‘Eventually.’ He sounded pensive. ‘They were lucky.’
‘Well, they certainly seem very happy and Amberton Castle is everything I imagined it would be. It’s beautiful.’
‘Still woefully inadequate as a castle, though.’
‘What?’ She drew her brows together as he heaved a pitiful-sounding sigh. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean there’s no moat. Nary a bit of water in sight. You’ve just told your nephew that it was compulsory.’
‘Oh...’ She pursed her lips, resisting the urge to laugh. ‘Well, it’s not a bad castle.’
‘Just not up to your exacting standards?’
‘I can’t help being a perfectionist.’ She gave him a coy look. ‘Perhaps you ought to dig a moat.’
‘Perhaps I should. I don’t mind admitting I’m pretty good with a spade.’ He caught her eye and winked. ‘Speaking of which, I have a sty that won’t clean itself, more’s the pity. Pleasant though it would be to sit here all afternoon, I ought to be getting back to work.’
‘Yes...’ She gave her head a small shake, trying to banish the strange fuzzy feeling his wink seemed to have caused in her chest. It wasn’t unpleasant exactly, just unexpected. He wasn’t smiling, but there was a warmth in his face she hadn’t seen before and she wasn’t sure how to react to it, only she didn’t want him to notice anything different about her either. She didn’t want him to see any reaction at all, especially since she shouldn’t be feeling one.
‘About Lydia...’ She tried to get the conversation back on track. ‘She was disappointed by your answer the other day.’
‘She’ll get over it.’
‘But if you could just speak to her...’
‘No.’ He got up on to his haunches and looked straight at her. ‘Do you picnic here often?’
‘Ye-es. Georgie and I come two or three times a week.’
‘Just the two of you?’
‘Usually.’
‘Only I thought I might come back on Friday afternoon. I’d like to have another of those buns, a whole one to myself this time, but since I don’t want to cause a scene by going into the bakery myself, I fear I may be dependent on your good will. In any case, I’ll be here if you decide to give me that second
chance.’ He brushed the sand from his trousers and stood up, though with the sun behind his back she couldn’t make out his expression. ‘Are you sure you can make it back up the hill on that ankle?’
‘Perfectly sure.’
‘I can carry her if she wants.’ Georgie’s small voice interrupted them.
‘I’m glad to hear it, young man.’ Arthur gave him an approving nod. ‘In that case, I’ll leave your aunt in your capable hands. Until Friday then, I hope.’
Chapter Eight
‘You’re in a good mood.’
Arthur glanced over his shoulder to find Lance leaning against the side of the pigsty.
‘Am I?’
‘You were whistling.’ His brother’s expression was more than a little inquisitive. ‘I haven’t heard you whistle since we were boys.’
‘I’ve decided to take it up again.’
‘Any particular reason?’
‘I wasn’t aware that I needed one.’