Lady Kendall sighed. ‘What a happy reunion. I suppose you two are going to catch up on old times? I shall leave you to it. Drive on.’
The barouche lurched forward at a pretty pace, the green feather in Lady Kendall’s bonnet bobbing as it rounded the corner.
‘My lord, we really must return to the hall shortly.’
At the sound of Isabel’s quiet voice, Sebastian tore his eyes away from the departing carriage as Harry turned to Isabel. He took her outstretched hand and bowed over it.
‘My dear Lady Somerton. How are you?’
‘Well, thank you, Colonel. Excuse me, gentlemen, I must speak with Mrs. Bryan before we leave,’ Isabel said.
She turned away to talk to a stout woman in a blue gown who had been trying to get her attention.
‘Fortune has smiled on you at last, Alder,’ Harry said.
Sebastian held up his hands. ‘I scarce believe it myself.’
‘Well, I’m glad! You’ve earned it. I didn’t hear the full story when we met in London so please enlighten me. How did this change in fortunes come about?’
Sebastian recounted the family antecedents and the tale of waking up in Somerton House to the news.
Harry shook his head. ‘Well, you hear these tales, but I never thought to put much credence in them. So, how does it feel to be the new Lord Somerton?’
‘Can’t say I’ve come to terms with it yet. Between us, my late cousin has left me with a pile of debt and trouble.’
‘Doesn’t surprise me. An interesting chap, your cousin,’ Harry said.
‘How well did you know him?’
Harry shrugged. ‘Reasonably well. Met him through Georgie and we shared a few good dinners and rounds of cards, in London mostly. You know the sort of thing. I always found him hard to judge. A bit mercurial if you know what I mean.’ Harry’s cheerful face became serious. ‘What are you going to do about it?’
Sebastian shook his head. ‘Sell off some assets.’
Harry’s face brightened. ‘If you are considering selling any of the racehorses let me know.’
‘Ah yes, the racehorses. I have to confess I haven’t even seen the stables yet. I found some pedigree books in Anthony’s papers. He seemed to know what he was doing.’
‘Your cousin may have been a fool in some ways, but he knew his horses,’ Harry agreed.
Sebastian shook his head. ‘I had better not get too attachedto them then. What about you? I haven’t seen you since you left the regiment in ’09 or was it ’10?’
‘I got out in ’09. Had enough of bad food and hard beds, and my father was nagging me to show some interest in the estates.’ He rolled his eyes.
‘Well, I’m glad to see you. Glad of a familiar face, truth be told.’ Sebastian smiled with genuine pleasure. ‘Will you join us for dinner?’
‘Unfortunately, I must get back to London for a few days, but I’ll return by the end of the week,’ Harry said. ‘And now, if you don’t mind, I’d better follow Georgie home, or I’ll never hear the end of it. Give my regards to Lady Somerton.’ He tipped his hat in Isabel’s direction.
‘It’s always good to see an old friend,’ Sebastian said as Isabel rejoined him. He had an ally now, someone with whom he could be himself.
‘I can understand that,’ Isabel said. ‘My own friend, Lady Ainslie, lives too far away for us to meet often, but when we do, it is as if we have only been parted a few days.’
Sebastian offered her his arm. She hesitated before slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow, a comfortable and familiar gesture. He glanced down at her, frustrated that her bonnet obscured her face. While Lady Kendall had the power to invoke instantaneous lust, he found this woman far more intriguing.
She remained silent as they retraced the path through the woods. He swung the cane he still carried.
‘Harry used to talk about his sister,’ Sebastian said at last, breaking the silence between them. ‘She would be a few years older than him.’
Not that you would think it to look at her, he thought privately.
