them in response to their enquiring glances, ‘but he delayed too long. Possibly had more important things on his mind, like his engagement to Miss Perceval’s friend, for instance.’
‘Now that rather insignificant affair surprised me,’ her ladyship remarked. ‘I do not understand at all why they held such a small party at Sharnbrook to celebrate the event. After all, the Duke is reputed to be one of the richest men in England. It’s not as if he couldn’t afford a large affair. Your friend’s papa too, Robina, is held to be very plump in the pocket, so I fail to understand why the engagement wasn’t celebrated more lavishly.’
‘It was what Sophia and Benedict both wanted,’ Robina divulged. ‘I know it was only a small party, but it was a most enjoyable occasion none the less.’
‘I’m all in favour of keeping these highly personal celebrations as small and informal as possible,’ his lordship announced, surprising his mother somewhat. ‘I could almost feel guilty now at depriving Sharnbrook of those superb greys. I should imagine we have much in common. Just because one happens to be comfortably circumstanced does not mean that one needs to make a vulgar display of the fact.’
‘You do surprise me, my son. You insisted that half the county be invited to the party celebrating your engagement to Clarissa.’
The Dowager had spoken without thinking, and cursed herself silently for every kind of a fool. She had rarely mentioned her late daughter-in-law’s name when in public, and never in front of the young woman who now sat silently at the table and who appeared totally absorbed in devouring the food on her plate.
‘Very true, Mama,’ his lordship responded, swiftly breaking the ensuing silence, and betraying no visible signs of distress at touching on such a poignant subject. ‘But a person’s taste can change over the years. ‘I would at one time never have considered driving myself above a few miles in an open carriage, but have very much enjoyed the experiences of this day.’
His dark eyes flickered momentarily in Robina’s direction. ‘Perhaps I can persuade you, Miss Perceval, to bear me company for what remains of the journey. You might find travelling in the fresh air a more pleasurable way of completing the journey. Added to which, it will permit her ladyship to close her eyes, as is her custom in the afternoons, without appearing rude.’
Robina hesitated, but only for a moment. There was no earthly way that she was going to be able to avoid his lordship’s company for any appreciable lengths of time during the forthcoming weeks, so she might as well be sensible and accustom herself to his presence at the outset.
‘Yes, my lord, I think a spell in the fresh air would be most welcome.’ She cast him a smile which somehow managed to display both a hint of shyness and a touch of roguery. ‘I might end looking slightly windswept, but at least I hope I shall avoid resembling some demented hen.’
His deep rumble of appreciative laughter succeeded in putting her at her ease to such an extent that when, a short while later, she was seated beside him in the curricle, she was more than content to be in his company, and not in the least nervous over placing her well-being in the hands of a man who had, reputedly through the dangerous tooling of a carriage, succeeded in killing his beloved wife.
It was only, after happily following the comfortable vehicle containing his mother for a mile or so, when his lordship unexpectedly turned off the main post road and on to a much narrower lane, bringing the spirited greys to a halt beneath the shade of some roadside trees, that she began to experience those stabs of blind panic which had plagued her from time to time during recent days.
‘Miss Perceval, I had a particular reason for wishing you to bear me company for the remainder of the journey,’ he announced, staring straight ahead down the deserted road, while with little effort, it seemed, masterfully controlling his spirited horses. ‘If my mother performs her duties as your chaperon conscientiously, there ought not to be too many occasions when we find ourselves quite alone together, and there is something I particularly wished to say to you before we embark on what I hope will be a most enjoyable stay for us both in Brighton.’
If Robina had not felt as if she were being slowly throttled she would quite happily have betrayed her feelings by giving vent to a loud and protracted groan. She had forced herself to come to terms with the fact that sooner or later the subject of a marriage between them would be raised, but she had hoped that the occasion would arise later rather than sooner, thereby permitting her to enjoy a brief period in Brighton without encumbrance. His lordship began speaking again, and she forced herself to listen.
‘We both know why our respective mothers wished us to spend the summer together. They are both hoping that I shall—to resort to the modern-day vulgar parlance—come up to scratch. Well, let me assure you, Miss Perceval, that at this present moment in time I have not the slightest intention of making you an offer of marriage.’
Turning his head, Daniel discovered a look of such utter bewilderment on her sweet face that he was forced to exert every ounce of control he possessed not to take her into his arms and totally confound her by kissing her breathless.
‘You look slightly stunned, Miss Perceval.’ An understatement if ever there was one. The poor girl looked as if she were about to swoon! ‘I’m sorry if my plain speaking has offended you.’
‘Er—no, not at all, sir,’ she responded so softly that he had a little difficulty in catching the words.
‘But I think we would rub along much more comfortably if we cleared up one or two matters at the outset.’ Again he was forced to exert the utmost control, only this time to stop himself from laughing. She was regarding him much as defenceless rabbit might a snake which was about to strike for a second time. ‘I think you must realise, Miss Perceval, that I have grown quite partial to your company during our time in London. I should like to think that we have become…friends.’
‘Er—yes,’ she responded guardedly.
‘And as such, I think we can be honest with each other without causing offence.’
‘It—er—would be nice to think we could, certainly,’ she agreed, in a voice that was growing progressively stronger, though remaining slightly wary at the same time.
‘As you may have gathered by now, my darling mother, together with most of my friends, has decided that it is high time I consider a second marriage.’
No response was forthcoming this time, so he continued undeterred. ‘It seems that most are in agreement that you would make me the ideal wife.’
Again there was no response.
‘They may possibly be correct, but I reserve the right to decide for myself. Just as I believe that you deserve the chance to make up your mind about me, without the least pressure being brought to bear upon you. That could be difficult in the present circumstances, with a certain person watching our every move, waiting with bated breath for us to announce our betrothal, unless we both work together to turn the situation in which we now find ourselves to our mutual advantage.’
She appeared merely bewildered now as she said, ‘And how do you propose that we do that, my lord?’
‘Simply by just being ourselves, and doing precisely what we wish to do. It would be foolish to attempt to avoid one another, as we’ll be residing in the same house, don’t you agree?’
‘Most assuredly.’
‘So what I suggest is that we keep the world guessing by being seen in each other’s company quite frequently,
