Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The days were getting longer, and it had been a good week with plenty of sunshine as the landscape transformed into summer. Robert loved the view from his bedchamber window, showing the beauty of the park and the wilderness on the moorland on the far hills.

He'd returned from the woodland walk in a strange mood where he felt unable to settle, which was unusual for him. In the end, he'd retreated to his library and tried to read in solitude, but even then, his attention wandered.

Last night he had wondered if he would ever meet the woman with the jade green eyes again. Today, their paths had crossed again.

It sounded as though he may be seeing a fair bit of her if little Henry was to join Freddy for tutoring by the Reverend Nathaniel.

Jackson, his new valet, offered him a choice of two cravats. "Any preference, Your Grace?" he asked.

"Oh, most definitely this one," he responded, choosing the more discrete of the two. "I'm no Pink of the ton. Give me a simply tied cravat any day, even on occasions when the prince regent is present," he joked.

He remembered some of the complicated fashions sported by elegant gentlemen and the monstrosities created by the dandy set.

"I was reluctant to have a valet, Jackson. Mother insisted, and she can be formidable. However, you are proving to be unobtrusive, which is a quality I value very highly."

"Thank you, Your Grace," said the young man, a look of pride in his eyes.

"Would you consider returning to London with me?" he enquired.

"Absolutely, Your Lordship," he replied, nodding enthusiastically before adding, "I've never been to London."

Making his way downstairs, he saw the carriage waiting by the main door. Soon after, his mother and Elinor joined him in the great hall.

"It's so lovely that you are home and able to accompany us to events," his mother said, beaming. "I think you'll like the Thraxtons."

"We met Miss Emma Thraxton and her cousin, Lady Arabella Farrington, on our walk this morning," Elinor told her mother as they climbed into the carriage.

"In fact, Mama, I suggested little Master Henry Farrington might come and join Freddy for lessons. The Reverend Colbrooke is happy to tutor both boys together."

"That's a good idea, Elinor. It might be good for Freddy to have a friend his own age. He really doesn't enjoy lessons."

"That's my thoughts exactly, Mama. I'll tell Lady Farrington that's settled, and they can start learning together immediately."

She turned to her brother as they approached Horton Hall. "Mama, Robert met Lady Farrington the day he took that fall from his horse."

Robert nodded, deciding not to comment.

"You liked Lady Arabella Farrington, didn't you?" Elinor asked.

"Elinor, I can truly say she is the most intriguing woman I've ever met," he replied.

This was absolutely the case. He felt nervous, yet excited, knowing that he would soon see Lady Farrington again. It felt different from when he had first met Rosalind, which he was beginning to realize had been more passionate desire than true affection.

Why was he comparing Lady Farrington with Rosalind? He'd had a passionate attachment to Rosalind and planned to marry her. He'd only met Lady Farrington two days before. He needed to get a grip on his emotions before he was submerged by a wave he knew he would be unable to control.

***

Guests talked in groups in the drawing room at Horton Hall. He saw Nathaniel and asked his mother to excuse him as he joined the parson in the corner.

"We meet again, my friend," he said with a touch of humour.

"Every day this week," responded Nathaniel. "I believe I just missed you on Sunday. Miss Thraxton and I arrived on the scene immediately after you'd ridden off."

"I'm just relieved my horse didn't career into the boy. It was a close-run thing. He seems a nice little boy, curious about everything."

"Indeed. I'm looking forward to teaching him alongside Freddy. I think Freddy will help Henry enjoy life and play games, and Henry will help nudge Freddy into learning a little."

"I was the same at Freddy's age. I enjoyed my time at Cambridge, but I'm no scholar."

Robert spoke in a hushed voice, confident no one could overhear them. "And the boy's father is no longer with us?"

"No alas, he died of the morbid sore throat almost two years ago. I gather it was sudden, and he was gone in a matter of hours."

"That poor family," Robert whispered, barely audible.

"Such a tragedy for the family. I can't discuss it here, but I have reason to believe that life has been harsh to Lady Farrington. I hope they have found their safe harbour here at Horton Hall, in our little community."

At that moment, Lady Farrington and Miss Thraxton entered the room together. He tried to look elsewhere, but his eyes were drawn to her, standing in the doorway, greeting her aunt and his mama.

Her pearly grey gown was subtle but complemented her jet-black hair and green eyes perfectly. How unusual for an evening gown to be made of diaphanous grey silk, which swirled around her as she moved into the room.

This was a very different, elegant lady of the ton, and he knew he would have been drawn to speak with her if he had met her in Almack's Assembly rooms or a soirée in Mayfair. Lady Arabella Farrington took his breath away.

Had she noticed him talking with Nathaniel in the far corner of the large room? Standing with Arabella, Emma took her arm and propelled her in their direction. His companion looked more than happy to see the lovely Miss Thraxton.

Robert bowed at the two ladies and then found himself talking with Lady Farrington while the Reverend Colbrooke and Miss Thraxton discussed their day.

What could he say? He felt tongue-tied, but he couldn't stand there speechless.

"I hear that Henry will be taking lessons with Freddy. The Reverend Colbrooke says he is looking forward to teaching the boys together," he finally spoke.

"It will be good for Henry to have someone to guide his learning. I can't keep up with him."

"He seems especially interested in the world of nature. Has he always had that interest?"

Those green eyes and that fair complexion complemented by the pearly grey gown. I could drown in those eyes.

"He's always been inquisitive, but his interest in creatures and the world of nature started last year. We went to look at a museum in London, and he became interested in exploring the world about him."

"He knows a lot. He's caring with animals, too. He wasn't scared to be hurt to protect his dog."

"He's a brave boy; he's had to be in the last two years. His father gave him Dash on his sixth birthday, just before he died. It makes the spaniel even more important to him."

Lady Thraxton interrupted them. "I see you two are getting to know each other. Excellent. I was going to suggest you went in to dinner together. We'll be going through in a few minutes.

The small group of neighbours formed a line, ready to process through to dinner. Robert noticed his mother, engaged in conversation with a local widowed landowner and his sister with what he took to be the man's son.

He knew his mother could appear haughty and proud, he'd seen her in action, but at social events like this, where she felt comfortable, she was every inch the assured duchess, showing genuine interest in the lives of her neighbours.

He held out his arm for Lady Farrington on which to place hers. He kept talking, small talk about the village and local sights.

As they moved forward, the thrill of awareness of the lady walking next to him, coursing through his body, absorbed his attention, making it difficult to maintain the conversation. As he guided her into her seat at the dining table and eased into his next to her, he knew there was nowhere he would rather be and no one he would rather be with.

He'd misunderstood and misrepresented this lovely young woman sitting next to him. He'd apologized the day before in the woodland, but it didn't seem adequate. He didn't want to draw her attention back to the incident; he wanted her to think positively of him and build on the developing rapprochement between them. But he knew he had been unfair in his words on Sunday in the woods.