“I am very grateful,” Arabella said. “I hope you did not think it dreadfully forward of me to ask if I might bring him. If you do, you must blame Mr. Hubbard just as much as me. He thought that it might be all right to ask you.”
Mr. Hubbard grinned. “Farraday is always so overrun here with dogs and cats and female relations that he will not notice one extra dog,” he said.
“Come out onto the lawn and meet one of those female relations,” Lord Farraday said. “You have not met my mother, have you, Lady Astor?”
“I shall come too,” Mr. Hubbard said, “to pay my respects.”
Arabella took an arm of each gentleman and was led out into the sunshine. However, a few guests were still arriving and demanded the attention of their host and his mother. She was soon left alone with Mr. Hubbard.
“I have something I wish to show you,” he said after they had chatted for a while and strolled across the lawn, “It is in my room. Will you wait while I fetch it?”
“Yes, certainly,” she said. “I shall stay here and smell the roses.”
Mr. Hubbard disappeared in the direction of the house.
“Are you all alone, Arabella?” Lord Astor asked, coming up behind her after a couple of minutes. “Would you like some lemonade or something to eat? Shall I take you across to the tables?”
“No, thank you,” she said. “I am neither thirsty nor hungry. And I am waiting for Mr. Hubbard.”
“Indeed?” he said, his eyebrows raised. “Your other friend is here too. Lincoln. Have you seen him?”
“Yes.” Arabella smiled. “He is with Miss Pope. I am so glad.”
“Is there something special about Miss Pope?” he asked.
“Mr. Lincoln seems to think so,” she said. “He did not have the courage to approach her at the start of the Season. On account of his leg, you know. I tried to persuade him that a handicap like that is of no significance whatsoever.”
“So you have been matchmaking,” he said with a smile. “You have a kind heart, Arabella, do you not? Have you found anyone yet for your gangly youth?”
“I believe you refer to Mr. Browning,” she said stiffly. “He does not have atendrefor any lady, my lord. He needs to gain confidence first as a man. He looks so young, you see. I can sympathize with that. I did suggest that he try boxing. I said that you would perhaps be his sparring partner on occasion. But he was far too shy to consider the suggestion.”
Lord Astor looked down at her, a smile lurking in his eyes. “That sounds like a good suggestion,” he said. “I must have a talk with . . . Browning, is it? I will not embarrass him. I will make it seem that the suggestion comes from me.”
“Thank you,” Arabella said, looking fleetingly up into his face.
“Here comes Hubbard,” he said.
The three of them stood talking about trivialities for a few minutes until Lord Astor, raising one eyebrow and looking from his wife to his friend, excused himself and strolled away to join another group of acquaintances.
“I could have shown Astor too,” Mr. Hubbard said, “but he would have thought me foolish and sentimental, doubtless. And perhaps you will too, ma’am. I cannot think why I burden you with my concerns. I never feel the urge to do so with any other female.”
“I am flattered,” Arabella said. “And, of course, my curiosity is thoroughly piqued.”
“Shall we walk right into the rose garden?” he asked. “I can see a seat in there.”
He drew a package from his pocket when they were seated side by side on a wooden bench. He uncovered it carefully and handed it to Arabella.
“Oh,” she said. “It is your son, isn’t it? What a very lovely child! Is it a good likeness?”
“It was painted just a month before they left,” he said. “Yes, it was very like, though he looks quite the angel here. He was always into mischief.”
Arabella could feel an ache in the back of her throat. “How you must miss him!” she said.
“I did not tell you quite the truth, you know,” he said abruptly. “I told you someone had reported seeing them in Brighton. That is not so. It was Sonia herself. She wrote to me.”
Arabella looked up at him. He had a strange, twisted smile on his face as he took the miniature from her hands and wrapped it carefully again.
“She is unhappy,” he said. “She wants to come back. Can you imagine? After all the scandal, she thinks I will take her back again. No, she does not think it. But she asks it, anyway.”
