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D ru dismounted and gave her reins to the groom standing nearby. Harry led her horse away, and she looked up at Lord Martindale.

“Thank you for inviting me to accompany you about your estate today, my lord. Beauville is a lovely property. I know that you will be a good caretaker of it and that seeing it flourish will be very satisfying for you.”

“Thank you for coming with me today, Lady Dru,” he said. “I appreciate the suggestions you made regarding the land.”

He hesitated, the tips of his ears turning slightly red. It was something she had noticed about him when he was embarrassed or uncomfortable, and she found it quite endearing.

“Then I hope we will see one another soon,” she told him. “Perhaps next week we might go and visit Viscount Tilsbury again.”

“Perhaps,” he said non-committedly. “Please give my regards to Lord and Lady Huntsberry.”

The earl wheeled his horse and cantered away.

Dru stood watching him ride off, a slow, sinking feeling overtaking her gut.

She wasn’t ready to go into the house just yet.

She needed time to ponder what had happened between them, and so she made her way toward the gardens, her favorite place to think.

Once there, she walked along the path, seeing how Judson’s gardeners had cleared out the weeds and begun planting different flowers, based upon her suggestions. She came along a bench and took a seat upon it.

Alone, she said aloud what she could never utter in front of others.

“I think I might be in love with Lord Martindale.”

There. She had acknowledged it. The last thing Dru had thought might occur in her life was to fall in love.

She wasn’t even certain what love entailed, having never witnessed any feelings of affection between her parents.

Her stay at Huntsworth, though, had exposed her to the idea of love between a couple.

Watching both Lucy and Judson and Ariadne and Julian had let her know that love within a marriage did exist. Still, Dru had never assumed she would be touched by it.

After all, while she felt nurturing toward animals, she did not know if she possessed any maternal instincts.

She had avoided the idea of a husband altogether because she hated being told what to do and knew once she spoke her vows, she would, in effect, become the property of her husband.

Yet seeing how Lucy and Judson treated one another as equals had opened her eyes to the possibility of a different world. A kinder world, filled with love and companionship. And yes, even children.

Might her future include a husband—and could it be Lord Martindale?

The more she was around the earl, the more Dru liked him.

He made for good company. While she was outgoing and talkative, he was quieter and more introspective.

Still, she thought there was a nice balance between them.

They certainly had sparks between them. She had never thought of the idea of being physically attracted to a man, but she certainly had enjoyed Lord Martindale’s kisses today.

No wonder her sister and brother-in-law went about kissing all the time.

Kissing brought a glorious feeling, not to mention what else had passed between her and the earl.

Dru felt herself growing warm, thinking of his hand pressed intimately against her body and the feelings it had spurred. She couldn’t help but wonder what it might be like without the barrier of her breeches. That thought caused her to go hot all over.

She knew he was attracted to her, just as she was to him, but he was being most respectful of her.

Because she had confided in him that she was not seeking a husband, he seemed to have put aside the notion of the two of them being together on a permanent basis.

That alone, coupled with other things she had observed about him, led her to believe that he might be a man she could commit to.

The question was how to voice this.

Yes, she could be bold at times, but Dru did not know if she had it within her to make her feelings known to Lord Martindale.

It occurred to her that while the attraction between them was obvious, she might not be what the earl sought in his wife.

He was a taciturn man, and he might believe her too emboldened to make for a good countess.

The best course of action, in her opinion, was to do nothing for now.

She would be at Huntsworth for weeks—possibly months. Dru saw no need to force the issue now.

Instead, she decided to let things play out between them naturally.

If they were meant to be together, it would become apparent as time passed.

Or she hoped it would. If Lord Martindale sought a different type of bride, then she hoped she could serve as a good friend and adviser to him.

Dru believed him to be emotionally damaged by his war experience.

Because of that, he would not be quick to commit to any woman.

He had spoken briefly of dreams he had regarding the war, and she suspected those dreams were actually nightmares which haunted him.

Rising, she determined to continue as she had, enjoying her time here at Huntsworth.

If nothing came of her budding friendship with Lord Martindale, Dru decided she would still attend the upcoming Season next spring.

It would give her the opportunity to get to know some of her cousins better and let her gain a taste of Polite Society.

Why, she might even find a gentleman cut from the same cloth as Judson and Julian.

They were both strong men, physically and emotionally, dedicated to their properties and their wives.

And if she could find no man in their same mold?

She would revert to her previous plan of being a doting, spinster aunt.

It would irk Mama to no end, but Dru had a mind of her own and would live her life as she saw fit.

While she would never wish to be a burden upon Lucy and Judson, she did not think she would be.

Perhaps when Con wed someday, she might even spend part of the year with him and her sister-in-law.

That is, if they were amenable to that plan.

It was hard to picture her brother as a husband.

He was such a carefree sort, much as Dru herself was.

She would like to see a different side of Con.

Going to town next spring would allow her to do so.

Leaving the gardens, she went inside the house and headed to the drawing room. When she arrived, she saw the teacart had already arrived and that Lucy was pouring out.

“There you are,” her sister said genially. “I was not certain if you would make it back in time for tea with us.”

“How did the visit with the doctor go?” Dru asked as she took a seat opposite Lucy and Judson.

Her brother-in-law beamed. “He thinks everything is going quite well.”

Lucy chuckled. “Judson asked a good two dozen questions. I merely sat and listened. The doctor also recommended a midwife to use, and I will meet with her next week.”

“Did he say it was unusual for you not to feel sick?” she asked, feeling Toby brush against her leg. She picked him up and placed him in her lap.

“It was as I suspected,” Lucy replied. “He told us that some women become violently ill when they are increasing, while others only experience a mild nausea. Upon rare occasions, a woman is not ill in the slightest. I suppose that makes me very fortunate.”

Judson took his wife’s hand, entwining his fingers through hers. “He did warn us that each time is different, however. That simply because Lucy is glowing with good health now does not mean it would be the same with a second babe or beyond.”

“I recall how Ariadne told me she was ill upon arising each morning and then some throughout the day,” Lucy said. “The feeling subsided after a few months. And look at little Penelope today. She is the picture of health and continues to thrive.”

They asked her several questions about Lord Martindale’s estate, and Dru answered them to the best of her ability.

“Harvest will happen next week,” Judson said. “I wonder when Lord Martindale’s tenants will harvest their crops.”

“Perhaps you should ask him to come that first day when the harvest begins,” Lucy suggested. “He seems like such a kind gentleman. It would do you both good to spend time together. Lord Martindale might enjoy seeing how things are done here at Huntsworth.”

Judson raised their joined hands, kissing Lucy’s fingers. “A splendid idea, love. I will send a note around, asking him to do that very thing.”

Just as tea concluded, Brown entered the drawing room.

“A note has arrived for you, my lady,” the butler said, presenting a silver tray close to her.

“Thank you,” Dru said, plucking the paper from the tray and opening it.

Scanning its contents, she began to smile.

“Ariadne has invited me to go to town with her and Julian tomorrow,” she said excitedly. “I had expressed interest in seeing Oakbrooke Orphanage.”

“Oh, you must go,” Lucy encouraged. “Ariadne and Julian are doing such good work for the children who live there.”

“Our cousin has invited me to come for dinner this evening and stay the night. We would leave for town early tomorrow morning.”

“That would be more convenient,” Judson said. “I shall have the carriage brought around to convey you to Aldridge Manor.”

“Wait a bit if you would, Judson,” Dru said. “I simply must have a bath after spending hours in the saddle today.”

“Go upstairs,” Lucy said. “I will alert the kitchen to heat water and send Annie to you so that she might pack for you. I will also send a message to Ariadne to let her know you will accept her offer.”

“Thank you, Lucy.”

Dru went upstairs and while waiting for her bathwater to arrive, began sorting through her gowns, choosing a few to take with her. Annie arrived and began gathering other things Dru would need, from chemises to stockings to shoes.