“What do you hunt here?”

“Foxes.”

“With guns or what?”

“Certainly not with guns,” she said. “We chase them on horseback. It’s a sport.”

“A barbaric sport, chasing defenseless foxes,” Cedric said. The Starlings shuddered.

“It is part of your heritage, Cedric,” Edwina said. “You let the whole family down when you say such ridiculous things. Georgiana will no doubt want to hunt, and she can take John with her. I may even join in myself, although I fear my hedge-jumping days are over.”

“I’d be happy to take Jack hunting and show him the ropes,” I said. I looked across at Darcy. “Will you come down and join us?”

“I’ll do my best,” he said.

“It’s time Nicholas and Katherine learned how to hunt,” Irene said, “but since they don’t have their own ponies, they obviously can’t join you.” And she gave a meaningful glare at Cedric.

The meal ended and Edwina led the ladies to the drawing room. I didn’t somehow think that the men would linger over their port and, true enough, Darcy and Jack came to join us before we’d had our first cup of coffee. When the party broke up, Darcy waited for me by the stairs and drew me into the alcove behind the staircase. “Since they’ve put me way over in the bachelor wing and I have to catch an early train tomorrow, I’d better say good-bye now,” he said. “I’ll come down to see you as soon as I can.”

“I’m so glad you’re safely home,” I said.

“You don’t have to worry, you know.” He stroked my cheek. “I’ve got my lucky charm, remember?” And he reached inside his shirt and produced the silver pixie I had given him for Christmas. “I wore it all the way to Australia and back.”

“Oh, Darcy.” I flung my arms around his neck and kissed him.

“I think the dowager duchess might ship you straight back to London if she witnessed such wanton behavior,” he said, laughing. “But don’t stop.”

I floated into my room on a cloud. Even the sight of Queenie, lying on my bed, snoring, could not dampen my mood. Whatever turmoil there was in the Altringham household, Darcy was home and that was all that mattered.

Chapter 11

KINGSDOWNE PLACE

I awoke early next morning, hoping to catch a glimpse of Darcy as he left for the station. Mist swirled around the lake and hung over the shrubbery. I stiffened as I spied a figure walking in the mist then saw from the hat that it was Jack Altringham. I dressed hurriedly and went downstairs to join him. I found him at the stables, stroking the nose of one of the horses.

“Got some bonza-looking horses here, haven’t they?” he said. “No expense spared, although I doubt these could go all day through the bush the way our horses do.”

“That’s a hunter,” I said. “They are bred for stamina. You’ll find out when you come on the hunt.”