“Have you received word from Miss Maltravers?” Julia asked.

“Only a letter thus far,” Anne said. “She’s longing to hear from you. Miss Hobhouse is as well. We were astonished to learn of your marriage.”

“Yes. As to that . . .” Julia added some sugar to her tea, the spoon clinking on the edge of the cup as she stirred. “It all happened rather quickly.”

Anne’s lips compressed. “Rather conveniently, too. And now here you are, in the wilds of North Yorkshire, far out of reach of your friends.”

“Not so out of reach,” Jasper said. “You’ve managed to find her.”

Anne opened her mouth to respond, but Mr. Hartford forestalled her.

“This is a fine room. With a fine prospect of your park. You must spend a good deal of time here.”

Julia raised her cup to her lips. “Either here or in the library. Or out of doors when the weather permits. We have much to occupy us.”

“I sense no vibrations here,” Lady Arundell remarked. “You’ve made this room over, I take it.”

“I have,” Jasper said. “The renovations were done some years ago. They were necessary to make it livable.”

Lady Arundell didn’t hesitate to voice her displeasure. “You’d have done well to leave it in its natural state. All the better to commune with any lingering spirits.”

“I don’t expect Captain Blunt wishes to commune with the dead,” Mr. Hartford said.

“Why not?” Lady Arundell demanded. “We have much to learn from the past. Who better to convey the truth of it than those who lived in it?”

Anne was seated beside her mother on the sofa, her attention fixed on Julia as Lady Arundell and the others talked. “I understand Cossack is with you.”

Julia smiled. “He is. He’s stabled with Captain Blunt’s stallion, Quintus. They’re very happy together.”

“Happiness is a state greatly to be desired.” Anne’s sherry-brown gaze was weighted with meaning. “For human beings as well as horses.”

“Happiness has little to do with marriage,” Lady Arundell said. “There are more important concerns, best left to a girl’s parents to sort out.” She looked to Julia. “Your parents might have done so, my girl, had you but heeded their counsel.”

“Mama,” Anne said under her breath. “You promised.”

“Indeed. Remonstrances are best left for another time.” Lady Arundell returned her teacup to the tray. “We have greater matters to occupy us. Where is that manservant of yours, Blunt?”

Mr. Beecham was summoned back, and Lady Arundell occupied herself in questioning him about the house’s history. In short order, he agreed to escort her out on the grounds to have a look at the old stable block.

Julia and the others accompanied them. They’d gone no further than the front steps when Anne hung back, taking hold of Julia’s arm.

Jasper came to a halt along with them.

“I have a wedding gift for you,” Anne said to Julia. “Several, in fact. They’re of a private nature. I trust your husband won’t object to us having a moment to ourselves?”