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For a moment, her heart ached as she wondered if she and her husband would ever have picnics with their children. However, she did not say a word of it to him.

“Your Grace,” a voice called from behind.

Eveline and William stopped.

They turned around to see a rather young bachelor beaming at William. His hair was sandy-blond, and his freckled face and clean-shaven boyish face told Eveline he was a late teen.

William seemed to know him because he had a small smile on his face.

“Jeffery, fancy seeing you here,” he said, before turning to her. “Oh, I should introduce you to my wife. Eveline, this is Jeffery, the Baron Pembroke, one of my officers in the Army. Jeffery, this is my beloved wife, the Duchess of Mayfield.”

Eveline beamed at the young man.

“Your Grace, it is lovely to meet you.” He bowed. “I must tell you, His Grace is the best captain I’ve ever had.”

“You flatter me,” William said.

“You know I do not.”

Eveline looked at her husband, seeing another side of him that she had never seen before. He was beaming at the young man, and he seemed proud to have run into him.

“How did you arrive back in London so soon?” he asked.

“My brother seemed to have a change of heart,” Jeffery explained. “He wants me to be in charge of some of the business.”

“I am certain you will do a fine job,” William reassured him.

“I shall do my best,” Jeffery said, “as long as…”

“Jeffery!” a loud voice called.

It was an older woman with a group of younger children in tow, and she was now walking towards them.

“Why are you troubling this good couple?” she chided.

“Mama, this is my Captain—the one I have told you about,” Jeffery said, beaming at her.

“Is that so?” She was all smiles now as she stopped in front of them.

William regarded her with a polite smile.

“This is His Grace, the Du?—”

“Ah!” the older woman yelped, her eyes widening as she stared pointedly at William’s scar.

William’s smile dropped, and Eveline’s heart broke as she realized what had just happened.

The younger boys and girls following the woman were also whispering among themselves as they eyed William.

The older woman was still staring in shock at him as though he were an animal in a menagerie.

“Mama!” Jeffery hissed.

“I… I apologize,” the older woman finally said when she caught herself. “Jeffery has?—”

“I am afraid we have to leave,” Eveline cut in.

She did not quite care if she came across as rude or not. After all, what was more rude than the woman gawking at her husband?