Page 43 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“Your cousin Christopher, Mr Farrington, is an unpleasant man. My ma wrote me that it is rumoured the creditors are chasing him for unpaid bills.”
Arabella nodded, somehow unsurprised, wondering if money troubles might be why he had been hounding her for sole guardianship of her son.
“It isn’t my place, My Lady, but I’m going to say it anyway. There’s been a man in the village asking questions about you and Master Henry at the Beehive Tavern. They think he came from York. He wasn’t from around here.”
Her heart sank, but this wasn’t a surprise. She’d expected Christopher to want to know their exact whereabouts. But Judd’s next words shocked her.
“I told Tabitha, and she said I had to tell you. He was asking if Master Henry had been up to any mischief or been involved in any accidents.”
Ah, he had sent spies.
“Most of the folks round here dislike strangers. They’ve taken a liking to Master Henry, though, and he spends a fair bit of time at the stables at the Beehive. No one told the man anything, and they made out they hadn’t seen you or the little lad.”
She felt scared and relieved at the same time. Money was a motivator, and if the man from York paid for information, it would only be a matter of time before someone told him about Henry’s latest scrapes.
“I believe it is fair to say that Christopher Farrington is determined to find reasons to take Henry away from me. And, of course, Henry has such an adventurous spirit that he is always falling out of trees or almost getting run over by galloping horses. If any more strangers arrive, then let me or Sir Joseph know, please Judd.”
“Very good, My Lady,” Judd replied.
“I’ll be over directly to collect the pony and trap. I’ll tell the cook she can add a few more goodies to the basket as I no longer have to carry it to the lake.”
She began to move away, then remembered something and turned back. “Judd, I’m so sorry, but I didn’t ask when the wedding will be. Are you hoping for a summer wedding?”
“Aye, My Lady. I reckon it will be around harvest time.”
“Tabitha will make a lovely bride. You’re both lucky to have found each other,” concluded Arabella.
***
She enjoyed the clackety-clack of the pony and trap as she drove down the lane to the furthest shore of the lake. The path was smooth and easy for Snowdrop, the pony, to trot along. The picnic hamper was now far too heavy to carry and safely stowed behind her.
As she slowed Snowdrop to a walk, she thought she heard voices and stopped the trap near the lake under the shade of an oak tree. She gave Snowdrop some oats and led the pony to the water’s edge to drink.
The pony, a sturdy white Galloway, had been perfect on the journey.
I must remember to ask Sir Joseph if there is a horse I can ride in the stables, she thought.
Hearing a voice, she looked up to see Jason Brown, one of her uncle’s men, who had taken on the role of steward at Castle Montbury.
“Jason. If you are here, then I suspect my son and the others are not far away,” she called to him.
“Just down there, My Lady. If you give me the reins, I’ll settle and tether Snowdrop. She knows me very well.”
“Thank you, Jason. I’d appreciate that. In fact, I’d be glad of some help carrying that heavy wicker basket.”
At that moment, another figure appeared. Robert smiled in greeting. Arabella waved at him, ignoring her racing pulse and the butterflies twirling in her stomach. She hadn’t seen the duke for several days and hadn’t expected him to be there for luncheon.
He went up to Snowdrop and patted the pony.
“I’ll tether the pony, then I will help her ladyship with the wicker hamper,” Jason told Robert.
“I’ll take care of the basket if you see to the pony,” said Robert. He went to the trap and lifted out the basket. “I can see why you brought the trap,” he said to Arabella with a laugh. “Your cook has been very generous.”
“Here, let me help you,” said Arabella. “It's heavy, and there are bottles of lemonade in there, too.”
“A veritable feast. Jason, the Reverend Colbrooke, and I have set up rugs for us to sit on under the shade of a willow tree right by the lake.”
As Arabella bent to take the basket handle, their hands brushed, and she felt the now familiar tingle of excitement racing through her veins. She smiled brightly, showing no signs of her reaction to his touch.
