The light breeze jostled clicks and whispers from mostly bare branches. The sound of children shouting and laughing traveled from beyond the fence. The clip-clop of horses’ hooves and the squeaks and rattles made by passing coaches.
Within minutes, he’d settled back into his bones. There is only the present, he reminded himself. And the sin had been his father’s, not his.
He’d held the babe on his lap. Tried to revive him…
He cleared his throat. “How”—his voice cracked, making him wince—“are we supposed to accomplish this ‘accidental’ meeting if you cannot remember what the girl looks like?”
“Don’t you worry,” Harbury replied ominously. “Lady Asquith will not allow us to miss them.”
They shifted to the left as the carriage head of them pulled off to the side.
“In fact, that is Lady Asquith just ahead.”
In an open barouche not twenty yards away sat the countess. Two young ladies in absurdly large bonnets occupied the opposite seat.
One of the two persons facing away from them, the one on the right, turned her head. For a moment, she appeared to be gazing directly at him. But no—her eyes were fixed on an oblivious Harbury.
While Harbury was grimly assessing Lady Asquith, the young lady’s head moved, sweeping Adrian’s friend with the most haughty, dismissive expression Adrian had ever seen on a lady so young. An expression so hostile, he almost laughed.
Then, with deliberate dismissal, she looked away.
If that was the twin Harbury was supposed to court, then poor Harbury.
On the other hand—a spark of anticipation kindled inside of him—she could be the Wainwright left to him.
“Adrian!”
He turned toward the sound of his sister’s voice, spotting Emily and Caroline moving through the crowd. His sister was an eager step ahead of her stepmama, her face wreathed in one of her brightest smiles.
Ah.Thereweregood things in the world.
Just not many.
“The devil,” Harbury murmured. “We’ve been spotted by Lady Asquith.”
Adrian glanced back. Harbury didn’t mention the cut. Had he even noticed?
“You go on ahead.”
“Adrian! You promised.”
Good Lord.His friend looked frightened.
“I’ll be there presently. I’m merely going to ask Caroline and Emily to join us, as I told you last night. What better way to distract attention from you? Young women are always interested in other young women.”
“Yes…” Harbury agreed thoughtfully. He flashed a grin. “You’re brilliant!”
Adrian snorted. “Go on, now. I have every faith in you.”
Harbury adjusted his hat, lifted his chin, and started toward the barouche. Adrian followed Harbury’s progress until his friend reached the side of Lady Asquith’s carriage. Then, he turned back toward his family.
“Don’t you look fine,” his sister said.
“Looking very well yourself, Piccola.” He nodded at his father’s widow. “Caroline.”
“Redver,” Caroline nodded back.
“You can’t call me ‘little one’ anymore.” Emily reached toward him. “I’m taller than Mama, now.”
