“Dearest Lancelot has been more accepted then myself, I daresay,” she turned her head to slide Chance a glance. Her eyes danced and for a moment time stood still.
“Lady Zelda?” Chance asked when Aubrey turned to face forward again.
She giggled. His lovelyPrincessegiggled, sending warmth through his chest. “Lady Stanhope! Can you imagine? I brought him with me for her ‘at home’ and he promptly climbed into her lap and fell right asleep.”
“Eyes open?”
“And tongue hanging out,” she confirmed. “I was mortified at first, as was Lord Longewood, but her ladyship fell instantly in love. I think she’d steal him from me if she could. She insists I bring him to visit her at least once a week.”
“Ah, but he has not yet been presented to the queen.”
More tinkling laughter. “Not yet.”
Over the next half an hour, as they strolled slowly through the park, she regaled him with a few of the more interesting salons she had hosted and that she’d seen her brother and sister-in-law in London last summer but that they had pretended they did not know her.
“It is to their disadvantage, then.” They had arrived upon a clearing and Chance gripped her tightly. “Are you ready,Princesse?We are going to fly now.”
She didn’t question him, for what, but instead only nodded.
Trusting him.
Chance then allowed Guinevere her head and the horse didn’t hesitate to bound forward, as she’d grown somewhat impatient with their slow pace. Riding atop this magnificent creature at an outright run had always been exhilarating. Hearing Aubrey’s laughter as the horse raced along Rotten Row, the three of them synchronized perfectly, was something Chance would never forget.
He was being gifted with a second chance—a second chance at magic. He held her tightly as the trees and scenery flew past them. He would not lose her again. He would not.
After less than a minute, Chance drew back and Guinevere slowed to a gallop, and then a trot and then a walk before halting completely.
“Let’s you and I walk for a while, shall we?” At her nod, Chance swung his leg over the back of the horse and then, taking hold of Aubrey by the waist, lowered her to the ground beside him.
Her eyes sparkled like twin emeralds and her cheeks had flushed. She had enjoyed that. She presented this calm, demure widow to the world but he’d seen the passion within her. She yearned to live life to the fullest.
“Gwennie will be ready to cool off as well.” Chance lead her with one hand and offered his other elbow to hisPrincesse.
“Was she beautiful? Did she like living atSecours?” He did not have to ask who Aubrey was referring to.
“Lady Hannah. She’d just turned eighteen and barely weighed seven stones.”
“How very tragic.” Chance had known Aubrey would have compassion for the young girl he’d been forced to marry, even at the cost of her own happiness.
“It was. And she was already consumptive by the time we married. She confided to me that even in her youth, she’d never experienced good health. In answer to your second question, I think she found peace atSecours. My mother and Adelaide befriended her, as much as was possible. Hannah liked to keep to herself. I believe it was due to her upbringing. She’d been very protected.”
Chance wished he could read Aubrey’s mind. He didn’t think she was angry with him over his marriage any longer, but she’d fallen into a thoughtful silence.
“From the day we married, she was like a sister to me.”
They’d arrived at the river’s edge. “I wish I’d brought some bread to feed the fowl.” She surprised him by saying. And then she turned and met his gaze. “I am glad you helped your sister. I think you may have been the perfect sort of husband to such a woman as… your wife.” Her voice broke on the last word.
Chance released Guinevere so she could graze for the few minutes while he and Aubrey simply stood with one another staring across the water.
“I dreamed of you,” he admitted.
Aubrey made a small sound, something between a sigh and a sob—as though his declaration was something she wanted to know but also something she did not wish to hear.
“And how is your sister, is she doing well?” She’d bring the conversation around to a topic she was more comfortable with.
“She is.” This, at least, he could be happy for. “And she is engaged to a gentleman who owns the estate adjacent toSecours.”
“Your mother must be pleased.” Ah, she would not know of his loss.
