The guests trailed out of the house in twos and fours, talking and laughing. The servants had, of course, gone on ahead with the supplies and so on, with a few of the ladies bringing baskets with their own extra goodies and picnic blankets, for the joy of spreading their own blanket out.
Lady Brennon was one of those women. She strode along by the dowager’s side, both deep in conversation. The Dowager Duchess was apparently too slight and weak to carry her own basket, so Lady Brennon carried them both with ease.
Lord Langley came and found Gillian very quickly, and they soon fell to the back of the group, with a cheerful, round-faced chaperone following along behind. Lavinia was left to walk alone.
She had spotted the duke at once. He walked with his brothers and sister, along with the in-laws. He kept his head down and seemed preoccupied. Miss Bainbridge had not yet fought her way to him.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained,Lavinia thought, drew in a breath, and sped up her pace. She fell into step beside the duke, who glanced briefly down at her with a guarded expression.
For some reason, Lavinia’s heart sank.
“Good morning, your Grace,” she said brightly. “Are you looking forward to the picnic?”
“I do not particularly enjoy eating out of doors,” he answered hesitantly. “But I don’t wish to spoil the atmosphere.”
“I’m sure no one would think that.”
He gave a tight smile and a bow, and then abruptly sped up his pace, soon leaving Lavinia behind.
She could have scurried after him, though, if she had had less self-respect. As it was, Lavinia stared at his retreating back for a moment, trying to work out what, exactly, had just happened.
He had snubbed her. No, it wasn’t adefinitesnub, but it had been pointed. He had made a polite but brief reply, and then hurried away. He didn’twantto talk to her.
Did I say something wrong? I thought that yesterday, we…
She pinched off the thought abruptly, swallowing hard. The truth was, she did not knowwhathad happened between them the day before. She hadn’t understood what was going on at all, until the man came haring out of the house, screaming and waving his arms like a madman. It might have been funny if she wasn’t suddenly afraid he was going to do something awful, like throw her over the fence.
She could still feel his strong fingers on her shoulders, his arm around her waist. It had been clear from his face that he knew he had made a mistake, a breach of propriety.
Nobody had seen, though, for which Lavinia was thankful. No doubt she would have suffered the worst of it, being the lady in question, the one who had gone out to seehorsesof all things.
But their conversation afterwards had been… well, it felt almost as if she were seeing the real man behind the dukedom. It was thrilling. Lavinia had believed, truly believed, that things had changed between the duke and her. Perhaps a friendship might flourish, heaven knew she needed friends.
Perhaps it might become something more. Perhaps. It horrified her to feel her heart surging at this thought. Ofsomething more. Withhim.
It was frustrating to be kept away from him at dinner, but Lavinia had managed it gracefully. She was sure she would have an opportunity to talk to him today, and she was right.
She had had the opportunity, but he had hurried away almost at once.
Glancing around, Lavinia was relieved to see that nobody else had seen it. Sighing, she applied herself to climbing the last stretch of their walk, up the hill towards the peak.
***
“Would you care for some currant jelly, your Grace?” Lavinia spoke up.
The duke flinched, as if he had not seen her at his elbow.
The blankets were all laid out, most people reclining with their friends. The food was being laid out, and some people were strolling between the blankets, clearly deciding where to sit.
The duke was one of those people, looking rather at a loss. Lavinia had risen to her feet and gone to stand beside him.
When he only stared blankly at her, she gestured to her picnic blanket, laden with goodies, currant jelly among them.
“You could join us,” she offered.
He swallowed hard, avoiding her eye. “I… I think I ought to sit with my mother, Miss Brookford. But thank you for your offer. It was… it was very kind, and the currant jelly looks remarkably good. Thank you.”
He made a stiff, awkward bow, and then hurried away, leaving Lavinia at a loss once again.
