Page 31 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“Uncle Robert, have you thought about whether we can mend the boat we found on the lake. The Reverend Colbrooke says he will help us.”
“I think it is an excellent idea, and I can help, too. I remember when your Uncle Simon and I launched that boat onto the lake. Your mama was there, too,” he told Freddy. “She liked to pretend that she was the lady of the lake. She was always reading stories about King Arthur and his Knights.”
“King Arthur is great, but my favourite is Gawain the Green Knight,” said Henry.
“I don’t think I know those stories,” said Freddy.
“I can read them to you,” offered Robert. “I’m sure Reverend Colbrooke will know the stories of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table at his castle of Camelot, too. “
“Was it like our castle, Uncle Robert?”
“Very similar, I think. Camelot must have been the same age as Castle Montbury. I’ve seen paintings of Camelot, and it does look like our castle. It might be a little bigger, though.”
“King Arthur is the best story,” said Henry. “I agree with your Uncle Robert. Castle Montbury could be Camelot. I think it could be the place where King Arthur saw the Lady of the Lake, in fact.”
“No one could prove you wrong, Henry,” said Robert.
“I see Mama,” said Henry excitedly. “Look over there, with Aunt Emma.”
Arabella and Emma could be seen on the side of the village green, near the rectory. Robert felt his eyes drawn to the willowy Lady Arabella Farrington and the graceful way she moved across the path towards them.
In another life, in another place, he would certainly have wanted to spend time getting to know the fascinating Lady Farrington. He doubted there would be any other lady in the house party as accomplished and intriguing.
“Your Grace,” said Arabella. “How pleasant to meet you again.”
How formal? Was it his imagination? He thought she spoke in a rather distant way as if she had learned something about him that made her wary.
“Delighted.” He nodded and bowed.
“We were on our way to the tavern for a treat and then on to meet the Reverend Colbrooke before visiting the castle. The boys have a lesson together this afternoon,” Arabella told him.
Arabella’s eyes twinkled in the morning sunshine. He imagined emeralds worn by a fairy tale princess shining on her jewelled crown.
Robert forced himself to come back to reality and stop thinking this way. The young lady talking with him was a widow and a mother. He wasn’t sure she even liked him, and today, her tone seemed frosty compared to their last meeting. Then he’d thought perhaps she had forgiven him for those heated words he’d uttered on their first meeting on the woodland trail.
“As the boys are enjoying each other’s company, I suggest we walk back to Montbury together,” said Robert. “I’ve promised Freddy we can walk back by the lakeside.”
He noticed Arabella looked hesitant, almost as though she was trying to think of an excuse but couldn’t find one. Eventually, she nodded her agreement.
“Very well. They do seem to be having fun playing together,” she said with a smile.
Robert offered Arabella his arm. Again, he saw a look, almost of panic, before she drew close to him, and he tucked her arm under his. As he watched, he saw her eyes widen for a second or two.
He welcomed the frisson of energy that coursed through his body as he held her arm, and they walked towards the tavern. He knew he responded to her in a way that caused his nerves to fire throughout his body. What was happening to him? He was unsure, but as the sensations were not unpleasant, he would explore this experience and see where it led.
He’d felt attraction for many women in the past, but this felt different from anything he had experienced. As they walked along the village green in the morning sunshine, he welcomed the tingling sensory experience.
Don’t think about why, he told himself. You can do that later. For now, live in this moment and enjoy time with this very individual lady.
Chapter 13
Arabella smiled to herself as they walked down the path towards the village. Emma had discovered a sudden interest in education and had volunteered to help the Reverend Colbrooke with the lake project. There would be many hours investigating the flora and fauna of the lake and many opportunities for Emma to converse with the boys’ tutor.
While walking into the village, Henry and Dash had raced so far ahead that she lost sight of them. She had been struck by panic, remembering the last time this happened, he’d almost been killed in a collision with a horse. She’d never known a child who had such exuberance, yet at other times, he was so studious she worried about him needing to play more.
This tutoring with Freddy Rathby might help him use up some of his boundless energy and increase his knowledge by learning new things. She reflected that her son had never struggled with learning anything. He loved books and soaking up facts and always wanted to learn more about history and progress with his nature studies.
She quickened her pace. “Emma, Henry’s done it again. He’s so far ahead that I can’t hear his footsteps. Let’s hurry along.”
