A Comfortable Wife (Regencies 8)

They arrived at the edge of the roped-off area in time to watch the final rounds of the low jumps. Johnny Smidgins, the headgroom's son, won by a whisker. His sister, little Emily, a tiny tot barely big enough to hold the reins, guided a fat pony through the course to take the girls' prize.

Everybody made much of them both. Ruthven gravely shook Johnny's hand and presented him with a blue ribbon. Antonia couldn't resist picking up little Emily and giving her a quick kiss before pinning her blue rosette to her dress. Sheer pride struck the little girl dumb; Philip patted her curls and left well alone.

After that, only the last event remained—the Punch and Judy show. Virtually everyone, even some of the dowagers, crowded before the stage erected in front of the green wall of the shrubbery.

/> The children sat on the grass, their elders standing behind them. Among the last to join the throng, just as the make­shift curtain arose to whoops, claps and expectant shrieks, Antonia and Philip found themselves at the very back of the crowd. Philip could see; despite ducking and peering, Antonia could not.

"Here." Philip drew her aside to where a low retaining wall held back a section of lawn. "Stand on this." Gath­ering her skirts, Antonia took his proffered hand and let him help her up. The stone was not high but narrow on top.

"Put your hand on my shoulder."

She had to to keep her balance. He stood beside her and they both turned to watch the stage.

Geoffrey's script was hilarious, the puppets inspired. Some of the props, including such diverse items as the cook's favourite ladle and a motheaten tiger's head from the billiard room, were both novel and inventively used. By the time the curtain finally dropped—literally—Antonia was leaning heavily on Philip's shoulder, her other hand pressed to the stitch in her side.

"Oh, my!" she said, blinking away tears of laughter. "I never knew my brother had such a solid grasp of double entendres."

Philip threw her a cynical look. "I suspect there's a few things you don't know about your brother."

Antonia raised a brow. She straightened, about to lift her hand from his shoulder. And sucked in a breath as her bruised back protested.

Instantly, Philip's arm came around her.

"You are hurt."

The words, forced out, sounded almost like an accusa­tion. Leaning into the support of his arm, Antonia looked at him in surprise. Courtesy of the stone wall, their eyes were level; when his lids lifted and his gaze met hers, she had a clear view of the stormy depths, the emotions cloud­ing his grey eyes.

Their gazes locked; for an instant, his sharpened, became clearer, then he blinked and the expression was gone. Her heart thudding, Antonia dropped her gaze and let him lift her gently down. She stretched and shifted, trying to ease the spot between her shoulder blades where Horatia Mimms's elbow had connected. She wished he would mas­sage it again.

He remained, rigid, beside her, his hands fisted by his sides. Antonia glanced up through her lashes; his face was unreadable. "It's only a bit stiff," she said, in response to the tension in the air.

"That witless female—!"

"Philip—I'm perfectly all right." Antonia nodded at the people streaming across the lawns. "Come—we must bid your guests farewell."

They did, standing by the drive and waving each carriage, each family of tenants, goodbye. Needless to say, Horatia Mimms was treated to an unnerving stare; Antonia held herself ready throughout the Mimms's effusive leave-taking to quell, by force if necessary, any outburst on Philip's part.

But all passed smoothly; even the Castletons eventually left.

When all had departed, Antonia returned to the lawns to supervise the clearing. Philip strolled beside her, watching the late afternoon sun strike gold gleams from her hair.

"I'm really very impressed with Geoffrey," he eventu­ally said. "He took on the responsibility of staging the Punch and Judy and saw it through."

Antonia smiled. "And very well, too. The children were enthralled."

“Mmm. As far as I know, none fell in the lake, either— for which he has my heartfelt thanks." Philip glanced down at her. "But I think some part of his glory is owed to you." They had almost reached the nearest shore of the lake. Brows rising in question, Antonia stopped on a small rise; meeting her gaze, Philip halted beside her. “You must have had a hard time bringing him up, essentially alone."

Antonia shrugged and looked away across the lake. "I never regretted having the care of him. In its way, it's been very rewarding."

“Perhaps—but there are many who would say it was not your responsibility—not while your mother still lived."

Antonia's lips twisted. "True, but after my father died, I'm not entirely certain my mother did live, you see."

There was a pause, then Philip answered, "No. I don't."

Antonia glanced at him, then turned and headed back towards the house. Philip kept pace beside her. They were halfway to the terrace before she spoke again. "My mother was devoted to my father. Totally caught up with him and his life. When that ended unexpectedly, she was lost. Her interest in me and Geoffrey sprang from the fact we were his children—when he died, she lost interest in us."

Philip's jaw set. "Hardly a motherly sort."