“Thank you, my lord. Very kind of you to say,” she said.
“Perhaps you’ll miss the country a little less when you see the wide open spaces of the park. Has Edgerton arranged for your horse to be brought to London yet?”
“He has. I’ll be so pleased to have Blossom here with me.”
Alesbury saw her face light up when talking about her horse. “I’m glad to hear that, and it would be my pleasure to escort you once your mare arrives.”
“I would like that very much, my lord. Thank you. Do you have family in London?” Violet asked.
Alesbury hadn’t expected that question, and it took all his control to keep his face from revealing the anguish he felt. He grew up with only his father, who’d doted on him. There were many lessons that prepared him well for running the estates. His father never remarried and when he died, Alesbury was truly alone and felt it keenly. With no family connections to worry about, he was first to volunteer for the more dangerous missions. It was one of the reasons he was such a good spy. “Unfortunately, no.”
“How very sad for you. I’m ever so glad my sisters are with me. I would miss them terribly if they’d stayed at our Country Seat.”
“I envy your closeness with your family.”
“Do you have any siblings?”
“No. I’m an only child. My dear mother died in childbirth, so I never knew her. My father, however, told me many wonderful stories about her. She was the love of his life.”
Violet reached over and squeezed his hand. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. You’re very kind to say so.”
“Do you visit your Country Seat often?”
Alesbury shook his head. “When my father died a few years ago, I had Thistledown Manor closed up. I keep a small staff on hand, but I rarely go there. My steward sends me regular reports on my tenants and repairs that need to be done, but there are still too many memories to go there.” It was the first time he’d talked about the pain he’d endured in losing his father. He wasn’t used to talking about his life, but there was something special about Violet—more than just her beauty—that made him feel comfortable talking about things so private and personal. She was one of the kindest people he’d ever met.
Once inside the park, he nodded to several acquaintances before noticing a black stallion coming their way at a fast clip. It took only a moment to recognize his friend from Oxford. “Richmond,” he called.
The rider looked up, and a smile spread across his face. He eased the stallion up next to the carriage. “Alesbury, a welcome surprise. I’m desperately trying to outpace a number of matchmaking mamas.”
“I can only imagine, now that you’re the Duke of Richmond. Let me offer my sincere condolences on the deaths of your father and brother. It must have been a terrible blow to lose them. I was out of town at the time and only recently learned of their passing.”
“Thank you. It’s been trying to adjust to this new life. I wasn’t raised to be the heir, so it will take some time for me to figure it all out. But enough about me. Who is this lovely lady you’re escorting today?”
“Miss Bainbridge, may I present the Duke of Richmond?” Alesbury said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” Violet said, extending her hand.
Richmond kissed the air above her knuckles. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Bainbridge.” He leaned toward her. “Tell me, do you see a horde of young ladies and their mamas coming this way?”
Violet looked behind him and chuckled. “Indeed, Your Grace. They’re almost upon us.”
Richmond sat back in the saddle and tipped his hat. “Then I must be off. Alesbury, I’d like to see you at the club soon. There’s something I wish to talk with you about. Good day, Miss Bainbridge,” he said, pointing his stallion in the direction of the exit.
“How do you know the duke?” Violet asked as the driver started the horses again and continued along the path.
“We met at Oxford. He was the second son, and his father spent all his time instructing the older brother in managing the large dukedom. Once in a while, Richmond would sit in on their meetings, but he found them boring and felt no need to learn the intricacies of duchy management. Little did he know the tragedy that would befall his family to make him duke.”
“How did his father and brother perish?”
“A tragic story indeed. Their carriage had nearly outpaced highway robbers when a deer ran out in front of the horses, spooking them. They reared, and the carriage plummeted down a ravine, killing them both, along with the driver. However, one footman escaped serious injury when he was able to jump off the back of the carriage. He was the one who relayed the sad news to the authorities.”
“How devastating that must have been for His Grace.”
“Indeed. Richmond loved his father and brother without reservation. He now finds himself the head of the family and in charge of his two younger sisters, Lady Charlotte and Lady Sophia, without the years of preparation his brother had received.” The last thing Alesbury wanted was for Violet to dwell on the Duke of Richmond’s situation overlong—it was time for a distraction. “Would you care for an ice at Gunter’s?”
She gave him a brilliant smile that lit up her face. “That would be delightful. I’ve never had one before.”
