“Another fine afternoon for tea in the garden,” Tabitha remarked.
“And opportunities for quiet walks in the gardens,” Louisa said, nudging her elbow lightly.“Carily seems to be growing quite desperate.”
“He is certainly growing confoundedly dull.”
Louisa blinked.“Truly?But I thought you liked him!You did in Brighton.”
“On closer acquaintance, I was mistaken.”
“Are you just saying that because of Lily’s presence?There are discreet ways to meet, you know.But in truth, Tabbie, I think he is serious.He would marry you in a trice and it is a good match.”
“Good God, no.It took me five years to be rid of my last husband.I am not about to be trapped with another.”
Louisa could not help giggling in a shocked kind of way.“You do say the most outrageous things!Carily is nothing like Sark, and marriage need not be a prison.”
Tabitha patted her arm.“You are very lucky with Sir Peter, and I am happy for you, but marriage does not suit me.In fact, I’m not sure I don’t prefer celibacy.I shall retire to my dower estate and breed pugs.”
“Pugs?Seriously?”
“Seriously.They are such amusing little creatures and so affectionate.Loyal too.Why would I need a man?”
Louisa took her arm cozily.“Well, my dear, if you don’t know...”
“Stop,” Tabitha said as they strolled out into the garden, “I aspire toutterrespectability.”
“Ha,” said her hostess rudely.“Go on without me.I hear Chivers in the hall...”
Tabitha discovered Lily seated informally with some other young people on a rug spread over the lawn.Meade was among them, but fortunately Carily was not.
“Tabbie!”Lily greeted her.“You must join our team—you are the best at pall-mall.”
Tabitha lowered herself among them.“I’m not, you know.”
Before the inevitable chivalrous arguments could arise and bore her, Lord Durward strolled over, surrounded by his usual aura of recklessness and danger.He was the surprise attendee at the party, for he was rumoured to have fled the country to avoid retribution for his latest duel.He had arrived at Hawthorn Court only yesterday, several days late, and caused a ripple of eager interest.
Tabitha had no chance to speak to him before and was not really in any hurry to introduce him to Lily, for his danger lay as much in his charm as in his temper.In fact, Tabitha rather liked him and was, indeed, on terms of friendly flirtation with him.
Lounging at her side, he presented her with a daisy chain.“Accept my humble offering, Lady Sark.”
“Gratefully,” Tabitha responded, placing the circle on her hair at a rakish angle.“Just what my ensemble needed.How are you, Durward?I thought you were abroad.”
“Skulked in Harwich for a week or so with that aim, fell badly in love with a tug-boat captain’s daughter, and strove to mend my ways.Then I heard Foster was sitting up in bed, bright as a button, and I was unlikely to be had up for murder after all.Naturally, I could not resist Lady H’s gathering.”He smiled into her eyes.“Especially as I knewyouwould be present.”
“How gratifying to be recalled in the same breath as the tug-boat captain’s daughter.But I’m glad about Foster.”
“Me too,” Durward said, and for an instant, there was rueful fervour in his voice that provided some hope he would give up his appalling habit of duelling.The near death of his last opponent seemed to have given him a much-needed fright.“Won’t you introduce me?”
There was a distinct flutter among Lily’s friends, including the very young men who were quite in awe of the notorious Durward.Several chaperones moved nearer and sat down at the closest garden table to protect their charges.
Only Lieutenant Meade seemed unaware of the Fosteron-dit.
“Who is Foster and what did you do?”he asked bluntly.
“Can’t say in front of the ladies,” Durward replied.“An unedifying tale of idiocy and remorse.Hello, what’s got Carily so puffed-up?”
Carily was indeed strutting across the lawn like a bird showing off his plumage, but he was also clearly big with news, as the saying went.His bright blue eyes positively gleamed as he swerved toward Tabitha’s group.
“Out with it, Carily,” said Durward.“Unless it’s too scandalous for company.”
