Chapter 13
The soft rustling of the leaves and the chirping of the birds created a tranquil symphony as he made his way out of the woods. The gravel path back to the garden crunched beneath his feet.
The air was crisp and fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers. Lady Crawford really did not fail in maintaining the estate.
Peter found Madeline by the chairs near the buffet table. She held a plate in one hand while she munched on a sponge cake with the other. His lips twitched into a smile. She really was not like the other ladies; he had always known his sister was special.
Madeline put down her cake and waved at him to come sit with her, which he immediately did. He leaned back in his seat as soon as he found a comfortable position.
Madeline, sitting opposite him, looked at him with eyes sparkling with excitement. She had been vibrating with enthusiasm since the morning, eager for the day’s festivities.
“It’s such a beautiful day, Peter,” she said, her voice filled with unbridled joy. “Where have you been? I’ve been searching for you since this morning. And have you seen Lavinia? I have not seen her since yesterday,” she noted, biting into her cake.
Peter almost blushed as he remembered what had happened in the woods. He felt guilty for leaving Lavinia behind, but he was certain she would be safe now.
From across the lawn, he caught Lord Windham looking at him, his eyes piercing through him like a dagger, but Peter did not care about him at all.
“The weather has cooperated nicely,” he murmured. “I am glad it has not rained and soaked Lord and Lady Crawford’s guests.”
Soon, he saw Lavinia coming out from the woods, looking too calm and collected, almost as if she had not just been thoroughly kissed.
Madeline’s smile widened, her whole face lighting up. “I knew lying to you to make you come would do you good! You’ve been so serious all your life, always working, always thinking of your responsibilities,” she yapped.
When he saw the blissful smile on her face, Peter was no longer mad at her for lying to him just to make him come back to Arlington.
“Someone has to keep the estate running smoothly, Madeline,” he answered.
“I just think you have to enjoy being the Duke, Brother. All these responsibilities come with their own perks as well. Ignore the rumors about you; I certainly do. Why, just yesterday, I heard a snippet of an atrocious tale, with you painted as the villain, but I refused to believe a word of it because I know that my big brother is entitled to have a little pleasure now and again without drawing suspicious looks or the ire of the entire ton.” She finished the sponge cake in her hand. “Shall I get you a slice?” she offered.
“No, but thank you,” he said.
Madeline nodded and stood up, presumably to get another slice of cake.
As she walked to the buffet table, Peter could hear her chatter animatedly about the latest gossip and news with the other ladies.
He listened with half an ear as his mind wandered to the other elegantly dressed guests who were passing by.
They nodded their heads politely as they passed him.
He was not able to recognize most of them.
“There’s Mother!” Peter almost jumped from his seat as Madeline exclaimed from behind him. She shook his shoulder, trying to get his attention.
He followed her gaze to see their mother standing near a rose arbor, deep in conversation with Lady Crawford.
Her posture was regal, her expression warm as she exchanged pleasantries with their hostess.
Her eyes lit up when she saw them, then she excused herself from the conversation and approached them.
“Peter, Madeline, there you are!” she greeted, her voice filled with maternal affection. “I was wondering if you ever went on that little adventure with Charles.”
Peter and Madeline exchanged looks, wondering how she could have known about the outing Charles had organized and then postponed until tomorrow. However, she was just talking to Lady Crawford, and it could be possible that she had told her about it.
“We will leave for Arlington tomorrow, Mama,” Madeline answered while picking up a slice of lemon cake and giving it a hearty chomp. She chewed, then added, “We had to postpone the excursion because I did not want to miss the banquet.”
Their mother smiled, her eyes twinkling with approval. “I’m glad you decided to stay. I know you’ve been far from your responsibilities for too long, Peter, but you work too hard. You should enjoy yourself.” She nodded as Madeline shoveled another bite into her mouth. “Do have a bit of cake, dear.”
Peter gave a small shrug, appearing nonchalant. “There’s always something to be done.”
“Of course, but you mustn’t forget to live, my dear,” their mother replied.
Madeline made a small choking noise, then her face reddened slightly. “I must fetch myself a cup of lemonade,” she wheezed, before trotting off toward the refreshments table.
Suddenly, their mother’s expression turned serious. “Speaking of living, have you given any thought to what we discussed earlier?” she asked.
She slipped into the chair Madeline had vacated and patted Peter’s hand.
But Peter had thought about their conversation and had already decided. His answer remained unchanged.
“Mother,” he began, keeping his voice even, “I appreciate your concern, but as I said, I am in no rush to find a wife. I am perfectly content as I am.”
His mother sighed, her expression softening with concern.
“I know you are not the kind of person who worries about having someone permanently in your life. You prefer to be alone… or, at the very least, keep your household to yourself. But you must remember, you have a title, an estate, and a family name to uphold. You need an heir.”
“I know my responsibilities, Mother,” Peter replied brusquely. He took a deep breath so that he would not snap at his mother again.
She eyed him with a mix of frustration and sympathy. Her eyes searched his as if trying to comprehend his reason behind his reluctance.
“Darling, you have been very responsible all your life, and I’m immensely proud of you for that.
But you have also been distant from me, from Madeline, from your own heart.
” She patted his hand again. “It might be intriguing to drift from one relationship to the next, but finding the right woman would give you such great comfort. A proper wife could bring you so much happiness, more than you realize.”
How can you say that when you weren’t even happy in your marriage?
“I have thought this through, Mother. My decision is—”
“But Peter…” His mother’s tone was despondent. “You cannot mean to deny yourself all the pleasures of life. The dukedom will always be yours, but what of love, partnership, and having a family?”
Peter shook his head slowly.
Either she is not listening to me, or she is determined to have her way.
Regardless of her motivations, he understood that it would be futile to continue protesting.
“I will reconsider it,” he finally said, hoping to appease her without making any promises.
She smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’s all I ask, my dear.”
Madeline returned to the table. Her hands were empty now, and she was skipping from one foot to the other in the most exuberant fashion.
“Come on, Peter! Let’s go find something fun to do. There’s bound to be something exciting in the gardens.”
Peter allowed himself to be led away, grateful for the distraction.
As they wandered through the gardens, the lively atmosphere and Madeline’s infectious enthusiasm began to chip away at his earlier unease.
She pointed out different flower arrangements, marveled at the fountains, and even convinced him to try his hand at a game of lawn bowling, which he found surprisingly enjoyable.
Peter laughed more than he had in weeks. His sister’s cheerfulness lifted his spirits in a way he had not anticipated. It was a reminder of the simple pleasures in life, the ones he had been neglecting in favor of other pursuits.
But as the day wore on, he found his thoughts drifting back to the conversation with his mother.
He knew she was right, in a way. He couldn’t avoid his responsibilities forever.
But the idea of marriage, of being tied to someone for the rest of his life, was overwhelming.
He had seen too many unhappy unions among his peers, including his parents’.
Marriages of convenience that brought little joy to either party.
He was lost in thought when Madeline asked, “Brother, are you listening?”
He blinked, realizing he had been staring off into the distance. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”
Madeline gave him a knowing look, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “I was just asking if you were enjoying yourself.”
Peter smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. “Yes, I am. It’s been a good day.”
Madeline studied him for another moment, her expression thoughtful. “If you say so,” she said.
Peter did not say anything else. They wandered deeper into the estate, away from the noise and bustle of the main party.
The further they went, the quieter it became, until they were walking in near silence.
The only sound they could hear was the rustling of the leaves and the chirping of the distant birds.
As they rounded a corner, Peter’s steps slowed as he caught sight of a familiar figure standing near a secluded fountain. Lavinia was alone, her back to them as she gazed into the water. His heart skipped a beat; he could still feel her lips against his.
Madeline noticed the sudden change in his demeanor and followed his gaze. “There’s Lavinia!” she said excitedly.
Peter nodded, his eyes fixed on Lavinia’s graceful form.
Madeline could not contain her glee and immediately ran towards Lavinia.
“Lavinia!” she screamed.
Lavinia turned to her. A wide smile spread across her face as soon as she saw Madeline. However, it quickly disappeared when her eyes landed on him.
“Good, you are all here.” Charles appeared out of nowhere. His usual cheerful energy quickly enveloped the group.
“I already told Mother that we would be staying here,” Lavinia reminded him.
“I promised my mama that we would stay for the banquet as well,” Madeline chimed in sweetly.
Charles shot Peter a look, likely hoping for some assistance, but Peter simply shrugged his shoulders.
“We told everyone that our outing would take place on the morrow. We should stick to the plan.”
Charles gave a good-natured laugh, then offered Madeline his arm.
“Well, if you all insist on being sticks in the mud, I suppose I shall just have to find a way to fill the rest of the day before our escapade.” Madeline tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and beamed up at him.
“What do you say we return to the lake?”
Peter waited to see how Lavinia would respond. She nodded once, then he followed suit.
As Madeline and Charles headed toward the lake, Peter offered Lavinia his arm. She took it, and a strange feeling, one he had experienced just a few hours ago when they stood in the woods together, came over him.
He liked the way her hand draped over his forearm, and he thought just briefly of how nice it would be if she never had to let go of him.