Page 45 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“You’re a widow, I believe,” said the duchess. “As am I.”
Arabella murmured that, yes, this was the case.
“And I’ve seen your son at the castle?” asked the duchess.
“Henry, yes, he joins Master Frederick for lessons with Reverend Colbrooke,” replied Arabella.
“The vicar? I believe children should be sent to school and not mollycoddled at home. How old is your boy?” the duchess asked, almost demanding an answer.
“Just eight years old,” answered Arabella, wondering what interest the duchess could have in Henry.
“Then he should be at school. What are you thinking of?” asserted the duchess.
“I believe I know what is best for my son,” Arabella replied coolly before trying to change the subject. “You are driving to York this afternoon?”
“For some shopping. I need to order a gown for the summer ball at the castle.”
“Have you tried the haberdashery shop in the village?” asked Arabella. “Mrs Cribbage and her team have excellent fabrics and are talented seamstresses.”
“Mrs Cribbage?” choked The Duchess of Wyndale in surprise. “I’ve sent for Madame Dubois to come to York from London and meet me there. She will make my gown for the ball. I don’t think that can compare with a Mrs Cribbage of Montbury village.” Her deep, contralto laugh held no warmth.
I don’t like her. She is haughty and proud, but it’s more than that. I feel uncomfortable to be this close to her. Maybe it is her perfume? It’s not like me to dislike people.
Ignoring The Duchess of Wyndale’s dismissive comment about the local seamstress, Arabella continued, “The children have done an amazing job with the old boat. They have oiled thewood and made it look magnificent. Of course, without the Duke of Montbury’s encouragement …”
Something made her stop and look at the duchess, who scrutinized her with a strange expression.
“You know the Duke of Montbury well?” asked The Duchess of Wyndale. “I’ve known him since my first season in London.”
Arabella noticed that both Elinor and the dowager duchess were looking at The Duchess of Wyndale in surprise.
The Duchess of Wyndale didn’t seem to notice and continued, staring at Arabella with her piercing blue eyes. Arabella shivered and knew she would be glad when this grand lady had left.
“We were in love. I believe the duke was my first love. It’s all so long ago now, but being here brings back so many memories. He’s still a fine man,” declared The Duchess of Wyndale.
Arabella, unsure how to reply, merely nodded.
The return of the boat with the boys interrupted their conversation, much to Arabella’s relief. Returning safely from their voyage on the lake, the intrepid explorers began to devour the contents of the picnic baskets.
After the conversation with The Duchess of Wyndale, Arabella was relieved to find the dowager duchess laughing and chatting informally with her and Emma. The Thraxtons and Arabella were invited to the summer ball, and the dowager duchess told them formal invitations would arrive soon.
The boys were planning an adventure, sailing over to the island, and they were delighted to hear that Elinor and Arabella planned to join them in the boat the next day.
Arabella felt relaxed and at ease with this group of people who didn’t stand on ceremony. She was able to shake off the feeling of unease created during her conversation with The Duchess of Wyndale.
“Arabella, could you take me in the trap to the village, and then you walk home from there?” asked Emma. “I suggested to the Reverend Colbrooke that we take some of the elderly villagers the leftovers from the picnic baskets. He thinks it’s a lovely idea. We were going to walk around the village, but if I take Snowdrop and the trap, we can go to some of the more remote cottages. I’ll meet him back at the vicarage.”
“Of course. We’ll be leaving soon. The boys are going to learn how to cast a fishing line, and then we can leave.”
So, to end the excursion to the lake, they all gathered on the water’s edge, and Mr Brown and Robert brought out fishing lines. The dowager duchess proved to be surprisingly proficientat casting her line. She showed Freddy and Henry how to move backwards and focus on a point in the distance before bringing their lines forward.
Henry raced across to show Arabella how to cast her line, but she got tangled up in it.
“I don’t know what happened there,” she said as Henry began to laugh.
“Oh, Mama, you’ve caught yourself,” he joked. “I wonder what sort of fish you are.” Arabella collapsed in a fit of giggles, and as she tried to get out of the tangle, she only made it worse.
She felt the breath on the back of her neck before she heard his voice. “Henry, stand aside while I assist your mama,” said Robert.
