabella with her piercing blue eyes. Arabella shivered and knew she would be glad when this grand lady had left.

"We were in love. I believe the duke was my first love. It's all so long ago now, but being here brings back so many memories. He's still a fine man," declared The Duchess of Wyndale.

Arabella, unsure how to reply, merely nodded.

The return of the boat with the boys interrupted their conversation, much to Arabella's relief. Returning safely from their voyage on the lake, the intrepid explorers began to devour the contents of the picnic baskets.

After the conversation with The Duchess of Wyndale, Arabella was relieved to find the dowager duchess laughing and chatting informally with her and Emma. The Thraxtons and Arabella were invited to the summer ball, and the dowager duchess told them formal invitations would arrive soon.

The boys were planning an adventure, sailing over to the island, and they were delighted to hear that Elinor and Arabella planned to join them in the boat the next day.

Arabella felt relaxed and at ease with this group of people who didn't stand on ceremony. She was able to shake off the feeling of unease created during her conversation with The Duchess of Wyndale.

"Arabella, could you take me in the trap to the village, and then you walk home from there?" asked Emma. "I suggested to the Reverend Colbrooke that we take some of the elderly villagers the leftovers from the picnic baskets. He thinks it's a lovely idea. We were going to walk around the village, but if I take Snowdrop and the trap, we can go to some of the more remote cottages. I'll meet him back at the vicarage."

"Of course. We'll be leaving soon. The boys are going to learn how to cast a fishing line, and then we can leave."

So, to end the excursion to the lake, they all gathered on the water's edge, and Mr Brown and Robert brought out fishing lines. The dowager duchess proved to be surprisingly proficient at casting her line. She showed Freddy and Henry how to move backwards and focus on a point in the distance before bringing their lines forward.

Henry raced across to show Arabella how to cast her line, but she got tangled up in it.

"I don't know what happened there," she said as Henry began to laugh.

"Oh, Mama, you've caught yourself," he joked. "I wonder what sort of fish you are." Arabella collapsed in a fit of giggles, and as she tried to get out of the tangle, she only made it worse.

She felt the breath on the back of her neck before she heard his voice. "Henry, stand aside while I assist your mama," said Robert.

He gently untangled the line, which was wrapped several times around her body. When he finished and she was free, he gazed down at her intently, holding her gaze for several seconds. He raised one eyebrow quizzically, and she felt her whole body alive with tingles of anticipation of his touch. When Arabella broke eye contact, she looked around, anxious that no one had seen that lingering gaze.

As she moved, she stumbled, and strong arms caught her, holding her close against his body to steady her. The scent of sandalwood and his old leather jacket filled her senses as she clung to him for a second to make sure the dizziness had passed.

"Henry, get your mama a glass of lemonade," said Robert. "I think she is feeling a little faint. It must be the hot weather."

"We really must stop being so clumsy." He laughed, steadying her on her feet. "We are always falling together, and if we are not careful, then people may start to gossip," he said with a grin, but the expression in his blue eyes remained intense.

Arabella, Henry, Emma, and Dash waved goodbye to the Montbury family as they left in the trap, and Snowdrop trotted towards the village.

Arabella had noticed how the Reverend Colbrooke could not take his eyes off Emma.

I need to talk with Aunt Grace, she thought. He is a clergyman, but there is a need for more chaperonage when the two of them are alone together.

He had told Arabella how it had been Emma's idea to distribute the leftover food to the needy in the village. "She is always thinking of others first," he'd said without taking his eyes off Emma.

Arabella suggested that Henry and Dash run behind the trap so she could talk with Emma in confidence.

"Emma," began Arabella, choosing her words carefully. "I believe the Reverend Colbrooke is in love with you." She saw Emma's cheeks blush pink. "Do you love him?"

"I don't know. I think so. Yes, I believe I have feelings for him." Emma's face was thoughtful as she thought about the Reverend Nathaniel Colbrooke.

"It's obvious to me that he is smitten with you and that you feel the same about him. You need to tell Aunt Grace."

She slowed Snowdrop to a walk as they made their way to the vicarage door. "Has he made you an offer of marriage?" she asked gently.

"No, but he has said he enjoys my company and hopes I will always be in his life," replied Emma.

"I believe he loves you and may soon ask for your hand in marriage. You need to think about whether you wish to marry or have your season in London. I think you may have to make a choice," Arabella told Emma.

Emma looked surprised, but the dreamy expression on her face gave Arabella a clue to the decision she would make.