Page 22 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“Will you still be here for the fair, Your Lordship? asked Sir Joseph.
“Unlikely,” the duke muttered before retreating into silence.
Something about her dinner partner’s body language alerted Arabella to a change. His relaxed manner was gone, and he was clearly uneasy.
He’s hiding something, she thought. Maybe he thinks attending a village fair is beneath him. But it sounds like he has fond memories of the event. There’s something more to it.
I seem to remember Aunt Grace telling me that the Duchess of Montbury always hosts a house party around the same time as the village fair. Maybe he is too busy at the castle to mingle with the villagers. I just don’t get that impression. I’ll ask her what she thinks when I get the chance.
The final course of simple lemon syllabub was welcome and cut through the heaviness of the pot pie. The tart’s light, reviving texture melted on her tongue.
The conversation then moved on to the plan for the two boys to be tutored together.
“I’m looking forward to getting started,” said Nathaniel. “They’re both good boys and will learn well together.”
“What will you teach them?” asked Elinor.
“I thought a project on the local woods and the lake. It will keep them interested as we can do lots of field trips. However, I plan to bring in arithmetic, and classical myths and legends. So many classical myths are set in forests, streams, or lakes.”
“They will be able to write their own stories too,” said Arabella, liking what she heard of the parson’s plans.
“And poetry, too,” she added, hoping her son might eventually share her own love of poetry.
Aunt Grace interrupted the flow of conversation. “Now, ladies, it’s time for us to withdraw and leave the gentlemen to their madeira wine and conversation.”
Aunt Grace led them to the drawing room where several footmen were rearranging chairs to create a dance space.
“Are we dancing, Mama?” asked Emma.
“I think we could have a few reels when the gentlemen join us,” said Aunt Grace.
“And singing?” said Emma.
“Perhaps, my dear. Let’s see how it goes.”
“Will you dance, Arabella?” queried Emma, turning to look at her.
“No, dear. I haven’t danced since I was widowed,” Arabella replied.
“Now, my dear niece. I don’t like to tell you what to do, but I’m convinced Edward would have wanted you to have some fun in life. Would he expect you to sit in a corner as if you still wore widow’s weeds?”
She thought of Edward’s words that last night and knew her aunt was right. She sighed, “You’re right, Aunt. I’m probably just avoiding that step back into society. I’m so used to being prim about everything in case Christopher Farrington finds something to criticize.”
“Well, you are in my home, amongst friends and family. And … I need you to make up numbers if we are to dance the Barley Mow and a Scottish reel this evening. I have an ulterior motive.”
When the gentlemen joined them, the mood became light and lively, and Aunt Grace began to play on the pianoforte. Soon the reverend Nathaniel had taken Emma in his arms and was spinning her around the room. Elinor and her mother agreed to dance with Sir Crosby and his son Ned, whom they had been talking to earlier. Aunt Grace whispered something in her husband's ear, and a few moments later, her uncle stood by her side.
“I’m under orders, niece, and your aunt will not take no for an answer,” Sir Joseph explained with a broad smile.
And so she returned to dancing, after more than two years, in the caring arms of her Uncle Joseph. The familiar tune of the Barley Mow had her feet soon tapping in the joy of the rhythm of the steps. As the music drew to a close, she surprised her uncle by giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek to express her thanks.
Emma and Nathaniel had reluctantly parted, as they could not dance together all evening without provoking comment, even in such a small gathering. Uncle Joseph went to dance with the dowager duchess, and Arabella found herself staring up into a pair of blue eyes, asking her to dance.
“I didn’t expect to dance tonight,” said Arabella
“I didn’t expect my mother to offer to play the pianoforte for an impromptu dance. I have yet to see it happen, but there are lots of surprises tonight.”
“I believe I am supposed to comment on the weather, but I am going to be honest and tell you that I have not danced for two years and need to concentrate on where I put my feet.”
