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Mrs. Forster beamed when she saw them and kissed Lydia on both cheeks.

“Miss Holden, I am so glad that you are here! Lady Margaret is particularly looking forward to seeing you. The poor young lady feared coming tonight without a formal invitation, but I told Major Lord Mark Ross that she would be most welcome at any time.”

“Everyone feels welcome at your parties, Harriet,” Lydia said with a warm smile, “for you are the most charming of hostesses.”

They moved on to General Forster, who merely bowed his head to them.

Still arm-in-arm, Lydia and Chloe walked farther into the house where they were met by the very major who Mrs. Forster had mentioned.

Thomas saw his daughter’s cheeks turn pink, and he hoped that the fourth son of a duke wasn’t trifling with his beloved Chloe.

The major was tall, broad-shouldered, with dark curly hair, a small white scar by his left eye, and a dignified mien.

He would have been considered handsome for his lineage alone, but the young man was blessed with good looks.

The pretty young woman by his side greatly resembled him in coloring.

The young major grinned at Chloe and Lydia. “How wonderful to see you both again and so soon!”

Lydia nudged Chloe with her elbow.

His daughter’s cheeks turned from pink to red. “It is our pleasure. Particularly to see you again, Lady Margaret. I am afraid that I was rather awestruck by your fashionable attire and your beautiful face that I did not speak earlier.”

Lady Margaret breathed in deeply. “I am afraid that I am also rather shy around strangers.”

“But we are not strangers anymore,” Major Ross said exuberantly. “We are all to be the best of friends. Lydia, may we steal Miss Holden’s company for a game of lottery?”

“As long as you promise not to steal her money as well!”

Everyone laughed, and Chloe positively shined. The major offered an arm to each lady, and they wandered off to the lottery table.

“I know that I have no right to be,” Lydia said in a conspiratorial whisper, “but I am so proud of Chloe. She learned something in one afternoon that took me nearly ten years to master.”

“And what was that?”

She watched the trio sit down together. “To replace unkind and jealous thoughts with complimentary ones—particularly to other young women. Life is not a battle, but it is a very long campaign, and you can never have too many friends.”

Before Thomas could proffer his arm to Lydia, she’d already taken it.

“I believe we should leave the young people to their fun and join the older, thoughtful crowd in a game of whist,” Lydia said.

“I am not a very good cardplayer. It requires a speed and dexterity that I lack.”

Lydia smiled up at him. “I don’t care if you are a skilled player or not, merely if cards bring you any enjoyment. If not, then we can sit on the side of the room, and you can tell me all about your day.”

For once, Thomas didn’t think before he spoke. “I missed you.”

“All day?”

“Every second and every minute and every hour.”

Lydia leaned closer to him and whispered, “If we were alone, I would kiss you. But I suppose that I will have to save my enthusiasm for tonight at the beach.”

His arm tingled where she touched him, and his body hummed with want. It was going to be a very long card party.

Since they were partners, they sat opposite of each other at the card table. Their opponents were their hosts: General and Mrs. Forster—who appeared not to be a deft player either. She was too busy asking questions.

“I believe you have a grand estate near Lyme Regis, is that correct, Lord Kingston?”

Thomas nodded in reply, and Lydia laughed loudly. “You can’t ask Kingston yes or no questions, or he will not open his mouth at all, Harriet. He will merely signal.”

Mrs. Forster laughed merrily and winked at her friend. “Do you attend the Season in London?”

Thomas shook his head again but then smiled. Lydia was right. He needed to speak, rather than to signal his answer. “I do not care much for crowds, ma’am. Neither did my late wife approve of the many amusements of town. Such as parties and dancing.”

“My dear friend Lydia here loves both parties and dancing,” Mrs. Forster said, setting down her card that trumped his. “Don’t you, my dear?”

Lydia played a higher trump card. “You make me sound like a frippery character, Harriet, but you are not wrong. I do love a dance, and I have never been to a party that I could not find some pleasure in.”

“Mrs. Wickham is particularly good with children as well,” General Forster said in a deep voice. “Our sons and daughters all shout in delight when she comes to visit. She is quite a favorite with them and very noisy when they are all together.”

The tips of Lydia’s ears turned pink, and Thomas wondered if the married pair was trying to matchmake. If so, he didn’t mind. He liked hearing compliments about Lydia. She was far too prone to focus on what she lacked or her past mistakes.

“She is a great favorite with my daughter as well,” Thomas said. “We feel blessed to have her in our home. Mrs. Forster, how many children do you have?”

The woman giggled. “Seven, and another on the way, my lord.”

Thomas saw a shadow cross Lydia’s countenance. He supposed that it was because she had no children of her own. But instead of growing bitter at what she lacked, she’d shared her love with other people’s children like the Forsters and his dear Chloe.

“Indeed, every child is a miracle. I am very grateful for my own daughter.”

The light came back into Lydia’s eyes, and she gave him a shy smile.

Thomas did not speak a great deal after that. Mrs. Forster and Lydia carried the conversation, and he was happy to let them do so. He and Lydia lost every rubber, but Thomas didn’t mind. Just being with Lydia was enough.