A canopy of blue sky and warm sun covered Lyon and his father like a blanket as their horses slowly picked their way across the acreage of Hyde Park. There was enough chill in the air to make his wool coat comfortable without needing a cloak or scarf to keep his neck warm. The wide expanse of sloping, tree-dotted land was sprinkled with carriages, carts, and people out enjoying the late spring weather or making their trek to attend their daily chores. Some on horseback, others walking, and a few seated on the ground enjoying refreshments from a straw basket. The park was loud with sounds of wheels rumbling over less-than-favorable terrain, shouts from drivers managing stubborn mules, and horses galloping in the distance.
His father didn’t often ask Lyon to go for a ride with him anymore. They used to ride together several times a week when they were both in London and the weather as fair as it was today. The past couple of years Marksworth had found he’d rather use the more convenient and comfortable velvet-cushioned carriage to carry him around than a leather saddle strapped to the back of a horse. Lyon never minded. He would be happy with a stroll. His father irritated the devil out of him at times but Marksworth was still his favorite companion.
Both their mounts knew the paths well, and they allowed the mares to pick the pace. Lyon and Marksworth’s conversation had been the usual topics they’d discuss on a mid-afternoon outing—the usual issues facing parliament, the King’s declining health, the Prince’s lavish spending, and the gossip of who had or hadn’t caught up his wagers at White’s.
A lull in their discussions gave Lyon time to think about Adeline. He’d seen her thrice in the last month at parties they’d attended. That wasn’t nearly enough. They exchanged plenty of long glances at each other but their conversations had been limited. The most important issue between them was never mentioned. There were too many dinners, balls, operas, and such events each evening for him to guess which she’d be attending. He’d tried. Short of asking her, he couldn’t know where she’d be or the time. At the Duke of Middlecastle’s house he’d actually been seated across from her. They each talked more with the guests on their right and left than to each other. It wasn’t what he wanted. By the way she looked and smiled at him, he was convinced it wasn’t what she wanted either. She hadn’t found it within herself to trust him with her heart or that he would be a different kind of husband than her first one.
It was as if each was waiting for the other to make the move to give in to the others’ wishes. He still watched for her as he shaved each morning, but that hadn’t proved rewarding either. She hadn’t been back to that part of her garden.
“I suppose you’ve heard the latest gossip,” his father offered after a time of quiet.
There had to be a reason his father said that. Lyon didn’t want to react, but found himself asking, “Probably not. It seems to change daily. What is it?”
“Not one of the three widows has allowed anyone to call on them. Have you heard?”
“That none of them has? No,” Lyon answered as his horse shuddered beneath him and pulled restlessly on the bridle. He had heard some of the men in his card club grousing that they’d been snubbed by Lady Wake and Mrs. Feld. Lyon couldn’t say that bothered him.
“Don’t you find that surprising?”
Hearing that his aunt had had lovers during the past twenty years was surprising. It was downright heartening to hear that Adeline hadn’t accepted anyone’s overtures. He’d thought as much, but couldn’t be sure. On the occasions they were at the same gatherings, she’d had no shortage of gentlemen by her side, but Lyon hadn’t noticed that she’d given any one of them more attention than another.
“Some of the gents think the three of them have made a pact not to accept callers this Season. It seems a reasonable conclusion since they all three decided to sit out the first year they could have returned to Society after their mourning had passed. They attend every party together and seem to stick together like poesies in a bouquet wrapped tight with a ribbon.”
“Could be,” Lyon offered carelessly. “The ladies are quite fond of each other. They visit Lady Wake, but I haven’t seen any gentlemen’s carriages at her house.”
“So you’re watching.”
“Only when I’m home.” Lyon looked at his father and grinned. Marksworth laughed. Lyon probably looked more closely than Mrs. Feversham with her spyglass.
“I’m sure you have your reasons for not declaring for her.”
“I do.”
“I’d ask you what they were but I know you won’t tell me. I’ll leave you to them. However, it’s certainly not because she’s not interested in you or you in her. I’ve watched her. She can’t take her eyes off you.”
Lyon grimaced. “Are you watching her?”
Marksworth shifted in the saddle and rolled his shoulders. “I couldn’t do anything else the other night at Middlecastle’s dinner party. She was right in my line of vision and you were in hers. But since you won’t tell me what’s going on between the two of you, I’ll tell you why I asked you to join me for a ride today. I’m getting married on Friday. You’ll come?”
“Of course. I like Miss Ballingbrand. She seems to suit you. I’m just surprised you’re not waiting until the Season is over and parliament has ended.”
“I had expected to.” Marksworth chuckled under his breath. “But there’s hardly two weeks left of the parties so I can forgo them. She’s ready to marry me, leave London, and begin our travels. I had hoped she’d learn to enjoy the parties, teas, and shopping, but that hasn’t happened. She’s quite miserable here and loves the quiet of the country so we’ll go ahead, say our vows, and then visit my estates while the weather is comfortable.”
“I’m surprised and glad you’re acquiescing to her wishes.”
“Why do you say that? I’ve done my best to make all my wives happy.” He grunted. “Besides, she’s eager to start a family.”
“Marksworth, we are not on that path today,” Lyon said, suddenly annoyed.
“I don’t suppose you ever have been,” his father mumbled. “I’m glad she wants children. There’s no reason for us to wait for a few more parties and a few more votes. Especially since it looks as if another Season will end with you unwed.”
The devil take it! If Lyon could change Adeline’s mind, he would be happy to do so. But she’d made it quite clear her first marriage was enough for her. He was doing his best. He had to trust his instincts. Pressing her every other day to marry him wouldn’t help him to earn her trust. It was difficult enough to accept the way things were without his father’s constant harping about him marrying and having a son.
Marksworth continued to talk, but something else had caught Lyon’s attention. In the distance he heard high-pitched girlish squeals, yells, and peals of childish laughter. He pulled on the reins, stopping his horse and scanning the area around him. To his right he saw a group of children playing.
His body tightened. They had to be girls from the school. He recognized their sounds. Maybe Adeline was with them in the park. A perfect coincidental meeting.
“I’m going this way, Marksworth,” he said, and without waiting for his father to agree, he guided his horse to change directions.
His father had no choice but to follow and catch up to say, “Where are you going all of a sudden? This isn’t the way to run away from a conversation you don’t like.”
“I’m not,” he answered. “There’s something I have to do. I’ll see you at your wedding on Friday.”
Lyon nudged the horse, and the mare started trotting. He didn’t slow the animal until he was close enough to recognize the girls’ coats and bonnets. Making a wide circle around the merrymakers, he looked at the three women standing guard.
Adeline wasn’t with them.
Disappointment and aggravation gathered in his chest. There was no reason for her to be with them but for a brief moment he’d had hope. As he watched them, something odd struck him. Two girls were apart from the rest. They weren’t up running around wildly, holding hands and swinging around, or laughing and chasing with the others. They were sitting on the ground, a good distance away from the playing and from each other. Looking closer he realized the two girls sitting as the ones who’d entered his house that morning. The headmistress was standing an equal distance between them. Fanny and Mathilda each had a slate and chalk in their hands and seemed to be writing something.
Writing? While in the park? Instead of playing?
He watched the red-haired girl hand her board up to the mistress. She looked at it, picked up the tail of her apron, wiped it clean, and then handed it back to the girl who started writing on it again.
Lyon’s hackles rose. Was this the punishment Adeline had told him about or had the two done something else? It had been a month since the wayward lasses had entered his house, so this shouldn’t be over that incident. But he didn’t know and wanted to find out.
Lyon turned his horse again and kicked his heels into the mare’s flanks. She took off at a gallop. Not wanting to take the time to return the animal to the stables, he raced around curricles, pedestrians, and vegetable carts to get out of the park. Carriage and wagon traffic was heavy on the streets, but he didn’t let that stop his pace either. Without slowing down, he nudged the horse around the slow-moving coach he was behind. Then, one at a time he passed all the conveyances in front of him until he made it to his house in St. James. He quickly dismounted and tethered the mare.
Two carriages were in front of Adeline’s house. Probably Mrs. Feld and Lady Kitson. He didn’t care that he’d be interrupting them. They’d seen him at her house before. So had Mrs. Feversham. If he hadn’t been so intent on getting to the bottom of the girls in the park, he might have turned around and waved to his neighbor.
He strode up to the front door and knocked.
“Mrs. Lawton,” he said, removing his hat when she opened the door. “I’d like to see Lady Wake.”
“She has guests, my lord.”
“I know, but tell her I’ll only take a moment of her time. You can show me to another room to wait until she’s free, but I’ll see her today.”
Mrs. Lawton smiled at him. “Her ladyship told me that you’re the one who gave the girls the pianoforte.”
What could he say? He’d asked Adeline not to tell the girls. He never told her not to tell her housekeeper. He nodded slightly.
She smiled. “I like hearing it in the evenings when all else is quiet. Puts me right to sleep.” She inclined her head toward the corridor. “Go on in and see her. She’s not standing on ceremony today. She has the little one here.”
“Little one?” he asked.
“Lady Kitson Fairbright’s son. He’s a fine boy. Running about here and there and all over the house. No rest for anyone when that one’s around. He can’t be still or stay in one room for long.”
Lyon handed his hat and gloves to the woman, walked to the drawing room doorway, then stopped. His heart slammed against his chest. Adeline was sitting in a chair holding a little dark-haired boy. She had a small wooden horse in her hand and was hopping it across the child’s knees as she said, “Clip-clop, clip-clop.”
They were all laughing.
“My lord,” Lady Kitson said and rose.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Mrs. Feld stand up, too, but he couldn’t take his gaze off Adeline. She lifted the child into her arms, sweeping her gaze up and down Lyon’s face as she did so.
“Lyon, what are you doing here?”
“My apologies.” He bowed ever so slightly. “It seems I’ve interrupted you three ladies again.”
“No, not at all,” Lady Kitson said, taking the child from Adeline. He went willingly into his mother’s arms. “We were just getting ready to say our goodbyes. Weren’t we, Brina?”
“Yes,” she said brightly. “We were.” She turned to Adeline. “It was a lovely visit but, we must go.”
Adeline looked from one friend to the other and back to Lyon. “If you’ll excuse me, my lord, I’ll see them out.”
“No,” Lady Kitson said as the little boy chattered and struggled to get down. “No need for that. We must hurry before Chatwyn gets more restless.”
“Don’t forget this,” Adeline said, handing the horse to the child. He grabbed it eagerly in his hand and then cupped it to his chest.
“You must not spoil him and have a toy for him every time I bring him,” Lady Kitson said.
“I can’t promise I won’t. I’ve heard it said a man can’t have too many horses. Chatwyn needs a collection.”
The ladies said goodbye the way ladies do. Earnest hugs, kisses on the cheek, and promises to see one another soon. During the flurry of their parting, all Lyon could think was that Adeline would be a caring mother. In just the few moments he saw her with the little boy, he could see that she had patient, loving hands and a tender touch and voice.
“Will you always just barge into my house, Lyon?” she asked him after her friends cleared the doorway.
It always got her attention when he did. Lyon walked farther into the room. “I don’t know. Perhaps I should be punished for doing so.”
“Punished?” she asked curiously. “What are you talking about?”
He stopped just inches from her. “Why did I just see the two girls who entered my house sitting in the park writing on their boards, while the other girls played?”
Adeline’s shoulders lifted. “Because that is their punishment for leaving the school and trespassing on your property.”
“It’s been at least a month since then.”
“Obviously not,” she challenged.
“How long do you intend for this to go on?”
“The reprimand was only for a month. I don’t remember the exact day it started. Perhaps this is the last week. Or the last day.”
“Four weeks is a lifetime for a child. Have you no heart?”
“I have plenty of heart,” she insisted. “I didn’t know you knew so much about children, my lord.” She folded her hands across her chest. “I don’t need you to tell me about punishment for the girls.”
Lyon relaxed his stance. She was never more beautiful to him than when she was angry at him. “A week should have been long enough,” he stated. “Two at the most.”
“It wasn’t your decision to make. You agreed I couldn’t send them home and it was your suggestion that I threaten them with a cane.”
“Did you?” he asked, advancing on her again.
“Yes,” she answered without equivocating. “You knew I had to be severe or they would have continued to disobey. As it is, there have been no further instances and they are both still doing quite well.”
He smiled. “Good.”
Adeline’s expression softened. “You aren’t worried about the girls. You just wanted an excuse to come over.”
“No, I was worried about the girls, too.”
“My lady.”
They both turned to see Mrs. Lawton standing in the doorway. “Everything is fine, Mrs. Lawton. I need no help.”
“I’m glad of that, my lady. I told Miss Peat I couldn’t disturb you, but she insisted I tell you it was very important you read this note at once. She said it was pinned to the coat of a little girl who was left on the steps of the school.”
“What!” She gasped. “Someone left a child at the school?”
“Mrs. Tallon is going to give her something to eat while she waits for you to come over and let her know what to do.”
She looked at Lyon, and he nodded. “Go ahead and read it now.”
“All right. Thank you, Mrs. Lawton. Tell her I’ll be over shortly.”
Adeline unfolded the note and started reading. Her hand started trembling. Her eyes closed and she whispered an almost silent “No.”
Her gasp was violent and rending, sending a shudder of alarm through Lyon.
“I can’t believe this.” Adeline grabbed her stomach and bent over double as if in pain.
Lyon caught her in his arms and helped her to sit on the settee as the note fluttered to the floor. He knelt protectively in front of her and placed his hands on her knees, chilled by how hard she was taking the news. “Adeline, tell me what’s happened? Who’s it from?”
She lifted her head and looked at him. Her golden-brown eyes glistened with shock. “My husband’s mistress. She left Wake’s daughter at the school. She wants me to take care of her and let her attend the school.”