Hope clapped her hands, excitedly. “What an honour! You want to go, don’t you? Surely you need to, since you became Lord Lambton?”
“I won’t go without you, and I don’t think it’s wise for you to return after so short a period of time.”
Hope regarded him seriously. For some months, she’d been assessing the right time to broach the subject. She took his hands and began to chafe them lovingly. “You were the one who endured so much during the trial. My identity was protected. You arranged everything, Felix. And it’s not as if you’re proposing to live there. I have no fear in going back if you can contrive to keep my presence secret as you managed so assiduously before.”
He looked troubled. “That’s just it, Hope. I don’t want to keep your presence secret. I want the world to know you as my wife, Hope. I want your stepmother to accord you the respect you deserve and which she withheld, and which makes her an accessory in the terrible crimes against you.”
Hope shook her head. “You want a true justice, my sweetheart, but that’s not possible. At least for another few years, it’s wisest for me not to be introduced as your lawful wedded wife”
She was cut off by an announcement from the returning parlourmaid that they had an unexpected visitor who’d just arrived in the village and, learning that they were residents of the chateau on the hill, wished to pay his respects to Lord and Lady Lambton. “A gentleman by the name of Lord Farrow.”
Hope gasped, and Felix looked discomposed before he said to the parlourmaid in German that he and his wife would be delighted to attend to Lord Farrow in the drawing room in five minutes.
“I can’t possibly appear!” Hope whispered. Lord Farrow had been one of her greatest admirers when she worked at Madame Chambon’s.
Felix only had to look at her panicked face to understand her. “If we’re to visit England, then consider this your first test.” He raised her hand and brought it to his lips. “Courage, darling. You’re not the one who deserves opprobrium. I’m right here with you. And are you not the most consummate actress in the world when you need to be? Why, there was a time when I was certain you cared nothing for me!”
On Felix’s arm, Hope swept into the elegant vault-ceilinged withdrawing room of the chateau they’d leased since they’d fled to the German dominion following the trial that had exonerated Felix who had been found to have acted purely in self defence after Wilfred Hunt, horribly drunk, had tried to murder him with a fire iron.
“Lord Farrow, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure,” Hope murmured after Felix had introduced her. Madame Chambon’s training had been thorough, and there was no sign of the terror Hope felt at being recognised, even as his lordship sent her a long and scrutinising look after he’d failed to hide his surprise.
“Is anything the matter, my Lord?” Felix enquired as he led them to a cluster of seats arranged around the fireplace.
Lord Farrow appeared to collect himself. “No. Yes, that is, Mrs Durham—or should I say, Lady Lambton—looks familiar.”
Hope feigned surprise as she exchanged looks with her husband. “Do you know, Felix, that’s the second time someone’s said that to me.” She laughed. “Another friend who came to visit Felix said exactly the same thing: that I bear a striking similarity to someone who was well known to them in England. When I quizzed him on who it was, his memory failed him.” She turned back to Lord Farrow. “Tell me, who is the lady you speak of whom I so closely resemble? It’s rather amusing to be mistaken for someone else.”
Lord Farrow flushed hotly and shook his head. “I can’t quite recall and besides, you are far more beautiful than she, Lady Lambton, even if I can’t remember her name.” When it looked as if Hope might persist with her questioning, he went on in a rush, “And you’re even more beautiful than your sister whom I met some months ago with her husband at the theatre. I believe you’ve spent the last five years in Germany.”
Hope seated herself and inclined her head. “That’s correct. Lord Lambton and I would very much like to return to England, though, if only to visit. Why, we were in fact discussing the possibility when you were announced.” Hope smiled warmly at her husband, the glint in his eye telling her she was doing well.
Lord Farrow cleared his throat, dragging his admiring gaze from Hope’s face to his host’s. “In that case, perhaps you’d both be my guests for a little shooting party on my estate I’m organising next August—should you be there at that time. If you follow the Hunt, you’ll be in excellent company.”
Hope and Felix exchanged looks, and Hope nodded slowly. “I believe that would fit in well with Felix’s itinerary. He’s been asked to address the London Literary Society,” she added proudly.
“Splendid!” Lord Farrow clapped his hands together. “I’m so glad I looked in on you. You’ve garnered quite the notoriety, and I’ll confess my curiosity got the better of me.”
“Notoriety?” Hope asked, cautiously.
“Lord Lambton’s runaway success. His book!” Lord Farrow explained. “Perhaps you don’t know that everyone back home has been talking about it.” A shad
ow crossed his face, and he lowered his voice. “I hope you didn’t think I was referring to that…other matter.”
Hope saw that Felix was looking warily at their visitor who went on, seemingly unaware of the sudden tension. “Hunt was despised, in the circles to which I belonged, at any rate. Although he was never called to account for it, he was a bounder. A thief and a liar. It came as little surprise to anyone that he could also be capable of violence and, my dear Lord Lambton, it was perfectly understandable in most people’s eyes that you, being a man of honour, did the only thing you could under the circumstances.”
When Lord Farrow had gone, Hope exhaled in relief as Felix took her into his arms.
“We’ve passed our first initiation,” Felix murmured into her hair. “And you were marvellous.”
“But will I be so marvellous if Lord Farrow does invite us to his estate and suddenly I’m faced with so many of the men I once knew under…circumstances I’d care not to remember.” An unexpected sob rose in her throat. “Oh, Felix, surely an encounter like this—and every similar one to follow—will erode just that bit more of your respect for me?”
He put her away from him, shaking his head as he smiled.
“All that matters to me is what you are: a brave, clever woman whom I’m lucky enough to call my wife. And, if Lord Farrow invites us to his estate, and we join in the Hunt, it’s my intention to do what I failed to do all those years ago and which might have inexorably changed the future had I not lost my nerve but rather just kissed you as you lay on the soft earth, in that secluded clearing.”
“Oh, Felix, I would like that very much,” Hope said upon a sigh, closing her eyes as she nestled against his chest, breathing in his wonderful, familiar, and comforting smell of fine wool and the sandalwood soap he used.
And indeed, after Lord Farrow proved true to his word and Felix, Hope and their first child—a lusty son they named Benedict—were ensconced at Farrow House the following August, Hope and Felix did find an opportunity to peel off from the pack and discover the perfect grassy glade for Felix’s promised tryst.