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*****
It had been three weeks since Verity had moved in with Maggie. Everything had gone exceptionally well. Verity kept the fire ablaze and the tea water hot, and performed some of the light housework chores as well. Maggie was delighted to have a companion with whom she could share stories of the past and her hard-won wisdom.
Verity had taken to going for walks in the nearby countryside, most days to a meadow a few hundred yards behind Maggie’s cottage, just past a long stand of pine trees which broke the wind where it rolled across the undulating estate fields. The grass was still winter sere, but the first signs of the spring to come were there, in tiny green shoots and even tinier flowers in the sheltered spots. Life in Bellbrook was simple and calm, a great relief after Lady Chittendom’s, and Verity felt safe there… mostly. The Innkeeper’s son still worried her, for the boy seemed not of the greatest intelligence, and also watched her in a manner which she found unpleasant. A number of times, he had followed her about the village, saying nothing, and she’d chosen to cut short her errands for Maggie and return to the cottage, unsettled. But apart from that, life was as good as it might be, considering all that she had lost.
But she knew that she could not stay in Bellbrook forever. It had become, by now, obvious to her that her few short weeks with her husband had borne fruit.
She was quite sure that she was with child.
Which posed a problem, all by itself. Before that child came into the world, she needed to find herself a true home – continuing to take advantage of Maggie’s kindness was not suitable at all. And if she bore the child as she was now – a widow alone, with no family to help her, there were those men who would assume her a wanton, and attempt to act accordingly.
A safe place to live, for herself, and her child, was of paramount importance.
But there was another matter of great significance to be considered. Edward had been Lord Wexley’s eldest son. With his death, if this child was a boy, then her son would be heir to the Baron, and displace Edward’s younger brother Jasper, who now, no doubt, regarded himself as heir – which was only to be expected, given that Edward was dead, and his family knew nothing of the child. Everything must be done in the most proper manner she could arrange – for if it was not, people might accuse her of lying, might suggest, in whispers, that someone other than Edward was the child’s father.
She shuddered at that possibility.
Today, she decided as she walked through the pines and out onto the meadow, she would make some choices. Starting with attempting to compose, in her thoughts, a letter which she would write that evening, to Lady Wexley, informing her of her condition.
Chapter Four
Daniel had chosen to ride General out to his favourite spot, for the day was clear and crisp, with a hint of the spring warmth to come. It was almost March, almost time for the planting. In London, the Season would be beginning, and he felt not the smallest regret at missing it. Instead, the land called to him, and he was filled with something approaching happiness.
As General reached the crest of a small hill, the oak tree, the small stream, and the meadow beyond, with its dark line of pines on the other side, all came into view. Daniel guided the horse to the stream and let him drink, then dismounted to sit at the base of the tree. He could not help but glance up into the branches. There were no bare feet up there today. Smiling, he leaned with his back against the tree as he contemplated his situation.
“I have developed a plan which I believe can be successful,”he thought to himself.“Even if it must now be postponed to next year. But Father was so sure that he knew the best way for me to find a woman suitable to become my Duchess, and I feel that I must honour his wishes as well as my own, if I can. What am I to do, to reconcile the two ideas?”
The soft sound of the water in the stream, and the occasional chirruping of swallows in the distance caused his mind to wander. After a few minutes of drifting, a thought occurred to him.
“Ha ha! I know what my friend John would do in this situation. He would simply look to the sky and ask the Almighty to bring a suitable woman his way. And of course, she would appear in the twinkling of an eye.”He laughed quietly for most of a minute.“It’s patently absurd. But then...”
He looked first to the left and then to the right, thinking that someone might be watching. Convinced that no one was, he turned his face upward.
“Lord,” he said aloud, “if you please, will you show me the perfect woman to be my Duchess? Thank you.”
Daniel lowered his head and quietly sighed, amused at himself.
Minutes went by.
He could hear the stream, the chirruping of the birds — and off in the distance —the sweet, melodic sound of a woman singing.He turned his gaze in the direction of the sound.
What he saw was a graceful woman meandering along picking wild-flowers. So early in spring as it was, there were only a few hardy varieties, requiring her to search among the rather sere grasses.
Every time that she turned, Daniel tried to get a better look at her.
Never had he been so captivated by a woman. He was not the sort to seduce every wench and serving girl available. But this didn’t look like a serving girl. She looked like a young mature woman, relatively slender and dressed demurely, in clothes suited to a gently born Lady. Clothes which held the hues of mourning, if he wasn’t mistaken. And she was definitely not someone from around the area of Summerfield Park – he knew almost everyone by sight, if they lived on his lands, or in the Bellbrook Village.
He had to make her acquaintance. Would she speak to him without a proper introduction?
Abruptly Daniel strode in her direction.
“Good day.”
Her startled face turned to him, and he nearly lost his breath looking at her, so beautiful was she.
“Are you speaking to me sir? I fear that we have not been introduced.”
It was spoken almost defiantly, even though the words were all that was proper. A moment passed as Daniel collected his wits, scattered by her beauty, her fire, and the confounded instant attraction she held for him. He smiled slightly and gave a deferential bow.
