Page 70 of A Match Made On Duchess Square

Perhaps it was his remorse in behaving like a cynical arse that made him appreciate her all the more just now. But he had behaved abominably toward her and had quite a bit of apologizing to do.

“Papa, we mustn’t ever plant laburnum trees,” Robert said, the little scamp wagging a finger at him in caution.

Gwendolyn smiled. “Their sap, flower, and leaves are quite deadly.”

“I had no idea you were Lucretia Borgia in disguise,” James teased. “I had better behave myself.”

Gwendolyn did not find his remark humorous. “That is not funny, Milbury. How can you think I would ever hurt you?”

He groaned. “Sorry, that jest fell flat.”

Robert rolled his eyes. “Obviously, Papa. You really need to do better.”

Gad. Was his ten-year-old giving him advice about ladies?

“Gwendolyn, regarding tomorrow,” he said as they marched deeper in the woodland that separated his property from Fiona’s. He and his sons often used this very path to cut across when visiting her and Durham in the daytime.

It was safe enough at night, too. But his boys could get into all sorts of mischief on a night walk, so it was easier to pile them all into his rig and avoid the woods altogether once darkness fell.

“What about tomorrow?” Gwendolyn asked, tipping her nose in the air and pausing in her hike while awaiting his response.

“I was thinking we ought to leave home earlier, acquire your bathing costumes, and then stop for lunch at the Crab & Cod before we pick up the invitations.”

She stared at him with a questioning gaze. “Truly? Why?”

“I’ve given it plenty of thought, and I owe you an apology. I was wrong to dismiss what you saw. So, how about we try again?”

“What exactly are we to try?” she asked, still obviously wary.

“Questioning Marchand, of course. We should also question the ladies who work in the neighboring shops. Ladies tend to notice things that most men do not. I readily admit we men often don’t see what is before our very eyes.”

She cast him a small smile.

“Marchand and his staff might be tight-lipped, but I’m sure we can get some useful information out of the neighboring shopkeepers and their salesgirls, since most people are not averse to gossiping. What do you say?”

She cast him another smile. “Yes, I would like that. Thank you.”

He nodded and then changed the conversation back to poisonous plants, since that topic fascinated his sons.

He dared not discuss more about Andrew Clement in front of them. His youngest especially would be upset at the thought of losing Gwendolyn to that bounder.

But he and Gwendolyn had to set out a course of action before returning to Brighton tomorrow morning. He had rules to convey to her, for they could not simply saunter into Marchand’s café without some preparation. Their investigation could turn dangerous if something sinister was going on that Marchand meant to keep secret. The man was a jovial and engaging fellow, but who was to say this was not a façade maintained to fool others?

James had already sent word to a former Bow Street Runner he had worked with before who now resided in Brighton. The man was reliable and would quietly watch his and Gwendolyn’s backs while they were questioning the café owner.

In the meanwhile, James listened to Gwendolyn tell his sons the cautionary tale of Socrates and how he had been put to death by drinking hemlock. “Any of these plants I have pointed out can kill you if their leaves, petals, or berries are ingested,” she warned.

Robert needed the reminder, as Gwendolyn must have surmised, because she mostly looked at the lad whenever issuing her warnings. Jordan tended to be more cautious but was often goaded by his younger sibling. It came as no surprise that he also tended to be the one injured, although, thankfully, never too seriously so far.

Robert, despite being three years younger, had quicker reflexes and an innate instinct for preservation. He tended to be more adventurous, but also knew how to avoid danger, whereas his elder brother was likely to walk straight into it.

Fortunately, both boys were safely in Gwendolyn’s care at the moment.

They roamed around the woodland for another hour, not only studying plants but also looking on in fascination at the insects and birds found on the flowers and trees native to the area.

James enjoyed the nature study but was more fascinated by the expressions on the faces of his sons. They were enchanted by Gwendolyn. She had an ensorcelling quality about her. Out here, she could be mistaken for a woodland sprite.

As much as this pleased him, he was also worried about the consequences of his sons getting too attached to her. They would be devastated if Gwendolyn chose not to be a part of their family.