They had called at Rye End Hall two days previously to leave their cards and had been received by Lady Finch herself. Sir Josiah, she had explained, was not with her because he had been detained in London on business, but was expected daily and was looking forward to establishing himself in his new home.
Lady Finch had proved welcoming and open, delighted to make their acquaintance and full of praise for Rye End Hall and their preparations. She was obviously very well bred, but years abroad had lent a refreshing informality to her manner.
Antonia had noticed the ready affection that Lady Finch evinced for her nephew: a pastel sketch of him was one of the few pictures that had already been hung. ‘I do hope dear Jeremy has been able to accommodate all your wishes in the arrangements,’ Lady Finch said. ‘He is generally such a thoughtful individual, but you must tell me immediately if anything has been overlooked.’ The warmth and pride that tinged her voice when she spoke of Mr Blake indicated that she regarded him more as a son than a nephew, Antonia had thought.
‘Lady Finch,’ Jane announced now, showing the older woman into the drawing-room.
There was a flurry of greetings and bows before the three were seated, tea poured and macaroon biscuits offered. ‘What a charming old house,’ Lady Finch enthused. ‘After so many years in the Indies, it is such a pleasure to see a fine example of the antique English style. Are you comfortable here? It has a welcoming and homely atmosphere.’
She was so easy to talk to that the half-hour visit flew by. At length, their guest stood up and drew on her gloves, looking out over the garden as she did so.
‘What magnificent roses, Miss Dane. I hope you will allow Sir Josiah to visit your garden. He has lately developed a keen interest in horticulture now we are home again. It is such a struggle to maintain a truly English style in a hot climate: there must be constant irrigation and all one’s favourites just wither and die. I confess that, after a few false starts, we simply gave up.’
‘I would be delighted, for gardening is also one of my joys,’ Antonia began when they were interrupted by the sound of carriage wheels on gravel.
‘I must bid you farewell, for you have other visitors,’ Lady Finch was saying when the newcomers came into view, trotting up the drive in a smart curricle. ‘Why, it is my husband and Jeremy. What a surprise!’
The two men were ushered in by Jane, flushed with importance at receiving so many guests in one morning.
‘Sir Josiah, I had not looked for you until tomorrow.’ Lady Finch held out her hands to her husband and Antonia was touched by the unfashionable warmth with which he kissed his wife.
‘Miss Dane, I must make my husband known to you.’ Antonia curtsied, liking Sir Josiah on sight. Where his wife was thin, her complexion made sallow by years of heat, he was rotund and still tanned on the top of his bald head. His eyes were shrewd, his open face intelligent and cheerful and Antonia felt instinctively that she was meeting an honest man.
The enlarged party settled again, Sir Josiah accepting a dish of Bohea while he explained that his London business had been accomplished with more expedition than he had expected. He had hurried down, eager to view his new demesne, to be greeted by Jeremy Blake with the news that his wife was visiting Miss Dane.
‘Naturally, I could not hesitate to make your acquaintance, ladies. My nephew has told me of your gracious assistance in rendering the Hall all that we would wish it to be.’
His wife rose, catching his attention. ‘My dear, we must not impose on Miss Dane and Miss Donaldson’s time further this morning. However, I have secured a promise from Miss Dane that she will show you her roses before much longer.’
‘Capital! A follow gardener – I could not have wished for better in a neighbour. Lady Finch, tell me, what is the state of our kitchens? When can we hope to entertain? I would wish to hold a dinner party for our good neighbours as soon as may be.’
‘Thanks to the perfect order in which all was left, I believe we could name this Saturday. That is, if you are free, ladies?’
Donna coloured with pleasure at the compliment to her housekeeping as they accepted the invitation. The Finches departed, Sir Josiah begging the honour of sending his carriage over to collect the Dower House party on the appointed evening.
Donna was obviously burning to discuss their visitors but Jeremy Blake, remaining when his aunt and uncle had gone, forced her to silence.
‘I wished to ask if the groom the estate manager sent down met with your approval,’ he enquired. ‘If so, I will arrange to have my carriage horse sent over immediately with the gig.’
‘Yes, thank you. Fletcher appears a most respectable and willing man,’ Antonia said. ‘He has righted a stall in the old barn, so we can house both horse and carriage suitably.’
‘Then would you wish me to drive the gig over tomorrow?’ he asked. He smiled and she found he had caught her gaze and that she was smiling back. ‘And perhaps it would be wise, with a horse that is unfamiliar to you, if I were to accompany you on your first drive.’
‘But, Antonia, dear,’ Donna intervened, ‘Have you not told Mr Blake that you never learned to drive?’
Antonia knew all too well that Donna, having consigned the Duke to the ranks of Unsuitable Suitors, was already looking to Jeremy Blake to replace him. She could only hope he did not spot the unsubtle matchmaking.
‘But you must allow me to teach you,’ he offered immediately. ‘It would be my pleasure and I’m sure you will prove an apt pupil.’ Antonia accepted, smiling but uncomfortable. She liked Mr Blake – he was congenial and pleasant and good company – and she wanted to learn to drive, but Donna’s unsubtle encouragement was unwelcome. She could have asked their new groom to instruct her without raising any expectations.
The parting from Marcus was still bitter. She loved the man, still dreamt of him at night, still longed to see his eyes smiling into hers with that unspoken promise. Donna could switch allegiance for her at the turn of a card, not knowing how strongly her affections were engaged, but her own heart was not so fickle, nor did she wish to give Jeremy Blake false encouragement and perhaps to hurt him.
Mr Blake was as good as his word and a groom delivered a note the next morning proposing a drive later that day. With it came an invitation from Lady Finch to Donna to take tea.
‘She says here that, unless she hears to the contrary, she will send the carriage at three for me.’ Donna’s sallow cheeks were flushed with pleasure at the invitation. ‘How kind her ladyship is, to consider my entertainment while you are engaged.’
‘I am sure she is most considerate,’ Antonia agreed. ‘But I am certain she also wishes to become better acquainted with you. After all, you have much in common. Wasn’t your father stationed in several of the places in India she mentioned yesterday?’
‘Indeed, he was. What a pleasure it will be to hear her descriptions of those scenes. I wonder if she has any sketch books?’