As to that, a notebook might prove useful. He had the niggling feeling he’d forgotten something…
“Thank you for allowing me to assist.” Miss Randall rose, and he hastily got to his feet. “If you’re free this afternoon, you’re welcome to come riding with us.”
“My duties call, I’m afraid,” he said. “But thank you for the offer. And for your work here this morning.”
“I enjoyed it,” she said, sounding slightly surprised by the admission. “At any rate, Your Grace, I’ll see you at luncheon.” She dipped a curtsey and, trailed by her lady’s maid, left the parlor.
For some reason, the sunlight seemed a touch colder once she’d gone.
CHAPTER 4
“Of courseyou’ll go riding with her,” Aunt Agatha said, swatting him lightly upon the arm.
Following an excellent luncheon, he’d decamped with the dowager duchess to the study to report on his progress. She’d inquired about Miss Randall, and he hadn’t meant to mention her invitation, but it had somehow slipped out.
“I really don’t think -”
“Tut. Besides, you’ve forgotten the Darton Hall decorations.” She gave him a reproving look.
“Ah, yes.” He’d known there was something.
“It could be a most efficient outing,” she said. “You can be on the lookout for likely patches of greenery while also entertaining our guests.”
“Yourguests,” he reminded her. “You might have consulted me.”
She waved her hand. “I consulted your brother, which seemed sufficient.”
Mention of Christopher brought his hackles up, as usual. “Hesuggested our guests?”
“Lady Fortnum and her daughters, most particularly,” Aunt Agatha said, with a knowing look.
Of course. Philip recalled Miss Randall laughing gaily at Christopher’s antics at the Hunt Ball. Christopher meant to court her, clearly, and ensuring she was invited to Darton for the holidays was the first step. But, true to form, he’d been distracted by other pleasures, leaving Miss Randall cooling her heels in the countryside.
Thoughtless—and typical.
Firming his lips, Philip nodded at his aunt. “Very well. As my brother isn’t here to perform his duty, I’ll go riding with the Misses Randall.”
“You think too much about duty,” she said. “Go out and have fun, for once. But keep watch for holly and ivy, and pine boughs.”
“Your Grace.” He bowed over her hand and turned to go.
“And mistletoe,” she called after him, amusement lacing her voice.
He made no reply to this frivolous suggestion. He’d no intention of scattering aids to Christopher’s mischief about the house. Greenery to adorn Darton Hall was all well and good, but he drew the line at mistletoe.
To Catherine’s surprise, the duke joined her and Abby on their ride. A groom accompanied them at a suitable distance as Lord Darton led them into the forest surrounding Darton Hall.
“I do like the woods in winter,” Catherine said as they rode on a wide track beneath the bare branches.
“It’s peaceful, I suppose,” the duke said.
“It’s not, though. It’s…subtle.”
“Subtle?” Lord Darton glanced at her curiously.
“Yes.” She inhaled. “You have to pay closer attention to catch its beauty. Smell the wet leaves, not the flowers. Catch a glimpse of a robin darting between the trees for a bit of color.”
“I thought you’d prefer the more obvious seasons,” he said.
