Lucy said. ‘It will be heartbreaking for Paul to lose his father too soon—though he ought to have returned sooner. I cannot imagine why he stayed away so long. It was thoughtless of him.’
‘I suppose that once he had accepted the commission with Wellington, he could not leave him until it was settled.’ Jenny frowned. ‘I believe he much regrets it now, but Lord Ravenscar is not resentful, merely pleased to have his son home.’
‘Yes...’ Lucy wrinkled her smooth brow. ‘He told me just now how proud he was of Paul for having stuck to his duty. He says that he knows Paul has many improvements in mind for the estate.’
‘Oh, yes,’ Jenny said and laughed. ‘He explained them to me last night in detail, but I fear that I was not truly attending. Jeffery was cutting a tooth and my mind was with him...but it all sounded very worthy and fine.’
‘Poor Jenny.’ Lucy laughed and her face lit up. All at once she looked beautiful again, the sorrows of the past months somehow sloughed off as her eyes danced with amusement. ‘You must have missed Adam very much, for they could have talked business together.’
‘Yes, indeed,’ Jenny agreed. ‘I like Paul very well, but farming is not my forte and I could not help listening for little Jeffrey. Nurse is very good, but he does cry so...and she will not pick him up, because she says it spoils him. I think she does not like it when I do.’
‘Oh, that is unkind, but I know many nurses feel the same,’ Lucy said sympathetically. ‘If I had a child, I believe I should pick him up when he cried—even if his nurse did not agree with the practice.’
‘Well, I do,’ Jenny said. ‘Nurse scolds me, but I do not care. He is my son and I shall tend him when he cries no matter what anyone says.’ She offered her hand to Lucy. ‘Will you come up and see him now?’
‘Yes, I should love to and I shall stay to luncheon, Jenny. Mama knew that I might be more than an hour or so and will not worry.’
‘I shall send your groom to tell her that you will not be home until later,’ Jenny assured her. ‘And you shall ride home in my carriage.’
* * *
Lucy thoroughly enjoyed the time she spent with her friend, for they caught up on all the things that had happened to them in the intervening months. Their exchanges made them laugh and Lucy felt better than she had in a long time. By the time Jenny’s husband walked into the salon with another gentleman, she was smiling much in her old way.
‘Adam!’ Jenny sprang to her feet and ran towards him, hands outstretched. ‘How good it is to see you, my love. Did you have a comfortable journey?’
‘Very,’ he replied and kissed her lightly on the lips. ‘I have brought a guest to stay for a while, Jenny. His name is George and he is the Earl of Daventry—and he was so obliging as to sell me a horse. We knew each other in the army, but have not met for...oh, more than three years... That was before George became the earl, of course.’
‘Mrs Miller,’ the stranger said and bowed his head to her. ‘I had heard Adam had married a lovely young woman, but I could not have guessed how beautiful.’
He was an assured man, well built with dark eyes and hair, his mouth a little thin when in repose, but nothing could have exceeded his affability.
‘You flatter me, sir,’ Jenny said. ‘Forgive me, my lord—I must make you known to my friend, Miss Lucy Dawlish...’ Lucy rose to her feet and made a little curtsy. ‘Lucy, the Earl of Daventry.’
‘I believe we have met once before, sir, quite briefly—in Paris.’
‘Indeed, we have, Miss Dawlish,’ Daventry agreed with a smile oozing with charm as he took her hand and bent his head to kiss it. ‘I never forget a face...especially one as lovely as yours.’
‘I think you flatter me,’ Lucy said and laughed, for he was a handsome man, his manners and bearing pleasing. ‘If you speak the truth, you hardly noticed me the night we were introduced. You were a little preoccupied...’
‘Was I?’ His dark eyes narrowed for a moment and then he laughed. ‘Yes, I believe you were right—I was, in fact, a trifle the worse for drink. I had lost a fortune the previous night...but I did recall you, Miss Dawlish, upon my word I did.’
‘I shall believe you, sir,’ she replied and laughed up at him. He was a head taller than Adam, his build classical and elegant, in that he had the physique of a Greek god and his hair was very black against his pale skin. He was dressed in a dark-blue coat that must have been made by Weston or perhaps Scott, for it had a military look, his pale breeches fitting to strong legs and encased in fine topboots. On his right hand he wore a signet on the third finger and a gold pin in his snowy cravat, but his clothes were plain in every other respect.
‘I swear I would not lie,’ he declared, but his eyes held a wicked gleam that made her laugh once more and shake her head.
‘I must have a room prepared for you,’ Jenny said, ‘and then we shall have tea.’
‘I asked Halstead to see to the room,’ Adam said. ‘Pray ring for tea, my dear. George may use my dressing room for the moment if he wishes to refresh himself.’
‘I am quite content here for the moment, if the ladies will excuse me coming to their parlour with all the dirt of the road upon me?’
‘Of course,’ Jenny said. ‘As you see, my husband does not scruple and I wish only to make you both comfortable after your long ride. Please take a seat, sir, and tea shall be brought, by which time your room will be ready for you.’
‘I should be going, Jenny,’ Lucy said. ‘If you will send for the carriage...’
‘You must not leave yet, enchantress,’ Lord Daventry protested, his eyes giving her a look of admiration that made her blush. ‘I entreat you, stay and drink a dish of tea with us.’
‘Yes, you must,’ Jenny agreed. ‘I told your groom to inform Lady Dawlish that you would return after tea. Please do, Lucy.’
‘Very well, if you wish it,’ Lucy said. ‘I thought only to leave you with your guest.’
‘If only you also had been a guest here,’ Daventry said and sighed eloquently. ‘I shall hope that your home is not too far distant so that I may pay a call on your dear mama.’
‘It is less than half an hour on horseback,’ Lucy began just as Paul entered the large parlour. She caught her breath and could not continue as he stood just inside the door, his eyes moving over the little group, a slight frown on his brow. His was a brooding presence, his lean frame in marked contrast to the build of the earl, his features dark and graven.
‘Paul...’ Adam saw him and strode to greet him, offering his hand. ‘I am glad you are home. You have seen your father?’
‘Yes. I thank you for your care of him, Cousin,’ Paul replied. ‘It was good of you and Jenny to come here at such short notice.’
‘Hallam asked if we could visit with Lord Ravenscar, for he was called away,’ Adam replied. ‘Indeed, it is Jenny who has sat with him and helped to nurse him—I have been somewhat preoccupied with other things...but now that you are home, we shall leave in a few days.’
‘I wish you will not,’ Paul said. ‘As you know, I have no wife and my father needs a lady to care for him if he is not to be left to the maids. Please make yourselves at home for as long as you wish.’
‘We shall stay, then,’ Adam said. ‘I’ve brought a friend to visit for a few days, Paul. Daventry wishes to look at some of my horses.’
‘You are welcome, sir,’ Paul said and inclined his head. ‘I fear there is little to entertain you here, for my father is ill and we do not invite guests—or only close friends—but any friends of Adam’s are always welcome.’
Daventry went to shake hands with him, looking suitably grave.
‘Adam