Page 19

‘Very much, thank you, sir. There’s so much new to see.’ She looked up at him with her candid blue eyes.

‘I think we’d better be heading back to Green Street.’ Sybella took James’s hand away from stroking Lord Lynwood’s grey.

‘Ant, let’s accompany these ladies home.’ Lord Lynwood looked across at his impassive cousin. He then turned to James. ‘Hey, you scampster, do you want to sit on Nimbus’s saddle while we walk to Cumberland Gate?’

‘Ooh, can I, Mama?’ The boy turned a beseeching face to hers. Having allowed the apparently disreputable Lord Rockliffe to carry him off, Sybella felt that in the company of the forbidding Mr Brabazon she could hardly demur at this more modest request from his ward. She smiled her acquiescence and Lord Lynwood tossed her precious child onto the gleaming saddle.

‘I’m so tall!’ James showed little fear and flung his arms wide in excitement, but Sybella could not keep the anxiety out of her voice.

‘Make sure you hang onto the pommel. Take care, my lord.’

Lucie moved over to Lord Lynwood’s side and they both looked up to check on James in the saddle, smiling beatifically above them. Leading Hades, Mr Brabazon joined Sybella. ‘He’s plucky to the backbone, it must give you cause for worry.’ His voice was quiet and gave nothing away.

She glanced fleetingly up at his face. ‘I suppose you felt something the same over Lord Lynwood when you became his protector?’

A smile softened his grave demeanour. ‘He wasn’t quite as young but was equally spunky and fearless. Hence the fall from the tree when old enough to know better. Young whippersnapper was always raising some kind of a breeze.’

‘Don’t be too hard on him. He was a charming guest after that fall, Lucie really enjoyed his company.’

Mr Brabazon’s distinctive dark brows drew together in a frown as he watched the two young people walking ahead with Nimbus, and James in the saddle. They were chatting and laughing and seemed perfectly at ease in each other’s company, Lord Lynwood with his hand on James’s leg to steady him against the rolling gait of his big hunter. ‘I trust Miss Carey doesn’t get too attached. It seems only fair to tell you I hope that in time my ward will ask for Lady Cleome Stafford’s hand.’

‘You’re very frank, Mr Brabazon. And rather presumptuous, indeed premature. Is this a warning that I should frustrate such an outrageous attachment as my sister’s for your ward? Perhaps it will put your mind at rest to know that Lucie has no thought of marrying him, or anyone, for that matter.’ Sybella’s words were clipped. Her hands clenched involuntarily and irritation brought a flush to her cheeks, but his cool amusement took the wind from her sails.

‘I thought you would appreciate plain speaking, Mrs Lovatt. It’s a characteristic of yours, I perceive?’

‘I may be frank, but I hope I’ve never tried to manage the lives of others.’

‘Ah, I’m sure you have. And I think you would not be able to stop yourself intervening if your sister showed a tendresse for someone unsuitable.’

‘I take strong issue with you, sir, suggesting Lucie would be an unsuitable match for anyone. She’s a Carey and a beauty, and charming and courageous. Anyone would be fortunate indeed to marry her!’

Lord Lynwood and Lucie were strolling at ease at the head of this procession, completely unaware of the one-sided storm that was brewing behind them. Mr Brabazon, unruffled by Sybella’s ire, continued in his maddeningly reasonable way. ‘Really, Mrs Lovatt, I completely agree about your sister’s eligibility as a wife of exceptional qualities.’ A smile she could not interpret twitched at the corner of his mouth.

‘Except not for your ward!’ she replied in a fierce whisper.

‘Precisely,’ he said with quiet satisfaction, as if she was a particularly slow student who had just worked out a simple equation.

As they left the Park, Sybella walked forward quickly to lift James off Nimbus’s back. ‘Thank you, Lord Lynwood, Mr Brabazon.’ She held out her hand to them both. ‘It was so kind of you to escort us this far. We can manage the last few steps to Green Street. Come, Lucie.’ She took her sister’s arm and James’s hand and they all bowed their farewells.

Lord Lynwood swung himself gracefully into the saddle. ‘Damme, Ant! What a talent you have for turning a promising situation to dust! What did you say to La Charmante Lovatt to raise her dander like that? Just when we were all getting on so well.’

Brabazon was mounted on Hades and as they both set off in the direction of Grosvenor Square, he turned to his ward, meeting his lively eyes with wry amusement. ‘Some of us were not getting on as well as I’d hoped, while others were getting on better than I wished.’

Lord Lynwood snorted. ‘You’ll have to lower your crest, coz, or your stiff-necked pride will blast all our hopes.’

‘Impudent boy! I have yet to have to lower my crest for anyone.’

4

ARTEMIS MEETS HER APOLLO IN A BOOKSHOP

Sybella, Lucie and James, pink-cheeked with the cold, returned to Lady Godley’s house. James trotted off to find Nurse and the sisters were shown into the drawing room where their hostess sat puzzling over her journal, open on her lap. She looked up, bright-eyed. ‘What did you think of our Park?’

‘It’s like a bit of pretend country, Godmama, but it’s such a relief we can ride and walk on grass. How fortuitous to live so close.’

‘Not chance, my dear, pure design. I told Pomeroy that if he wanted to marry me, I had to have a house close enough to Hyde Park that I could walk back in a rainstorm and not be drenched.’

‘And he was happy to comply?’