“How lovely to meet you,” Lady Abigail said. “We have cake, which I’m sure you’d enjoy.”
Everyone sat then on the blankets except Ruby, who felt tense and on edge. Would someone mention last night?
“Will you not sit, Miss Knight?”
Mr. Dillinger had risen and was standing beside her.
“I—yes.” She nodded.
“I know this must seem odd. People like my brother-in-law wanting to sit with your friends.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Did Dimity tell you she was once my wife’s piano teacher?”
Her eyes shot to Mr. Dillinger.
“It’s the truth. She may be part of the French aristocracy, but she did not always know that. My father was a coal miner’s son, Miss Knight. My brother made his living as a bare-knuckle fighter. Do not feel that you alone struggle in such elevated company. I assure you, there are many of us that do also.”
Her eyes stayed on his gentle ones.
“Everything is not always as it seems. But I do know that these are good people, and not like many who walk in society.”
She could hardly believe what he was telling her. Lady Raine had once been a piano teacher.
“I know that they are good people, Mr. Dillinger. It is not for me I worry, but my friends.”
“Because they are not English?” He raised a brow.
“Yes.”
“Trust me, Miss Knight. All will go well, and you may even enjoy the picnic if you allow yourself to.”
A large hand came out and grabbed hers, and then she was being tugged downward. She landed next to Mr. Howarth, her thigh brushing his. She shivered at the contact before putting some distance between them. He then handed her a wedge of cake from the basket Lord Raine had opened. Ella was chatting with Mr. Winston and Adam. Her brother was smiling, enjoying talking to the little girl.
Mrs. Chen was talking to Lady Raine and Lady Abigail waving her hands about and discussing Chinese herbs for pregnancy.
She sat there and listened while they talked and ate the delicious cake. Adam soon got out his drawing things and started sketching, with Ella watching over his shoulder.
Of course, Ruby had been raised to take tea and talk in a genteel manner; she had also taught this to her brother. But the others had not.
“Where in India are you from, Mr. Winston?”
Mr. Howarth asked the question in Hindi, surprising the elderly man. He launched into a conversation, clearly happy to be speaking his native tongue again.
“How do you know our Miss Knight, Miss Kent?” the Earl of Raine asked her.
Startled, Miss Kent opened and closed her mouth. She then took a large breath and managed a tight smile.
“We live together, my lord. All of us live in the same house.”
“How wonderful it must be to have so many friends close.” Lord Raine smiled.
Ruby relaxed as Miss Kent nodded and some color slowly began to refill her cheeks.
“Would you like to feed the ducks, Toby?” Ruby held up some bread crusts.
The little boy nodded, and she rose and took his hand, happy to put distance between herself and the rest of the picnickers, especially Mr. Howarth. Toby talked about the ducks as they made their way to the pond. Once there, she handed him bread.
