Chapter Thirteen #2
But then, she would look beautiful wearing a grain sack.
Perhaps it was his remorse in behaving like a cynical arse that made him appreciate her all the more just now. But he had behaved abominably toward her and had quite a bit of apologizing to do.
“Papa, we mustn’t ever plant laburnum trees,” Robert said, the little scamp wagging a finger at him in caution.
Gwendolyn smiled. “Their sap, flower, and leaves are quite deadly.”
“I had no idea you were Lucretia Borgia in disguise,” James teased. “I had better behave myself.”
Gwendolyn did not find his remark humorous. “That is not funny, Milbury. How can you think I would ever hurt you?”
He groaned. “Sorry, that jest fell flat.”
Robert rolled his eyes. “Obviously, Papa. You really need to do better.”
Gad. Was his ten-year-old giving him advice about ladies?
“Gwendolyn, regarding tomorrow,” he said as they marched deeper in the woodland that separated his property from Fiona’s. He and his sons often used this very path to cut across when visiting her and Durham in the daytime.
It was safe enough at night, too. But his boys could get into all sorts of mischief on a night walk, so it was easier to pile them all into his rig and avoid the woods altogether once darkness fell.
“What about tomorrow?” Gwendolyn asked, tipping her nose in the air and pausing in her hike while awaiting his response.
“I was thinking we ought to leave home earlier, acquire your bathing costumes, and then stop for lunch at the Crab & Cod before we pick up the invitations.”
She stared at him with a questioning gaze. “Truly? Why?”
“I’ve given it plenty of thought, and I owe you an apology. I was wrong to dismiss what you saw. So, how about we try again?”
“What exactly are we to try?” she asked, still obviously wary.
“Questioning Marchand, of course. We should also question the ladies who work in the neighboring shops. Ladies tend to notice things that most men do not. I readily admit we men often don’t see what is before our very eyes.”
She cast him a small smile.
“Marchand and his staff might be tight-lipped, but I’m sure we can get some useful information out of the neighboring shopkeepers and their salesgirls, since most people are not averse to gossiping. What do you say?”
She cast him another smile. “Yes, I would like that. Thank you.”
He nodded and then changed the conversation back to poisonous plants, since that topic fascinated his sons.
He dared not discuss more about Andrew Clement in front of them. His youngest especially would be upset at the thought of losing Gwendolyn to that bounder.
But he and Gwendolyn had to set out a course of action before returning to Brighton tomorrow morning.
He had rules to convey to her, for they could not simply saunter into Marchand’s café without some preparation.
Their investigation could turn dangerous if something sinister was going on that Marchand meant to keep secret.
The man was a jovial and engaging fellow, but who was to say this was not a facade maintained to fool others?
James had already sent word to a former Bow Street Runner he had worked with before who now resided in Brighton. The man was reliable and would quietly watch his and Gwendolyn’s backs while they were questioning the café owner.
In the meanwhile, James listened to Gwendolyn tell his sons the cautionary tale of Socrates and how he had been put to death by drinking hemlock. “Any of these plants I have pointed out can kill you if their leaves, petals, or berries are ingested,” she warned.
Robert needed the reminder, as Gwendolyn must have surmised, because she mostly looked at the lad whenever issuing her warnings.
Jordan tended to be more cautious but was often goaded by his younger sibling.
It came as no surprise that he also tended to be the one injured, although, thankfully, never too seriously so far.
Robert, despite being three years younger, had quicker reflexes and an innate instinct for preservation. He tended to be more adventurous, but also knew how to avoid danger, whereas his elder brother was likely to walk straight into it.
Fortunately, both boys were safely in Gwendolyn’s care at the moment.
They roamed around the woodland for another hour, not only studying plants but also looking on in fascination at the insects and birds found on the flowers and trees native to the area.
James enjoyed the nature study but was more fascinated by the expressions on the faces of his sons. They were enchanted by Gwendolyn. She had an ensorcelling quality about her. Out here, she could be mistaken for a woodland sprite.
As much as this pleased him, he was also worried about the consequences of his sons getting too attached to her. They would be devastated if Gwendolyn chose not to be a part of their family.
Losing their mother had been difficult for his boys. Losing Gwendolyn… Well, he could not let it happen.
“I’m hungry,” Robert said.
“I’m famished,” Jordan added, not to be outdone.
That had them all marching back to the house.
“No one eats before hands are thoroughly washed,” Gwendolyn insisted, and then supervised the boys to make certain their hands were spotlessly clean before they sat down to eat.
James and she also took a moment to return to their rooms and wash up, because they were not immune from any plant poisons they might have touched.
Agatha scurried down the hall to assist Gwendolyn, and then the two ladies joined him and his sons to dine on the shaded terrace, since the breeze was soft and cooling.
Harting set about serving their meal, which included fish chowder, root vegetables in a butter sauce, and cold ham.
“Gwen, are you looking forward to your first swimming lesson?” James asked while they ate.
She nodded. “Yes, but I’m not sure how well it will go. I am obviously clumsy in the water.”
He grinned. “That unfortunate tumble into the murky depths does not count. You had never encountered a live fish before. I’m sure he was just as scared once he realized your legs were not the coral he had mistaken them for.
But we’ll have you swimming gracefully by the end of the month. Right, boys?”
Gwendolyn laughed. “I suppose if Fiona can do it, then so can I.”
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly. James managed to get enough work done in his study while his boys and Gwendolyn spent the hour afterward birdwatching.
Then it was time for James to take his sons to the cove for their afternoon swim. He was pleased when Gwendolyn joined them, although she brought Agatha with her and the two ladies hunted for seashells while he and his boys swam.
They remained on the beach because they were going to dine with Fiona and her husband, who had planned a seaside feast for them.
This had become a favorite summer event for him and his sons.
These meals prepared on a bonfire were casual affairs, shirts optional, and this suited the men just fine.
The food courses were not at all elaborate, usually comprising haddock, crabs, oysters, and artichokes tossed on the flames and then eaten by hand once ready.
James could smell the smoke from the newly started bonfire drifting toward them.
Gwendolyn must have caught the scent, too. She hurried back toward him. “I smell fire!”
James waded out of the water. “Yes, that’s our supper being prepared.”
She glanced toward the rocks separating Fiona’s side of the beach from his. “It is?”
“You’ll enjoy what Fiona has planned for us.
It is quite a pagan ritual, but the boys enjoy it immensely.
Makes them feel like castaways on a deserted island.
We’re going to do the same one night during our house party, so tonight will be a preview for you of what is to come.
Forget London formality and simply enjoy yourself. ”
Agatha did not want to venture near the fire, so she retreated to the manor house to dine in her quarters. James did not mind because he preferred to have Gwendolyn to himself.
His sons swam over to Fiona’s side of the cove while James helped Gwendolyn over the small mound of rocks that separated their beaches and provided each owner some measure of privacy.
Gwendolyn’s lithe body fit perfectly against his own as he hoisted her up and over the rocks. He tried not to think about how right she felt beside him, for it was too soon to hold out hope she would accept his proposal.
Sunshine lasted well into the evening at this time of the year, so James was not worried about their return walk home because they would depart before nightfall, and it would take mere minutes to climb back over the rocks.
The boys would easily swim back to their side of the cove.
But for now, they were ready to enjoy the food and warmth of the bonfire.
Gwendolyn was intrigued by the uniqueness of it all. She watched Durham and Fiona fix the tempting meal all on their own without aid from their cook or other servants.
“I can see why one might feel like a castaway on a remote island,” she remarked while trying to daintily suck the meat out of her crab as she had seen James do.
Durham grinned. “It is quite freeing from the restraints Society places on us. Fiona came up with the idea. She’s always looking for something special to provide our guests. Her ideas are always well received, even by the stodgiest guests.”
While the boys ran around, then ate, and then ran around some more, James and Gwendolyn spoke to Fiona and Durham about their plans to question the café proprietor.
“But you must use care,” Durham advised. “It is obvious something other than serving meals to patrons is going on there.”
“I know.” James nodded and then turned to Gwendolyn. “I was going to wait until we were alone in the carriage to discuss this, but we may as well go over the rules now.”
She frowned. “What rules?”