Chapter 19

Chapter 19

As he stood bowing to the audience, Robert reflected that only his sister Elinor could have cajoled him into singing a ballad in a tavern. His sister had a way of organizing people and creating an event. There had been no plan for them to sing that evening, but Elinor had suddenly had an idea and immediately made it happen.

He looked forward to the midsummer ball and wondered what creativity she would bring to that. She'd already persuaded his mother to abandon the formal sit-down dinner at the ball, which was always tedious in the extreme and took away at least two hours of dancing time.

Here he was, the Duke of Montbury, in the midst of his tenants and the workers from the castle and estate. He smiled, exchanging a word with people as they returned to their seats.

He felt a pang of envy as he watched the Reverend Colbrooke and Miss Emma discovering love and gaining confidence in showing their feelings to friends and family. Their voices had climbed to a crescendo of sadness, joining perfectly as if they were the only two people in the room. He suspected there would be wedding bells at St Mary's church within months.

He envied them the simplicity of their love. They had no past baggage to weigh them down. And there she was, right in the midst of his family and friends, the sensuous woman who had betrayed him and tormented his dreams for so many years.

She had noticed his looking in her direction, and her eyes flashed an invitation he would ignore. His brother, sitting beside his betrothed, focused on her every whim. Simon had no clue that Rosalind still cast her net beyond him, trying to catch other men. Would she marry his brother this time? He somehow doubted Rosalind and Simon would ever stand before the altar together.

At times in the last weeks, he had felt a sense of excitement, as if he was truly living again. Life felt different. When he had walked into the room, he'd caught his breath at the sight of Lady Arabella Farrington talking animatedly with her family.

He'd enjoyed her company at the summer fair; her conversation could be serious or filled with humour. They had laughed together so many times, and he'd felt a heavy weight lifting from his shoulders.

He glanced towards Arabella, and she looked up and met his gaze. He saw how her cheeks flushed, but she didn't look away immediately. He smiled gently, knowing he wanted her to look at him like this time after time.

He contrasted the elegant, contrived sophistication of Rosalind with the effortless loveliness of Arabella.

Ever since Rosalind had told him she loved another, he'd felt empty, a vast void in his heart. He'd made a life in London that he enjoyed, with companions he'd admired and desired, but there had been no connection to anything or anyone.

At that moment, he realized the void was filled by the owner of a pair of enchanting green eyes. Could Arabella Farrington be the answer to his future happiness?

"Robert. You look to be in a world of your own. I asked you twice if you would fetch me another slice of fruit pie, and I swear you didn't hear a word I said," his mother said, giving him a despairing look.

"Sorry, Mother, you're right. I was miles away," Robert confessed.

He forced his attention back to the people around him. His feet wanted to take him to stand close to Arabella again, but he knew with a heavy heart that it could cause gossip, so instead, he listened to his mother talking about plans for the summer ball and his brother's wedding.

Robert forced himself not to turn in the direction of the party from Horton Hall, but in his mind, while he listened to his mother, all he saw was a pale complexion, enchanting jade eyes, and a smile that gladdened his heart.

***

For the next two days, Robert threw himself into estate business, spending time with Jason Brown and showing him the far corners of the estate and, more importantly, his hopes and dreams for the future of Montbury.

He took Mickle everywhere with him, and the estate workers began to recognize the spaniel. Robert needed space to think without the continual interruptions at Castle Montbury.

"Let's escape by the butler's pantry and the boot room," he said to Mickle. "I'm thinking of giving Jason an office in the west lodge. It's vacant, and I can meet him there without anyone finding me."

Mickle looked up and made a noise that could have been approval.

"I might even make myself an office down at the west lodge. It seems I'll be here for a few months, and I cannot function with this house party taking over the castle. Once they leave, there will be another one arriving or a ball. Oh, for a quiet week."

He mentally made a note to thank Elinor again for giving him Mickle.

"I believe I might have gone crazy without your quiet company," he told the spaniel.

"You'll like France," he told the dog. "We've got to get you used to travelling in a coach, though. I'll speak to Grayson in the stables about that."

Here I am talking to a spaniel. How far have I come from being that elegant man about Town!

He walked with Jason to a vacant property on the other side of the lake.

"I wondered about renovating the cottage and taking on someone to look after the lake?" he told Jason. "We have the gardeners, but the lake is such an important part of the estate, and it was very overgrown down near the boathouse."

"And the fish stock?" queried Jason.

"Looking after all aspects of the lake. My idea is for it to stay wild and natural, but with management to keep it that way. My mother arranged a picnic there a couple of weeks ago. The children had such fun, and I realized we hardly use the lake as a family anymore."

"I remember there was a small beach over there, by those oak trees, in your grandfather's time," said Jason. "It's near the path from Montbury to Chillington, and your grandfather used to let us village boys swim there,"

"I believe I remember that. I wonder why it stopped. There's no reason why we can't open it up again. I'd like the village and the castle to be closer together. Let's look into finding a lakes man to oversee developments," suggested Robert.

"I have an idea. There's a coachman came north with Lady Arabella, Judd Stephenson. He's betrothed to Lady Arabella's nursery maid. Sir Joseph took him in at Horton Hall, but he already has a coachman."

"I believe I've met him," said Robert.

"I was talking to him at the Beehive, and he's done estate work before and is a keen fisherman," Jason told Robert. "He's no expert, as he is a coachman by profession, but he's got the enthusiasm. He might be interested, especially if a cottage went with the position."

"Sound him out, Jason. See if he's interested," Robert replied, already trusting Jason's judgement.

"I must go. The Reverend Colbrooke is teaching Henry and Freddy down by the lake today, and I promised I'd join them," said Robert, realizing what time it was.

"I'll get some men started on preparing this property ready for a new tenant. It's been empty for some time, and even if Judd isn't interested, I don't think it will take us long to find someone," Jason replied.

"You might find I move in. It has a lovely view of the lake and there are no interruptions or need to be polite to guests whose names I can't remember. I'm not even convinced half the people I meet in the hall at the castle are guests. They might just have wandered in, for all I know!" Robert confessed to Jason with a wide grin.

"It is a lovely position. Just right for a lake keeper," agreed Jason.

"Which reminds me. I'm considering converting the old west lodge for your office and base. Would you rather be in the house or mews?" Robert asked Jason.

"The west lodge would be perfect. I'd be happy with that," confirmed Jason.

"I'll see to it. Go and have a look around anytime," Robert told him.

And I will have a place to go and visit Jason, on essential estate business, where Mama would never venture to find me.

And with that, he waved Jason goodbye and set off at a fast pace down the hill to the lake.

Mickle dashed ahead and then returned to walk beside him. He found a stick and threw it for the dog to retrieve. He'd been a puppy just a few weeks ago and was becoming a handsome dog. He knew if he returned to London, he would be unable to leave the dog at Montbury.

He heard the sound of splashing and excited voices before he reached the lake shore. He couldn't help being in awe of Nathaniel's ability to integrate lessons into projects, which motivated his nephew, who had never shown any interest in book learning in the classroom.

He reflected that the addition of Master Henry, who was the exact opposite, had made a huge difference. Freddy enjoyed lessons, and Henry was having more fun. He suspected the two boys would be lifelong friends.

"Uncle Robert, come and look; we're looking for frogs. The tadpoles have gone now, so there must be more frogs. Nathaniel's told us what frogs eat, and we're looking for those insects, too. So far, I've only seen dragonflies, but Henry thought he saw a large frog over there."

"There used to be newts near the lake, too," Robert told them. "Simon and I would spend hours down here searching for newts and frogs." And, just for a moment, a happy memory of long summer days spent down by the lake with his brother flashed through his mind.

They had stayed friends as adults, and Simon had been his chief confidante throughout their first seasons in London and a tour of Italy and Greece. He regretted that they had never taken a Grand Tour due to the war with Napoleon raging across much of Europe.

He had managed to put Simon out of his thoughts for many years. Now, they were living together in the same house, and he had to admit a sadness at the way things had turned out, but he could still not find it in himself to forgive him for what he had done.

He shook off the memories and turned back to the boys. "You should ask Uncle Simon to show you how to tickle fish, Freddy. He was always better at doing that than me."

"Tickle fish?" The boys laughed in unison.

"It's a way of catching fish without a fishing line. You have to be very still, quiet, and patient," Robert told them.

"You can see the fish swimming under the lake surface," said Freddy. "Nathaniel said there might even be a giant pike in there."

"He is probably right. They hide in the reeds, and they do catch and eat frogs," agreed Robert. "There will also be gudgeon and bream, but my favourite was always the stickleback."

"That's a funny name for a fish," said Henry,

"Well, many fish have funny names, but the stickleback is very like its name as it has spikes sticking up along its back," chimed in Nathaniel.

"We're going to go fishing from the boat," Freddy informed Robert. "Nathaniel says we can put many fish back in the water. We can't eat all of them, and they are for nature studies. Isn't that right, Nathaniel?"

"It is," said Nathaniel. "You can eat the bream or the carp. Cook will know how to prepare and cook those fish."

"We've got a book with drawings of the different types of fish. Fish and other creatures that live in the lake are our next big project," said Freddy.

"And Nathaniel says we can learn about King Arthur, the sword Excalibur, and other mysterious creatures that live underwater," added Henry.

Robert took a deep breath and decided it would be churlish to keep the child from his other uncle. "You should ask Uncle Simon about the myths and legends. He was always fascinated by those stories. I think there are some books in the library he can show you. In fact, I remember he made a series of tiny books himself, all about the fish in the lake."

He heard footsteps crunching on last year's fallen leaves, which still covered the path, and looked around. He half expected to see his brother, but no, his heart raced a little faster at the sight of the figure emerging from the wood onto the lakeshore.

"I brought you a basket of biscuits and some other goodies," came her voice. "And some fresh lemonade."

"Mama, mama," called Henry, racing to greet his mother and Aunt Emma. "We've been finishing the boat. We just can't decide on a name. I want to call it Excalibur, and Freddy wants to call it Trafalgar."

He knew the moment she saw he was there. Her eyes widened, and a gentle smile formed on her lips.

That colour suits her; the green bonnet and dress brings out the colour of those mysterious eyes.

He bowed in greeting, "Lady Farrington, Miss Thraxton."

They curtseyed in response, and the conversation about naming the boat continued.

"What about Avalon?" suggested Robert. "That's the name of the island where the sword Excalibur was made."

The boys conferred for a moment and nodded. "We like Avalon. The good ship Avalon."

"I'm going to paint the name on the boat," said Freddy. "I like Avalon. I'm not sure I can spell Excalibur or Trafalgar, and we have an island in the middle of our lake. We've got our own Avalon."

The Reverend Colbrooke came to join them. "I've been searching for other places we can study. I startled a roe deer over there," he told them. "I think if we watch quietly later on, maybe she will return to the lake to drink."

"We had an idea while walking down here," said Arabella. "It was Aunt Emma's idea, and I think you will like it. Tell them, Emma."

"We could have a treasure hunt with clues for you to follow. The clues could be placed all around the lake," Emma replied excitedly.

"That's a wonderful idea," said Nathaniel. "It can be part of our project as there will be reading, deduction, and following a trail. You can both write about it afterwards."

"I thought maybe we might work on the clues together," suggested Emma, smiling at Nathaniel, who readily agreed.

"After the first treasure hunt, you could devise a different one for us grown-ups to follow. We could make it part of a picnic and invite Grandmama," suggested Robert.

"Can we dress up as pirates, Mama?" asked Henry. "We ought to be historically accurate."

"Pirates, pirates," shouted Freddy. "I'm Fearsome Fiery Jack." And he raced off wielding a pretend sword in the air. Henry ran after him, "I'm Henry Morgan, the terrible. Henry is a pirate name."

"That's caught their attention," said Nathaniel. "We'd better start planning." He got out his notebook, and Emma went to join him.

"Shall we take a turn around the lake?" Robert suggested, offering his arm to Arabella.

"Of course. It looks so beautiful today. I love how the sun gives the lake that shimmering, silver surface. You could almost imagine Lady Vivienne emerging from the lake with the sword Excalibur. This lake project is doing wonders for Henry's imagination. "

"And Freddy's too. I believe we are lucky to have the Reverend Colbrooke. Most tutors would have had the boys inside throughout the summer, and Freddy would have learned to sit and endure learning until he could get outdoors again. "

"He's certainly got their enthusiasm for this project. Henry talks of little else."

"Does he swim?" asked Robert.

"No, his father, Edward, had planned to teach him." He saw the momentary look of sadness cross her face.

"Freddy doesn't swim either. I'm planning to teach him over the summer. Would Henry like to join us?

"I believe you would find it hard to stop him." She laughed. "My only worry is that he will want to dive to the bottom of the lake to search for enchanted creatures."

"I promise you that the safety of him being able to swim will outweigh the dangers," replied Robert with a smile.

"Then thank you. He will be very excited. I suppose I ought to say that's assuming he is here."

"You're not leaving?" and for a moment his stomach felt as though it was filled with a lead balloon. The world seemed to stop still as he took in the implications of her words.

"No, no. We're happy here, and Uncle Joseph and Aunt Grace are happy for us to stay and make a home here. Henry is flourishing."

"Then why?" He felt agitated inside. Arabella couldn't leave. He realized in that instant that he would miss her too much. A life without the chance of a daily glimpse of the young woman with the enchanting green eyes, who was well on her way to stealing his heart, was unthinkable.

"You know I told you that my husband's cousin, Christopher Farrington, had petitioned the court to take full custody of Henry."

He nodded. "But surely …"

"It seems the court is likely to look favourably on his submission. He has evidence, although much of it is incorrect … no, why should I be ladylike about this … most of it is a total perversion of the truth. He is using lies to get control of Henry. The trouble is, that it takes time to argue against the evidence, and I am a woman. We know that makes a difference, and the courts rarely give a woman custody in these cases."

She looked distraught, and he longed to take her in his arms and comfort her. Instead, he held himself back and listened intently.

"I'm going to lose my son, and on top of that, I'm going to have to prepare him for the change positively. I don't want him to be scared if he has to go and live with Mr and Mrs Farrington."

Her bravery and courage astounded him. She put her little boy before everything. Arabella had the courage of a mother lion, but he knew she was right, and the court in London was legally bound to favour a man.

He needed to check with Drabble, his solicitor in Harrogate, what his investigations had unearthed. It was too soon to hope for anything specific, but he would ride over and find out.

He still held her arm, and on a sudden impulse, he turned to face her, searching and finding her eyes.

"We won't let this happen. I don't know precisely how yet, but there is no way that Henry will be sent to live with Christopher Farrington. You have to believe and trust me on this," he reassured her.

"I don't know how you can help, but I am grateful for any support. I don't think I can bear to carry on without my boy," Arabella replied.

He saw tears welling in her eyes and gently drew her towards him, wanting her to draw strength and courage from his embrace.

"I'll speak with Sir Joseph, and I have contacts in London. Henry is not going to leave Horton Hall."

He placed a light kiss on her head, and he heard her let out a gentle sigh.

He pulled back, worried he had gone too far with the kiss, which had been little more than a whisper of breeze. Yet still, he needed to exert control on his continued impulse to draw Arabella into his arms.

"We will work through this. You have been brave alone for long enough. Let me take some of the weight, and we will find a way to push Christopher Farrington so far from you and Henry that you never have to think of him again."

She nodded, and he took her arm again. He felt the need to return to a less emotional conversation, and he pointed out the island and the tallest tree in the distance. "The tree you can see on the er … island of Avalon is an apple tree. No one knows how it came to grow there, but it has been growing strong for many generations of Montburys."

"It's so still and calm here by the lake. I feel I draw serenity from the water and the woodland here," Arabella told him. "As I walk through the trees, I hear the lake lapping against the bank, and then I see the shimmering surface reflecting in the sunshine, and my troubles seem further away."

"As a child, it was my favourite place in the whole world," replied Robert.

"I can see why. It is truly very special."

"I'm thinking of employing someone on the estate to look after the lake and work with Jason Brown, the new steward, on developing it for my family and the village. Jason tells me he remembers a little beach on the far side and that my grandfather used to let the villagers play there. I'd like to return to that sort of relationship between the village and castle," Robert confided.

"That's a wonderful idea. Oh, my goodness, the ideas are flowing today." She laughed out loud, and he was delighted to have distracted her from the legal worries.

"I don't know what you think, and I certainly don't want to keep poaching Sir Joseph's staff, but Jason Brown thought your coachman from Farrington Hall, Judd Stephenson I think, might be interested in the position," he told her, hoping for her opinion.

"Yes, he's a good man. He's engaged to Tabitha, Henry's nursery maid. I trust them both implicitly, and I wouldn't be here today if they hadn't helped me leave Farrington Hall."

He suspected there was a story there and made a note to remember to ask about how she left the hall on another day. "What do you think? I'd value your thoughts."

"Well, Sir Joseph gave Judd a position, but he already has a coachman, and I don't need a coachman here. He's been helping out at the stables and on the estate, but he is capable of far more than that. I believe I'd have eventually made him estate manager at Farrington Hall if things hadn't changed." She smiled up at him. "I think it is an excellent idea. He may say no, but who wouldn't want to look after this lake?"

Robert pointed to a cottage halfway up the hill from the lake. "That cottage is vacant. I was thinking of making it the lake keeper's cottage."

"That would mean they could marry. Tabitha would be over the moon with happiness to have her own home. I think you might have found yourself a lake keeper," Arabella told him.

They walked back to the others to find the boys busy building a dam, piling pebbles high at the side of the lake, while Nathaniel and Emma worked on treasure hunt clues.

"I must leave you all now. Estate business beckons," said Robert. "You'll hear from me soon about the other matter," he said to Arabella, and she nodded her thanks.

Returning to the castle, he looked back longingly at the lake. His life in London had been empty, and now his days had more meaning. He enjoyed overseeing the estate and collaborating with Jason Brown on their ideas for developing it further.

He'd realized at the lake how much she meant to him when he thought that Arabella might leave Horton Hall. He'd been aware of an attraction and had intended to follow that and see where it led. Then suddenly, in an instant, he knew he could not bear the idea of not seeing her. Something had grown between them, a fine web of gossamer thread, gradually extending since their first meeting. The thread was so fine that he had not noticed until he was entwined deep within this web.

This was different from any other relationship, and he had lived a life about town in London. He felt drawn and entangled emotionally with Lady Arabella Farrington, and he felt there was a purpose to his life again, and it felt right.

He didn't notice the figure standing at the end of the woodland path where it joined the park.

Rosalind. Her voice, sultry on a summer's day, called his name.

"Robert. I suspected if I waited, I might find you here," she told him.

He told Mickle to lie down, conscious of an unusual growling sound coming from the dog's throat.

"Can I help you, Your Grace? It's a difficult path down to the lake for an elegant lady like yourself."

"I remember when we spent several hours down by the lake. As I recall, you were very solicitous in helping me find my way down to the shore," she reminded him.

"If you are lost, then the pathway is over there," he replied, ignoring the undertone in Rosalind's reply.

"Robert. Stop this now. I've been trying to find you alone for days. You're always out on estate business. I asked Mr Brown if he had seen you and he suggested you might be near the lake. So, here I am," she protested and pouted in annoyance.

"Rosalind, there is no need for us to meet alone. None at all. I can think of no reason for us to have a conversation."

He began to walk away, but she stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

He stopped and waited. Her words shocked him. "I want us to be together. I know we belong together. Robert, I know you must feel the same way. I've never forgotten you."

"I will listen to no more of this. You left me within weeks of our wedding and went off with my brother. Then, after one of the shortest relationships with Simon, you jilted him and married your duke."

He looked at her with eyes of steel. "Yes, I thought I loved you. I thought my heart would break when you deserted me. It did take me a long time to recover from the loss and humiliation."

"Then we can be together again?" Rosalind replied.

"Anything I felt for you is in the distant past," and without thinking, he continued, feeling icy rage at her audacity. "I realize now that what I felt for you was a youthful passion. I know I never loved you because I now know what love is," he assured her.

She stared at him in shock.

She isn't used to being turned down. From the look on her face, I doubt it's ever happened to her before.

"Robert, listen to me. I'll call off my betrothal to Simon. He means nothing to me. Robert, return to me," her words came back in a high-pitched pleading tone.

He stood back, staring at her in horror and disgust.

"Madam. I ask you to stand aside. This conversation cannot continue." He began moving forward, but she continued to step before him. He heard the low growl behind him and turned to tell Mickle to stay still. Nothing would be helped by his dog attacking Rosalind.

As he turned back, he smelt her exotic perfume as she moved close to him. He stumbled, and as he fell forward, their bodies touched. Rosalind clutched his hand and put a hand around his waist.

He stood still as he asked her in a calm, quiet voice to release him and move away.

"But Robert," she whispered in his ear. "You know we are intended to be together."

"I shall ask you again to stand aside. I am a gentleman, but I am prepared to forcibly remove you if you do not listen to what I am saying."

"It's just a game you're playing," she simpered. "You'll change your mind very soon."

He stood alone, staring at her in disdain. Rosalind was surely delusional.

He saw a shape moving out of the corner of his eye and looked up the hill to the track leading towards the village.

Of all the ...

It was Arabella running in the opposite direction.

Arabella … his heart cried in despair.

She must have seen what would have looked like a romantic clinch, perhaps even a loving embrace, when looked at from a distance.

Stepping around Rosalind, he walked away without a second glance.

"Robert," he heard a cry as he continued walking forward.

He'd spent a special time with Arabella, walking by the lake, when he'd felt they were both recognizing the feelings they felt for each other. She'd been able to confide in him about the possibility of Henry being taken away.

They were learning about each other after a stormy start, and now the scheming Rosalind had potentially ruined their fledgling love and the trust Arabella had placed in him.