Lady Kendall curtsied and pushed back the veil from her hat. Sebastian drew a quick breath. The fleeting glimpse in the church did not disappoint: High cheekbones, large, green eyes and full, red lips that invited a kiss.
‘Lady Somerton.’ Lady Kendall acknowledged Isabel with a quick bob. ‘How do you do on this beautiful morning?’
‘Lord Somerton,’ Isabel said with absolute politeness, ‘allow me to present Lady Kendall.’
‘Welcome to Brantstone, my lord. I believe you areacquainted with my brother, Harry?’ Her voice had a deep, husky tone that reminded Sebastian of warm honey.
Lady Kendall held out her hand and he took it with a polite bow. ‘Lady Kendall. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, and yes, Harry is an old comrade in arms.’
As he straightened, she smiled at him with her head tilted as she had done in church. Her eyes were the colour of emeralds and, like the jewel they resembled, they glittered.
‘The parish is simply dying to make your acquaintance,’ she said in a lowered tone. ‘Your coming has been anticipated for some time.’
‘Well, I hope the reality does not disappoint,’ Sebastian managed.
‘Not at all. Harry has spoken often of you.’
Ignoring Isabel, Lady Kendall tucked a small, gloved hand into his arm and looked up at him.
‘Would you do me the honour of walking me to my carriage?’
As she had already begun to propel him down the path, he could only offer a short apology to Isabel and the others.
‘Indeed,’ Lady Kendall said as soon as they were out of earshot, ‘I am sure you are everything the good mamas of the county would wish for.’
‘And what is that?’ Sebastian asked.
‘A title, a fortune and unwed,’ Lady Kendall replied.
Sebastian gave a snort of laughter. If only they knew how illusory the ‘fortune’ had proved to be.
‘You know you are very like your cousin to look at,’ she said.
‘So I’ve been told, but I assure you that is where the resemblance ends,’ Sebastian replied. She invited a bit of gentle sparring so he countered, ‘I believe you were well acquainted with my cousin.’
Lady Kendall laughed and her gaze met his in perfect understanding.
‘Yes, we were indeed… quite well acquainted.’
A barouche waited by the lychgate and, as Sebastian handed her up into the carriage, she smiled down at him.
‘I shall look forward to our next meeting, Lord Somerton. You must come and take tea with me.’
‘It would be a pleasure, Lady Kendall.’
She leaned forward to instruct her driver, but suddenly straightened.
‘There he is, the rogue!’ She stood up and waved as a man on a roan horse trotted towards them. ‘What kept you, Harry?’ she demanded, resuming her seat.
Harry Dempster slid from the saddle and, looping the reins over his shoulder, walked over to the barouche.
‘Sorry, George, I overslept.’ The man turned to Sebastian, and a grin split his face. ‘Alder? Good God, I hardly recognised you from our encounter in London.’
‘Dempster! It’s good to see you.’
The two men grasped hands, slapping each other on the shoulder.
‘I’m staying with my sister, Georgie.’ Harry indicated Lady Kendall who smiled in response. ‘I only got in yesterday. Georgie was bursting to tell me that there was a new Lord Somerton who had been plucked from the obscurity of His Majesty’s finest.’ He slapped Sebastian on the shoulder again. ‘And just for once I was able to enlighten her. None other than my old comrade, Bas Alder!’
