She turned her attention to the blooms that the gardener managed to coax into opening even during the chilliest of winters, but now spring was emerging. White for innocence and yet she’d fallen far from any sainted position. Was she being unfair to this man, unfair to Lushing? “I won’t be able to accompany you. It wouldn’t do for the villagers to see the recently widowed duchess out and about. And we wouldn’t want, years from now, someone remembering and remarking on your visit to Sheffield Hall.” It was risky enough for the servants to know he was here, but they adored her, and it was unlikely they would see anything sinister in his presence.

“I’ll be most discreet.”

So against her better judgment, she took him to the stables and ordered that the duke’s stallion be readied. Lushing had loved his animals, and she was rather certain he would approve of his horse being given the run of the grounds and beyond. While she knew the stable lads were taking him for a daily canter, she had little doubt the beast would find it a treat to be ridden by one who she instinctually knew would give the horse his lead while remaining in command. She was not at all surprised to see how well Aiden sat a horse. Nor was she surprised by the pang in her heart as she watched him gallop away, knowing a day might soon arrive when his leaving would herald his never returning to her.

He’d galloped over the verdant green, taking the cool country air deep within his lungs, until he reached the edge of England and could stare out over the glorious blue sea. No soot, no stink, no grime to make a man always feel in need of a bath. Although he knew that wasn’t true of the entire area. He understood that when he stopped in at the local pub where miners took a pint, along with farmers and laborers. He wondered if the duke had owned mines, if he’d gone down into them to encourage the men. For some reason, he suspected he had. He wondered if those trips had weakened his lungs, had contributed to his succumbing to influenza.

He didn’t bother to engage with anyone, merely observed and eavesdropped, tried to get a sense of how the nobility in the area were regarded. It seemed the duke and his duchess were greatly admired, and the locals voiced a worry or two regarding how their lives might change if the duchess didn’t produce an heir “right quick.” He found it inconceivable that a child’s birth should affect so many.

But he also decided Lena was no doubt correct: he’d have liked the duke.