All in dry clothes, with Clive looking thoroughly embarra.s.sed in the late Sir William's emerald silk dressing gown, they met before a roaring fire in the drawing room.

Sir Aubrey, still immaculate in crimson and pink, examined Clive through his quizzing gla.s.s and tut-tutted. Delia eyed her cousin with dislike. He had stayed at home in comfort, and all the romance of his heroic Caribbean adventures was undermined. Clive might be just a farmer, and a shocking tease besides, but he was there when one needed him. He looked splendidly Oriental in Papa's dressing gown. She patted the sofa beside her and he sat down.

"It was Delia who rescued him," he said, setting the seal on her approval.

They told their story, with Peter chiming in. Selena listened in silence. Happy as she was to have Peter back safely, she felt guilty for misjudging Lord Iverbrook. What a ninny she was to believe that he had done anything so dishonourable! When he returned, she would discuss Peter's future with him calmly and sensibly, as he had requested. He was a reasonable gentleman; once he had heard her arguments, properly presented without flying into the boughs, he must agree that she had the right. Then he would come often to visit Peter and perhaps . . . and that would be delightful. For all his toplofty manner, he could be charming when he chose. Thinking of the smile that wrinkled the corners of his eyes, she smiled herself.

Lord Iverbrook returned to a royal welcome.

After three days of rain, the sun shone once more and a strong but warm breeze was rapidly drying out the fields. Selena had been to inspect them and was trotting home on Orion, followed by Jem. She met the carriage as it reached the gates of the Manor. It pulled up and the viscount jumped down, to stand looking up at her with a glad light in his eyes.

"Miss Whitton."

"Welcome back, Iverbrook." She felt oddly breathless. "Help me down and I'll walk with you."

He caught her with strong hands at her waist and released her reluctantly. She smoothed down the skirts of her habit, then took his proffered arm.

They walked up the gravel drive. Selena was very conscious of her fingers on the smooth sleeve of his coat, and of his enquiring look bent upon her face.

"Are you well, Miss Whitton?" he asked at last.

"Very well, I thank you. You are come back just in time to resume the harvest."

"Hence the warm welcome!" he laughed. The moment of awkwardness was past.

"Did your business prosper? I hope poor Joshua was much improved before you left him?"

"Very much. He was able to take up his duties again yesterday, thanks to your mama's skill. I spoke to Crowe, who is a very good sort of fellow for a lawyer, and he will watch that Joshua does not overtax his strength."

"The case must have been desperate indeed to bring him all the way to the wilds of Oxfords.h.i.+re."

"Desperate indeed, but I have dealt with that, I trust. I also went to see Wilberforce, hoping to ask his advice about my maiden speech in the Lords. He was not there, but I arranged to meet him this day fortnight."

"And you will stay here until then? That is famous!"

"I dare to hope that Lady Whitton will not throw me out," he admitted with a grin. "And even if the weather holds fine, I daresay it will be that long before the harvest will be finished, so that you will be forced to tolerate my presence!"

Before Selena could retort, Peter raced down the steps and threw himself into his lords.h.i.+p's arms.

"Uncle Hugh, Uncle Hugh, I seed you from the window. Finny said I can come. Me and Delia got stuck up a tree and Mr. Russell had to rescue us. I drawed you a picsher, will you come and see it right now? I 'll draw one for you too, Aunt Sena. It's teatime and I telled Finny to save you a bixit, Uncle Hugh, so will you come and have tea upstairs?"

"Calm down, young man," said Hugh, laughing and hugging him. "You are getting your words all mixed up. I must make my bow to your grandmother before I begin to think about bixits."

Lady Whitton appeared at the front door.

"Hugh dear! Just in time for tea. Now no nonsense about changing your clothes first, pray. Peter, you may stay down and have a jam tart if you like."

"Yes, please, Grandmama. Finny can have my bixit."

In the drawing room, Delia was pouring tea for Sir Aubrey. She greeted Iverbrook with pleasure and gave him the first cup. Peter picked up the plate of jam tarts, warm from the oven, and carefully handed it round, informing everyone that he liked the red jam best. Thus warned, everyone but Sir Aubrey chose yellow, and he retired happily to a corner to get red jam all over his face in peace.

Iverbrook sat back and sipped his tea. What a delightful place, he thought. The French doors stood open to the garden, and from the river beyond came the quacking of ducks and the occasional shout of a boatman. He stretched out his long legs and regarded his booted feet. Lady Whitton had no objection to boots in the house, and how she would have stared to see him in knee breeches at dinner. He even managed to cast a benevolent eye on Sir Aubrey's mulberry coat. The man was without doubt a fop and a demi-beau, but harmless withal. Miss Whitton had by far too much sense to consider his suit.

And how charming she looked! The riding dress of russet cloth became her to perfection, roses bloomed in her cheeks, her eyes sparkled. Unconscious of the disarray of her pale curls, she told him all about the state of the various fields, and watching her, he heard not a word.

"If you are not tired," he suggested, "we had best ride out before dinner and you can show me. I have brought a riding horse with me this time so you will not be dispossessed of Orion, nor Miss Delia of Lyra."

"How very thoughtful," said Lady Whitton approvingly.

"Did you bring a horse for me?" asked Peter. "A gentleman's horse?"

"No, I brought you a pony."

Peter's mouth dropped open and his eyes shone. "For me? A really truly pony? Where is it, Uncle Hugh? What's its name? When can I ride it?" He launched himself at the viscount and generously shared the jam on his hands and face with that gentleman's s.h.i.+rt before he was removed by his giggling aunts.

During the next two weeks, Iverbrook found that his presence was only occasionally required in the fields. His authority was sufficient to keep things running smoothly even in his absence.

He taught his nephew to ride the pony, a s.h.a.ggy-maned sorrel promptly christened Leo.

He walked with the young ladies and Sir Aubrey, and more often rode with the young ladies, since Sir Aubrey had never found it necessary in Kingston to learn that art. Nor could he drive a carriage. Delia was thoroughly disillusioned.

They dined at Bracketts. Mr. Russell, a stout, hearty gentleman of no pretensions, still showed signs of the handsome features now inherited by his son. His wife, Lady Anne, a severe matron with an aristocratic nose, was quick to make sure Iverbrook knew her to be the daughter of an earl. She was distantly acquainted with his mother, a fact that did not recommend her to him, but he liked the rest of the family.

The Russells joined them for a picnic on the river. Iverbrook had the unspeakable satisfaction of seeing Sir Aubrey dangling from the end of a swaying punt pole for a good thirty seconds before it finally deposited him in the murky water. His carmine velvet coat was ruined, and even Lady Anne was seen to hide a smile behind her gloved hand.

"Most unsuitable dress for a picnic," she observed acidly.

Two weeks pa.s.sed, and Lord Iverbrook left for his appointment with William Wilberforce.

"I shall not be gone for long," he promised. "After all, there is still the clover to be mowed."

As Selena waved good-bye, she realised that not once in the whole fortnight had they talked about Peter 's future. Had he come to accept, without words, that Peter belonged here? Had he avoided the subject, as she had, because he did not want to spoil the growing accord between them? Or was he biding his time, cozening her into believing he had given up, only to return to the attack when he was sure she had changed her mind about him?

For she was no longer so certain that he was unfit to have charge of his nephew. Watching them together, she could not imagine him abandoning the boy to the care of servants and his hypochondriacal mother.

Restless, she wandered down the garden to the river. A bright-painted barge was floating downstream with the current. On the bows an elderly man smoked his pipe, and the young fellow at the tiller waved his hat at her.

"Fine mornin', miss!" he shouted.

Selena waved back. Peter would be growing up, she thought. She could send him to school, but then he should take his place in Society and she could not guide him through the shoals and rapids of the Polite World. His uncle's help would be indispensable; Hugh must not be alienated. But surely he would not insist on taking the child away while he was so small?

A fish jumping after flies plopped back into the water and roused her from her reverie. There were bills to be paid, accounts to be made up, and even though her constant presence seemed no longer necessary she must ride out to the fields before luncheon. She climbed the steps to the house.

An hour later, dressed in her old habit, Selena descended the stairs. Seeing the butler crossing the hall, she called out, "Bannister, I am going out. Pray tell Mama I shall return for luncheon, if she should ask for me."

"Certainly, Miss Selena. Her ladys.h.i.+p is in the drawing room, miss. Lady Anne Russell has called with Miss Russell and Mr. Clive."

"Oh dear, I suppose I had best make my curtsey. Thank you, Bannister." Selena found Delia and Sir Aubrey in the drawing room with her mother and the Russells. She paid her respects to Lady Anne and stood for a moment making polite conversation. She was about to excuse herself and escape when the door opened and Bannister appeared.

"Lady Gant to see you, my lady," he announced, "and Mrs. Amabel Parcott."

Chapter 8.

A stout elderly lady in a regrettable puce carriage dress trotted into the room, followed by Mrs. Parcott, an opulent vision in her favourite rose pink.

Lady Anne's nose, always haughty, rose several degrees.

"Jane, my reticule!" she said sharply to her daughter. "My dear Lady Whitton, we must be on our way. Perhaps Delia would care to return to Bracketts with us if you can spare her? Come, Clive." Urging her offspring and their friend before her like a sheepdog with an unruly flock, she gave Lady Gant a cold nod in pa.s.sing and left.

Lady Whitton jumped up. "Lady Anne is always so anxious to return to the children," she suggested hopefully. "How delightful to see you, Lady Gant. It is an age since you called and I fear I rarely have the leisure to drive so far as to Cowley. And you have brought dear Amabel with you. I expect London is far from pleasant at this season."

"Mama insisted that I not spend the summer in town," drawled Mrs. Parcott. "The country is so charmingly refres.h.i.+ng, is it not, Selena? Oh, I beg your pardon! Since you rusticate here year round I daresay it seems quite ordinary to you.

"I much prefer the countryside, Amabel," said Selena, feeling more than usually dowdy as she eyed the other's dark, s.h.i.+ning ringlets and modish bonnet trimmed with silk roses. "And you prefer the city, I imagine, since we have not seen you in Oxfords.h.i.+re for quite two years!"

"La, you are right! But I declare I am quite worn down with all the bustle and gaiety. Though it is excessively flattering to have so many suitors, one must needs escape them all now and then."

"Lady Gant, Amabel, let me present Sir Aubrey Whitton," Lady Whitton intervened. "Sir William's nephew and heir, you know. He has been residing in the West Indies and is staying with us for the present."

"How vastly odd!" cried Mrs. Parcott. "Why, I have never before given a thought to the West Indies, I vow, and now here are two gentlemen but just arrived from there. I suppose Iverbrook visits here often, since his brother was wed to your Phoebe. He is a very dear friend of mine, you know. On his return he came to see me even before his mama. Is it not shocking how a gentleman will put his beloved before his own mother? I feel sure you would not do such a thing, Sir Aubrey."

"Pray excuse me . . . farm business," muttered Selena, and fled, leaving her mama uncharacteristically fl.u.s.tered.

"So quaint," murmured Amabel to Sir Aubrey.

The baronet had inspected Mrs. Parcott through his quizzing gla.s.s, and apparently found her appearance inviting, for a look of admiration spread across his handsome face. "Iverbrook and I are old friends, ma' am," he claimed. "He has been staying here and left but an hour since, for London."

The widow looked chagrined. "La, I am sorry to miss him, Sir Aubrey. However, I do not plan to stay more than a few days with my parents. I shall see Iverbrook in town next week."

"I fear not, ma'am. His lords.h.i.+p said most particularly that he expected to return here at no very distant date."

"Well, my own plans are flexible, I vow. Since dear Mr. Parcott pa.s.sed away, I have been able to please myself. 'Pon rep, I cannot but wonder what is the attraction that brings a fas.h.i.+onable young gentleman to such an out of the way spot."

"He is fond of his nephew, I believe," responded the baronet cautiously, looking round to be sure that Lady Whitton and Lady Gant were safely engaged in conversation. "I have sometimes thought that he may hold Miss Whitton in some affection also, for which I am heartily sorry since he is bound to be disappointed."

"Indeed?"

"I daresay you are unaware of the shocking muddle in which the late Sir William left his affairs? While I inherited the t.i.tle, the property went to his eldest daughter. It must be plain to a person of the meanest intelligence that he intended to make a match between me and my cousin Selena."

"I am to wish you happy then?"

"I must confess that I have not yet actually requested my cousin's hand, though she must certainly be aware that such is my intention. I have thought it best to allow our acquaintance to ripen."

"Let me urge you, my dear Sir Aubrey, to lose no more time! I am sure Selena is much impressed by your modish appearance and elegant address, but alas! the attractions of a viscountcy may in the end outweigh any personal superiority."

"I believe you are right, ma'am, though I am loath to think that worldly considerations might prevail over Miss Whitton's natural duty to obey her father's wishes. I will press my suit before Lord Iverbrook's return."

"I wish you every success, sir," said Mrs. Parcott warmly. "Mama, we must not outstay our welcome. I hope, Lady Whitton, to call on you again while I am fixed in the country. Such a shame that Selena had to leave before we could enjoy a good cose."

As the widow swept out with a rustle of skirts, Lady Gant trotting at her heels, Lady Whitton collapsed into a chair and fanned herself.

"Oh dear," she said, "oh dear. Lady Anne is a trifle high in the instep, to be sure, but I have seen her on terms of perfect amity with Lady Gant these thirty years. Now why did she cut Amabel in that unkind way, and insist on taking Delia along with her? Oh dear!"

"I thought Mrs. Parcott charming," said Sir Aubrey with a simper. "I suppose she is left in easy circ.u.mstances?"

"Lady Anne must have heard some spiteful tale about Amabel. A young and pretty widow living alone is bound to become the b.u.t.t of scandalmongers. What a pity that she does not choose to return to her parents, though I must say that to be obliged to listen constantly to Lady Gant's chatter would try the soul of the most patient of mortals. Poor Amabel!"

"If she were purse-pinched she would have to return home. However, the settlements may be tied up in such a way that she is forced to remain single. Dear Aunt, I can no longer restrain my feelings. May I have your permission to address my cousin?"

"Address your cousin? Whatever do you . . . oh, you mean to propose marriage! To Selena?" Lady Whitton looked at him in astonishment and doubt. "Selena is her own mistress, you know. I confess I have seen no more sign of an attachment in her than I have in you, Aubrey, but for what it is worth, you have my permission to approach her."

Four days pa.s.sed before Sir Aubrey ventured to avail himself of Lady Whitton's permission. Not only did Selena show no sign of attachment, she treated him with nothing above common courtesy. Often, in fact, she carelessly ignored his presence in a way he found rather daunting. However, the viscount might return at any moment, so when the perfect opportunity presented itself, he seized it.

He was admiring his reflection in the antique mirror over the fireplace, a favourite occupation, when Selena came home from the fields and entered the drawing room. Swinging round, he bowed with a flourish.

"Cousin!" A suspicion of a frown marred his brow as he noticed that she was clad in her working clothes, most unsuitable for receiving an offer of marriage. "May I beg the favour of a word with you in private?"

Selena looked around the room. "It would appear so, sir, since no one else is present. Where is my mother?"

"Surely, being cousins, we may dispense with a chaperone."

"Third or fourth cousins, but by all means. I merely enquired as to Mama's whereabouts. If you do not know, pray tell me and I shall ask Bannister."

"I understand my aunt went out gathering herbs, attended by Polly. I cannot conceive why she should, since the gardens grow little else. But, Selena, allow me to express . . ."

"There are certain plants that will not flourish under cultivation. Is Delia not returned from Bracketts? She spends half her time there, I vow."

"No!" the baronet shouted. "I beg your pardon, cousin. You must make allowances for the emotions of a man half crazed by love!"

"Did you fall for Amabel? I had not realised it. I must admit she is as beautiful as ever, and as catty!"

"Certainly not! I mean, Mrs. Parcott is beautiful but though I did not think her-ah-catty, I have not fallen. Selena, my adored one, have you not guessed how I admire you?"

"To tell the truth, cousin, I thought you had little admiration to spare for anything but your own countenance. Oh, I beg your pardon, that was as catty as anything Amabel ever said. I am very flattered, sir, by your kind words. Now I had best go and change my clothes."

"Do not leave me! You look charmingly in that . . . in that particular shade of blue, which matches your eyes to perfection."