Walking about the works with these women was more of an education than anything she had known in her entire life and far more entertaining than what she had expected.

It did not seem like much time had passed at all before Basset and Mr. Bodville joined them, Mr. Bodville sweeping his hat off to bow to her in greeting. “My lady, it is a pleasure to see you again. I hope you do not mind, but when I heard that you and your husband were coming to the mine, I wrote to Miss Verran to ask her to come. If you still have no objection to meeting her.”

Adelaide brightened at the prospect, flicking her eyes to her husband just in time to catch his slight smile. “None at all! I am most anxious to meet her. Being newly married myself, I shall have ample advice to give her on the subject.”

“Oh dear,” Basset said with a dramatic sigh. “Let us hope there will still be a wedding after that.”

“Don’t scare Mr. Bodville so!” Adelaide scolded, propping her hands on her hips. “Miss Verran is perfectly capable of making her own decisions, no matter what I have to say. And besides, I am still married to you, am I not?”

Basset bowed ever so slightly in acknowledgement. “That you are, my dear. That you are.”

Adelaide might have imagined it, but she would have sworn her husband winked at her then. It would have been markedly out of character of the man she thought she was married to, but the man she had dined with this morning, the one who had raced to Emblyn’s cottage to see after her, the one who had ridden here with her…

Perhaps he was one who winked at his wife.

She had no time to examine his manner of flirtation, however, for Mr. Bodville brightened as he looked behind her. “Ah, here she is already!” he cried, waving with an eagerness that belied his feelings about the impending nuptials.

Fighting a laugh, Adelaide turned expectantly toward the approaching guest. Miss Verran was a pretty little thing, there was no mistaking that. Dark hair, fair skin, healthy in frame, and taller than one might have expected, yet all seemed in perfect proportion. She came without bonnet, as several women and girls in the area seemed to do, and her green cotton frock was covered with a simple, clean apron. London might not have called her a beauty, but out here among the bluebells, cornflowers, and cliffs, she was rather picturesque.

And her hesitant smile endeared her to Adelaide at once.

“Miss Verran,” Basset called with a smile, “this is a pleasant surprise.”

Miss Verran bobbed in greeting. “Lord Basset, the pleasure is mine.”

He gestured toward Adelaide with the same smile. “May I present my wife, Miss Verran? Adelaide, this is Miss Jenna Verran.”