“What are you looking so pleased with yourself about?” the dowager demanded, narrowing her eyes with interest.
Aubrey tried to rearrange his face, knowing too well that his elderly relation had an uncanny nose for intrigue and family secrets. “Nothing, Gee-Gee. It is just a beautiful morning, and I am in a good mood.”
“I’m glad someone is,” Della muttered, a rather mutinous set to her jaw as she buttered a piece of toast.
Aubrey glanced at his sister, Vinnie, who sat beside him. She rolled her eyes and gestured subtly to the head of the table. Well, obviously.
The dowager duchess accepted a freshly made omelette from a footman and nodded at another to refresh her teacup. She tutted at Della’s unhappy expression, shaking her head.
“On this occasion, Hawk is quite right, young lady. It is not safe for you to go out riding alone, even here. Perhaps especiallyhere. You know there are smugglers and ne’er-do-wells, and whilst I would hope most of them would not dare lift a finger against our family, you cannot account for everyone. You are a prize, and anyone with an ounce of sense knows that Hawkney would pay any price to have you restored to the family. One must look at the realities of life, even if they are inconvenient and annoying.”
Della huffed, clearly disliking that her grandmother had taken her brother’s side. “It’s still not fair,” she grumbled.
“Youwilltake a groom with you at all times unless your brother or cousin accompanies you, or you are included in a riding party, of course. Oh, do stop pouting, child, before I lose patience,” Gee-Gee snapped.
Aubrey watched as Della took a breath, knowing she had pushed the dowager as far as she dared. “Yes, Grandmother,” she said meekly, and bit into her toast.
Understanding for his cousin’s frustration filled his chest, an empathy he might not have felt so keenly if not for Alice, and he knew then that Della would admire Alfie too if ever she discovered his existence.
“Are you riding today, Hawk?” Aubrey asked, glancing down the table. The duke had finished his meal and was frowning down at the cup of coffee in his hand, turning it back and forth. “Hawk?” Aubrey repeated.
Hawkney looked up and appeared increasingly disgruntled at having been caught wool gathering.
“I asked if you were riding out today?”
“No,” Hawkney replied. “Now I have finished with my grandmother’s steward, I must deal with my own. The fellow arrived two days ago and has been kicking his heels ever since.”
“Poor you,” Aubrey replied in sympathy. The duke snorted.
“What did that Halfpenny chit have to say for herself yesterday when you called upon her?” his grandmother piped up, looking at the duke with interest and a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Della and Vinnie both stared at her in astonishment.
“You called on Clara Halfpenny?” Della said, and Aubrey was uncertain if she was more appalled or fascinated by this discovery. “Oh, Hawk, whatever for? I hope you were not insufferable. The poor thing must have been terrified.”
Hawkney’s expression darkened. “Am I such an ogre?” he demanded irritably. “And no, she was not terrified. She received my call with perfect equanimity.”
Even Aubrey felt somewhat sceptical about this information, having witnessed Clara’s timidity firsthand.
“Don’t tell me she invited you in?” Gee-Gee demanded gleefully.
Hawkney became stiffer than ever at this remark. “No. She did not, nor would I have accepted if she had done so. We exchanged a few words, I delivered my gift and departed. It was perfectly unremarkable and needs no further commentary, I assure you.”
This, however, was something his family could not agree with.
“A gift?”
“Why did you take a gift?”
“Did she accept it?”
“Did she appreciate my lemon?”
Everyone spoke at once, demanding to know more, until Hawkney got to his feet, glaring at his grandmother in frustration. “I believe I asked you not to mention my visit,” he said reproachfully. “But as you have, I shall leave you to answer the questions.”
“But did she appreciate the lemon?” the dowager pressed, mirth dancing in her eyes.
“Well, she accepted it, so I imagine she did,” he replied crossly before stalking from the room.
