Page 69 of A Match Made On Duchess Square

Fiona cast him a triumphant smile. “That’s more like it.”

He wasn’t certain it was the wisest idea. What if there was something illegal going on? By returning to ask questions, he might be placing Gwendolyn’s life, and his own, in danger. Yet if he refused to do anything, Gwendolyn would go off to investigate on her own.

Since Fiona declined his invitation to stay and have lunch with them, he escorted her to her rig and assisted her into the passenger seat, relieved she had one of her grooms driving her around instead of traipsing about on her own. Even though they were neighbors and it was but a short ride over, she was a wife and mother now, and needed to exercise care.

Once her rig had disappeared down the drive, he decided to go in search of Gwendolyn and his sons. He knew the lads had been disappointed when he made up that excuse about needing to work.

Well, he did have a pile of work, but nothing that could not wait a few days to address.

One of his gardeners pointed him in the right direction. “I saw them crossing the deer park and heading into the woods a few minutes ago, m’lord.”

“Thank you.”

He strode off after them. It wasn’t long before he heard laughter and animated chatter.

He smiled, liking that the three of them were having a good time. Gwendolyn had a gentle and engaging manner with his sons, and they always felt her sincere affection for them. That she remained kind to his boys even after he had dismissed her remarks about Clement spoke volumes of her character.

This made him feel even more wretched.

The laughter stopped the moment they all noticed him. Gwendolyn turned to stare at him, her gaze wary. So did his boys.

“Papa,” Jordan said cautiously, “what are you doing here?”

“Glad to know I am wanted,” James responded with sarcasm. “I realized it was more important to enjoy the day with you than work through the piles of business matters on my desk that turned out not to be pressing.”

“I can leave you to explore with Robert and Jordan,” Gwendolyn said, making him ache because she looked so hurt and vulnerable.

“No, Gwen. Stay with us. I think my sons like having you around more than me.” Not that he would blame them, since he was the one who had behaved abominably yesterday.

“No, Papa. We like you too,” his youngest said earnestly. “But Gwendolyn knows so much more than you do about the flora and fauna of the area. She makes the outing fun for us.”

“Yes,” Jordan said. “We always enjoy having her around.”

“Flora and fauna?” James wanted to laugh, for she was giving his sons a science lesson and they were not complaining. Did they even realize this was what she was doing?

“She’s pointing out all the poisonous plants,” Jordan added. “Did you know we had so many growing in these woods and along the hedges near the water?”

“No, I did not. Care to enlighten me?”

Gwendolyn was carrying a small sack and now withdrew a book from it. “I often attend lectures at the Royal Society, and the various London museums. The local botanical gardens, too. Plants and flowers have always fascinated me, especially how some of them are so beautiful and yet so deadly. Hopefully, your dogs are careful and know better than to eat them.”

James nodded. “I’m sure they do. Our hounds are always sniffing around the area and must have learned from experience which plants to avoid. What have you found so far?”

“Over here, Papa,” Robert said, pointing to some underbrush. “That’s monkshood. And do you see those yew trees? Don’t touch any of them! There’s sap on the bark, and it is dangerous.”

“Thank you, son.”

“My pleasure, Papa. The sap of the purple hogweed is also dangerous. You mustn’t put your hands to your eyes, mouth, or nose once you touch them, or they will burn and make you ill. In fact, you mustn’t touch them because that alone is dangerous and will give you a burning rash all over your skin.”

“And don’t eat any of the leaves,” Jordan warned.

“I hadn’t planned on it,” James assured him.

“Fortunately, you have no laburnum trees on your grounds,” Gwendolyn remarked, her eyes big and bright beneath her sun hat. She had left her hair down so that it fell to her waist and was tied back in a plain ribbon. Her gown was a sturdy brown muslin and she wore brown walking boots to match.

She looked so beautiful.

But then, she would look beautiful wearing a grain sack.