Hestony looked across at Emilia, who sat on the chair in the parlor. The curtains were drawn, partly shading them both from the early summer sun outside.

“Alfred is sleeping,” Emilia said softly, glancing across to where the small, blonde babe lay in his cot, fast asleep.

“He seems very content.”

“He does,” Emilia agreed. “As am I.”

“Good.”

Hestony smiled at her cousin. She had emerged from her confinement three months ago, and this was her first longer visit. She had come to visit Hestony to make sure all was well.

“I think Arabella will be a happy baby, too,” Hestony murmured.

“She seems content already,” Emilia agreed. “But so tiny!”

“Alfred was small, too,” Hestony reminded her, grinning. “And look at him now! You’d never think he was only three months new born.”

“They grow so fast!” Emilia shook her head, looking at the soft, sleeping face opposite them. Alfred had filled out considerably in three months, Hestony thought tenderly. He had round cheeks and glossy hair and he looked more like a child and less like an infant every day, or at least it seemed to her.

“Arabella is very delicate,” Emilia said. “Those tiny hands!”

“She’s like a fairy,” Hestony agreed.

Her daughter had pale blue eyes and the soft down of hair on her head looked to be brown— a combination that would be unusually lovely. She was thriving, and already, Hestony was amazed by the bond she felt with her.

“Hal is an attentive father,” Emilia commented, bringing their attention back to the present.

“He is!” Hestony laughed. “So much so that it’s hard to get him out of the nursery sometimes.” Hal’s fondness for the baby touched her every time she saw him with her. They seemed extremely close.

Emilia laughed. “That’s good. Luke is the same. He’s already planning how to teach Alfred to ride! I told him, that’ll not be for years yet, but you know what he’s like.” She laughed.

“Like a mule.”

“Exactly,” Emilia agreed, chuckling warmly.

“At least, now that we have visitors,” Hestony murmured, “Hal will be forced to go out riding sometimes. It’s good for him. He frets because I’m not ready for riding yet, but I assure him I don’t mind. I’ll see plenty of riding as the season progresses.”

“What’s that, dearest?” Hal asked from behind them.

“Hal!” Hestony turned around sharply, hearing his voice. The sound of it brought joy to her heart every time she heard it. She felt her heart jump as she saw him standing in the doorway, backlit by the light pouring in through the windows in the passage behind.

“We had a shorter ride than I planned,” Hal said, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. “Luke thought it was best for him to return and prepare for the visit from Mr. Greenberg.”

“Sensible plan,” Emilia nodded. “Is he downstairs?”

“Yes, I think so.” Hal nodded. Hestony looked from one to the other, pleased to see how well her cousin and Hal related to each other. Hal was such a kindly person she felt sure anybody would feel fond of him fairly quickly.

“Excuse me, then,” Emilia said, standing and curtseying to Hal, who bowed.

“It was a pleasure to see you.”

Hestony watched the two, and then, once Emilia had left, she stood and went to join Hal. He was standing at the window, looking down at the garden beyond.

“It was a good ride?” she asked him gently.

“Not bad,” Hal agreed. He put a hand on her shoulder, his eyes warm where they met her gaze. “I would challenge you to a race up to the hills, but I think that would be too dangerous just yet…”

Hestony blushed. “I think we might have to wait for a month or two before I can ride safely.”

“Of course,” Hal said, kissing her hair. “I just long for your company in all things.”

“Oh, Hal.” Hestony smiled up at him fondly. “I miss riding with you, too. But I can do that again soon. Have you seen how soundly she is sleeping?” She gestured towards the cot where the baby slept, her lovely eyes closed.

“I did indeed,” Hal agreed. “She’s resting wonderfully. She looks so like you, my dearest.”

“I sleep that heavily?” Hestony teased.

“You know what I mean,” Hal said, resting a hand on her shoulder as, together, they looked down at the infant. “You look exactly like her – those rosy lips, the soft hair. That sweet expression – so tender. She will be as beautiful as you when she grows older.”

“I hope she will be even more so,” Hestony said gently. “After all, she has your looks as well as mine.”

Hal chuckled. “You would wish that on her?”

“Henry, you know you’re stunning.” Hestony grinned, standing on tiptoe to kiss him. “We have plenty of new looking-glasses here in Ellington House to choose from. You ought to look at your reflection sometime.”

Hal kissed her hair. “You know what I mean. All looks fade into insignificance compared to yours. At least to me.”

“Oh, Hal. The same for me.” She looked up into his face, stroking his hair. He had a little white hair at one temple – a product, Hestony thought, of the tension in the previous year, but otherwise, he looked exactly as he had the day that she met him. She smiled fondly, happy that they were here, together, all barriers overcome together.

They kissed. Hestony tensed, hearing footsteps in the hallway. Hal gazed into her eyes.

“It’s the butler,” he said softly. “I think he’s probably going to tell me Luke’s heading out to the stables. I might go with him a way. We had to discuss a matter of investments.”

“Well, that suits me as well.” Hestony smiled, kissing his chin. “I should say farewell to Emilia too. And help her into the coach. Her health is still delicate.”

“I know.” Hal nodded, frowning. “I give thanks daily that you seem to be recovering swiftly. Well, then. I will see you in half an hour or so?”

“In half an hour.”

Hestony took his hand and he squeezed her fingers, then hurried out as Mr. Halston entered. Hestony followed him, more slowly, down the stairs. In the downstairs parlor, Emilia was just waving to Luke as he went to fetch the horse. She would follow in the carriage, being unready to ride yet. She went to join Emilia at the window.

“I so love your plans for the new garden bed,” Emilia murmured as she pointed down to where Hestony had planned a bank of irises and lavender to be planted. Flowering at different times of the year, she hoped it would make a display Ranvier could enjoy from the window. He loved nature, but found it difficult to leave the house; his health allowing it only rarely.

“I hope it will be pretty, too,” Hestony agreed. She stared down at the garden, to where a lady in a brown dress stepped along a path.

Hestony felt a shiver, watching her. It reminded her of something she was worried about. Not wanting to alarm Emilia, she chose another topic, other than the lady who walked there. “I hope I will be recovered soon,” she said. “I wish I could ride. I should be able to go out within a week?”

“Yes, you will. Lady Raymonde is one of your guests?” Emilia inquired, fanning herself against the afternoon warmth. Hestony felt uneasy. That was the topic she had been trying to sidestep.

“Yes, she is,” Hestony said. She felt her brow wrinkle with a frown.

Lady Raymonde worried her. The lady had opened out considerably since leaving London, and as far as Hestony knew, she’d found safe lodging hereabouts, in a home belonging to her uncle. All the same, she had been very quiet during her last few visits, and Hestony wished she knew why.

“She’s a quiet soul,” Emilia mused, seeming to hear her concerns. “But if she’s likely to tell anyone her troubles, it’s you.”

“She trusts me,” Hestony agreed. “Or seems to.”

Hestony leaned back in her seat, feeling the heat make her wish she could go to sleep for a while. She felt her eyelids droop. As she dozed, she heard someone call her name.

“Hestony?” an urgent female voice said. “Hestony?”

Hestony sat swiftly upright, wincing at the pain she felt. The birth had not been overly hard, but a dozen muscles still ached, and she was still terribly weary.

“Yes?” she asked, surprised to find herself face-to-face with their guest, Lady Raymonde. “What is it, Lady Raymonde?”

“Sorry for disturbing you, Hestony, Emilia,” she said apologetically. “But I have to ask you something urgently.”

“Of course,” Hestony nodded. “Do you wish to speak to me alone?”

“If I could.” Raymonde sounded tense.

“Of course. Excuse me a moment,” Hestony said to Emilia, who nodded. “What is it?” she asked Raymonde, as they slipped into her private room, next door.

“Hestony, it’s Lord Rackham,” she said, eyes wide. “He threatened me.”

“He what?” Hestony covered her mouth with her hand. “When? With what?”

“He threatened to tell my brother where I am. He was always a friend of his. I thought…” She closed her eyes, tears spilling out. “I thought I could trust him.”

Hestony felt ill. She sat down heavily, looking up at Raymonde. “Have you told Henry?” she asked, meaning Hal. Raymonde trusted Hal implicitly, like the brother she’d never had.

Raymonde shook her head. “I couldn’t find him,” she said. “He was out riding somewhere.”

“Yes,” Hestony thought, her mind working swiftly. “Well, then. We’ll have to…”

She was about to say that they would ask Luke to help them, when Hal’s voice sounded in the hallway.

“Dearest?” he called. “Sorry to disturb you, but we were looking for the Cowley painting, and I wanted to ask if you knew…”

“It’s on the rear wall of the drawing-room,” Hestony said, opening the door. Raymonde came to stand behind her. Hestony glanced towards her as she gave a little gasp. She was looking past Hal, at the young gentleman who stood beside him, dressed in a smart suit.

“Forgive my manners,” Hal said, bowing to Raymonde, seeing her at the same time as Hestony noticed her discomfort. “May I introduce you? Lady Raymonde, Lady Hestony, this is my good friend from the army, Lord Hume.”

“Good afternoon, My Lord,” Raymonde whispered.

Hestony looked from Raymonde to Lord Hume, and noticed that both their eyes were shining.

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