Page 10 of Her Summer Duke

Chapter Five

Out in the lush countryside of Bathampton Down, Lady Mantrell spread out the blanket so that the three of them, Lady Margaret, Lord Percy, and herself, could sit comfortably and gaze upon the scenery whilst enjoying their picnic. She’d had the servants pack a light nuncheon with fruit and wine, and small watercress sandwiches. Nothing of great sustenance, but merely to dampen the appetite.

Lord Percy, as good manners required, inquired first of Lady Mantrell’s health.

“Are you quite well, Lady Mantrell?”

She took a deep breath, so deep that her chest rose a good two inches.

“Quite.”

“Wonderful. Shall I pour the wine?”

He reached for the bottle.

“Please do, sir.”

He reached into the basket and withdrew a goblet, then slowly poured the deep burgundy wine into it, before handing Lady Mantrell the half-full goblet. Margaret watched him, still unsure of what she thought of the man – why had Lady Mantrell agreed to him taking her for this excursion into the country? He poured another goblet and offered it to her. She took it, and sipped, as he filled the last goblet to the top, for himself. Was not that a little greedy of him? Lord Percy raised his goblet into the air so that its backdrop was the blue sky behind him.

“Shall we toast to this lovely day here in the Bathampton Downs countryside?”

Margaret nodded and Lady Mantrell gave a quick, “Here, here.”

The three silently sipped their wine whilst listening to the gentle chirping of birds. Margaret’s eyes wandered over the countryside. The rolling hills were lush and green, simply enchanting, although she might have enjoyed them more without Lord Percy’s presence. In the distance she could see a small flock of grazing sheep. She turned her head when she heard Lady Mantrell fidgeting within the basket again, setting out the nuncheon, with small white China plates the edges of which resembled embroidery, silver cutlery, and fine linen napkins.

Lord Percy turned to Lady Mantrell.

“So have you taken the waters, Lady Mantrell?”

“When I feel my body needing them, yes, I have. And what of you, Lord Percy?”

“After a difficult day, I have sometimes sought out the comfort of the hot water in the baths. I find that it renews the body and the spirit. I have also actually taken the waters, though I do not care for the taste very much, but then, we are not seeking the flavour, but the cure.”

He glanced at Margaret. She did not meet his eye, but looked into the distance, whilst she ran her finger along the edge of the blanket upon which they sat. The conversation was remarkably uninspiring. Her mind drifted away to thoughts of Saltonbury, and of Ensign Chester, and of the decision that she must make. A decision which Lord Percy Harrington would not influence in any way at all, no matter what he might hope for. Lady Mantrell was continuing the conversation, for which Margaret was grateful.

“You are quite correct, Lord Percy. I must say that I do not care for the flavour of the waters, either, but when one is taking the waters, it is a most important part of that experience.”

Lord Percy paused, taking a rather large swallow of his wine, then spoke again, with a hopeful note in his voice.

“May I take Lady Margaret on a quick stroll through the valley?”

Lady Mantrell nodded, quite agreeable after her goblet of wine. Margaret bristled a little – the hide of the man, to simply ask her chaperone, without even bothering to see if Margaret herself wished to go for a walk. It was fortunate for him that Margaret found the prospect pleasing, for just sitting about was dull.

“As far as my eye can see, and no further, Lord Percy, if you please.”

“Yes, of course.” He stood and offered his hand to Margaret. “There now, let us stroll among the flowers that are finally blooming. Would you enjoy that, Lady Margaret, or is there some other aspect of the scenery that pleases you more?”

“A walk will be pleasant, and the scent of the flowers on the breeze is always pleasing.”

He offered his arm and she placed her hand atop it, as he guided her along. Lady Mantrell nodded to herself approvingly, as if to indicate that she thought that Lord Percy was a refined gentleman, and she need not worry herself over his conduct with her charge.

Margaret wondered at her certainty, for she was not, herself, so sanguine about Lord Percy’s desires.

“So, Lady Margaret, have you seen much theatre as of late?”

Margaret kept her eyes straight ahead, occasionally looking down to watch where she was stepping. She did not turn her face to Lord Percy, but simply answered him.

“I cannot say that I have. When I was a child my father often took my cousin and I to the theatre in London, wanting us to become knowledgeable of the arts.”