“Of course.” He led her toward the tent deep in thought. Lady Dorothea had shown him that he did feel happiness when he won a bet. That could mean that the happiness he felt while they spoke was because she related her success so far with his suggested method of conversation. It was a different feeling of accomplishment than the former, but if people could enjoy a game of pall-mall in myriad ways, he could certainly feel happiness in more than one way as well.
It was not how he’d felt when with Belinda. Nonetheless, itwashappiness.
Chapter Twelve
Lady Rose pointedout the coach window. “There’s the lake I told you about.”
Dory rode in the coach with only Rose and Lady Enderly, the men preferring to ride their horses so as to have a friendly race with which to entertain the ladies later. She leaned forward to look. “So we are not far, then?”
“Not at all. I cannot wait to spend the day outside.”
She agreed. The last three days, the weather had not cooperated, forcing them to remain inside. Though the men had been able to hunt every morning, the rains had come every afternoon, forcing all the ladies to stay in the house, while the men played billiards and whatever else they did. She was not privy to the arrangements. The evenings, though, had been fun with charades, whist, and buzz, with which she found she had particular skill, though she’d never played it before. Though some of the men, particularly Lord Harewood, Lord Sommerset, and Lord Enderly, had not participated, choosing to simply watch. There had even been a skit performed by some of the ladies.
But she was much more excited for today. She’d worn a bright-blue dress to complement the sunny skies. They were traveling to the standing stone called “the Devil’s Stone.” It sounded quite ominous, but Rose said it was just old folklore and it really wasn’t that large. Supposedly, there had been twoothers, but only one remained. In her opinion, the best part of the day would be eatingal fresco, as the Italians called it. She’d never eaten in a field before, though she’d taken a meal outside at a table many a time at home and at other events.
The coach slowed, and she craned her neck to see the venue, but all she could see was a row of trees with a field beyond on Rose’s side and a building on her side. On the building, a sign hung above the door boasting what looked like a pedestal and over it in an arch were the wordsThe Jumps Inn.
“Rose, I want you to spend some time getting to know Lord Manning.” Lady Enderly pulled on her gloves. “He is heir to the Duke of Richmond, and according to your father, he has good views.”
Rose nodded dutifully. “Will I be seated next to him tonight as well?”
“Of course. And, Lady Dorothea, you will be seated next to my son tonight. I apologize that it could not be someone else, but the rotation wasn’t working any other way.”
Not unhappy about the news, Dory nodded, holding back a grin. “I understand. I will endeavor to engage those around me to the best of my ability.”
“Good.” Lady Enderly rose as the door to the coach opened.
Rose grabbed her hand and squeezed before whispering. “At least I know Lord Manning isn’t interested in me. That is a relief.” She let go and moved forward as her mother exited the coach, following her out with the help of the footman.
Finally, Dory moved forward to the opening.
Lord Manning, dressed in a brown tailcoat and beige pantaloons, stood just outside the conveyance and held his hand up. “May I help you down, Lady Dorothea?”
She jerked her gaze to the right to see Lady Enderly’s back was turned as she walked toward the next coach with Rose intow. Relieved the marchioness hadn’t noticed, Dory met Lord Manning’s gaze. “I would be most grateful.”
Once her feet had made it to solid ground, Lord Manning pulled her hand to his arm. “If you would allow me, I thought you would be interested in seeing the standing stone.”
Immediately, her curiosity rose. “I understand there used to be three stones.”
He started them forward in a leisurely stroll. “To be truthful, I do not know. I suggest we discover the truth for ourselves.”
She glanced around the area to see everyone moving in the same direction in groups of three and four. She did not see Lord Harewood anywhere, but Rose strolled arm and arm with Lady Arabella. “I think that’s a lovely idea.”
“Now, I did talk to the stableboy and he said there was only one stone, the Devil’s Stone.”
She looked askance at him. His lips were turned up as if amused by his own story. Though she had already been told the name of the stone, she was interested in what he had discovered. “The Devil’s Stone.”
“Yes, the tale goes that the Devil caught a man in this very field playing the game leapfrog on the sabbath. The Devil joined the man and on his third jump grabbed the unholy soul and took him to hell. The three stones sprouted up where the Devil had jumped.”
She pressed her hand to her chest. “What an awful tale. Should we even go near the stones? Might we too be in danger?” She barely kept from smiling.
Lord Manning slowed their walk and looked at her, his brows knit in concern. “I would not allow anything to happen to you. I promise.”
She finally grinned, chuckling. “I do appreciate your kindness, but as it is not Sunday and I do not believe I can play leapfrog in my dress, I don’t believe we have anything to fear.”
Understanding dawned and his brows lifted. “Very good observations. Also, there is a church nearby, so I believe we will be safe.” He pointed to the north, where she could just see the top of a bell tower.
“I fear that we may be too far from such holy walls, but as we are with so many others, I’m sure we will be safe.”
