“Are we lost?” Arabella asked, wandering through a veritable labyrinth of tall grapevines. Purplish-red and crisp green fruits grew in plump clusters, so tempting that she could not resist picking a few and popping them into her mouth. The juice burst upon her tongue—the red grapes like liquid sugar, the green grapes much sourer, but no less delicious.
Cassie furrowed her brow. “I’m surprised anyone can navigate this estate. Your family estate is bigger, I’d say, but this is arranged so… frustratingly.”
“I suppose it has to be,” Arabella replied. “We have the luxury of open fields and forest, so everything is neatly organized. The Wrights who built this house and took possession of the estate were clearly forced to do whatever they could with the terrain they had. It cannot be easy to build with cliffs on either side.”
Although, they were not currently on the promontory where the beautiful manor sat, bathed in the bronzed glow of a hazy, summer evening. The butler had informed them that Henry was out in the vineyards, which were tucked away down a long path that meandered along the mainland, to the right of the jutting stretch. Only one steep cliff wall had to be navigated, followed by a brief walk through woodland, which served as a protective barrier from the salty sea air and the spray that soared upward when the tide was in. Beyond that, the vineyards sprawled for miles, or so it seemed.
How did I miss such a glorious sight on the way to the manor?Arabella realized it was a foolish question. She knew exactly how she had missed it, for she had been fighting to keep her nausea at bay. Her surroundings had been of little interest.
Cassie picked a handful of luscious red grapes, sharing half with Arabella. “Are you certain you’re feeling better, Milady? No one would’ve minded if you’d kept to your chambers.”
“I am much improved,” Arabella insisted. Indeed, the grapes were helping to take away the last of the nausea that plagued her, feeling like a heavy rock in the pit of her stomach that kept rolling back and forth.
Cassie pushed the inside of the grape between her teeth, scraping the skin away. “They’re not very well-mannered here, are they?”
“What makes you say that?” Arabella had found everyone at the Wright Estate to be exceedingly pleasant. The Duchess of Wright herself had even stopped by Arabella’s guest bedchamber to see how she was faring.
Cassie shrugged. “The butler should’ve arranged for someone to walk us out here, instead of leaving us to get lost. How tall do they think we are? I can’t see over any of these hedge things.”
“I do not mind,” Arabella confessed, for she was enjoying the landscape, and the mingling scents of salty sea air, rich soil, and earthy vegetation. The warm evening air increased the undernote of sweetness, coming from the flourishing fruits.
Just then, Arabella spotted a figure strolling down the next aisle over. He paused every so often to steal a grape, as she had been doing, before turning his face up to the cloudless sky and closing his eyes, chewing contentedly. It made for a peaceful scene, and Arabella was loath to interrupt his quiet moment of solitude.
Gently, she pulled aside a few tangles of the verdant vines, to get a closer look at him. Henry rarely put on too many airs and graces when he was with her, but this was an entirely different side of him. This was a man in his natural environment, not knowing he was being observed; his waistcoat entirely unbuttoned and flapping free, his shirt unbuttoned to almost below his chest, his cravat tied around his upper arm like a mourning band. It was liberty incarnate.
Goodness, how handsome you are.The breath rushed out of her lungs as she continued to watch him in secret, reveling in his lack of propriety. Here, he did not need to behave according to a long-established code of conduct.
She would have carried on observing and smiling, if Cassie had not edged closer to see what Arabella was looking at, rustling the vines as she did so. Henry whirled around, eyes wide, the peaceful, free demeanor shattering as he hurried to fasten his shirt buttons.
“You should not sneak up on a man. I might have unleashed a mortifyingly girlish scream.” A grin tugged at his lips as he ducked under the vines to join the women in their aisle.
Arabella chuckled. “We have been enjoying the fruits of your estate’s labors. I confess, we were told you were walking out here, but I feared we would not find you. This vineyard is a maze.”
“Once you know it, as I do, you will never find yourself lost,” he replied, taking her hand and placing a kiss upon it. The graze of his lips against her kid gloves made her heart leap, reminding her of the slow, dreamy kiss they had shared in the ornamental gardens.
If only we had a moment to kiss like that again. I would forget every unpleasantness from the carriage ride here… and every unpleasantness that went before.
“Are you feeling better?” Henry kept hold of her hand for a moment. “I stayed by your chambers for a long while until Mother shooed me away, telling me I was being a nuisance.”
Arabella nodded shyly. “I am sorry if I caused you any distress, but I am greatly improved. The motion of the carriage was…” she paused, reminded of the awful swaying, “… more violent than I anticipated. It has been many years since I have undertaken such a lengthy journey. Indeed, I do not know if I ever have.”
“Would you care to take a turn with me before we are summoned to dine?” Henry offered his arm, and Arabella immediately threaded hers through his. It felt right to be near to him, like that. It brought her a comfort she had never known from anyone, with the exception of Cassie, but that was more of a sisterly affection.
Arabella peered up at him excitedly. “I should be delighted, Henry. The air and the scenery are wonderful here, and I should like to have a proper guide.”
“I shall do my best to be thorough in showing you all this estate has to offer, though if I begin to drone, you must chide me instantly,” he said, laughing softly as he led the way, further up through the vineyards.
Nothing could have spoiled such a perfect evening. At least, that was what she thought, for the sky was clear, the breeze was warm, and she was in the company of a man who she adored. What she did not know was that dark, ominous clouds were brewing beyond the horizon, bringing a warning that might come too late.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Arabella shrieked with glee as she tiptoed into the chilly waters that whispered back and forth up the slight slope of the shingle shore. Her skirts and petticoats were gathered up to her knees, gripped by tight hands, while she tried not to lose her balance on the uneven, pebbled floor of the sea.
Henry hurried to her side, his trousers rolled up to mid-calf. “Careful!” He took hold of her hand, not caring who saw. “There is a sandy beach further up the coast, where paddling is not so painful on the feet. We could visit, if you like?”
“That sounds glorious!” Arabella cheered, though she rather liked this concealed haven, pebbles and all.
After touring the vineyards, Henry had brought her down to this secret cove, carved away by years and years of booming surf crashing against the limestone cliffs. Now, it was a serene alcove, protected from harsher winds by a horseshoe of rock, where clear water sparkled and frothed. There were small caves honeycombed around the cove, which Arabella longed to explore, and an archway that led through to a larger beach, but this small, private domain suited her just fine.
