A Scandalous Secret by Beth Andrews

to make up one of the party. He also invited Oswald to join them. The viscount could scarcely refuse, though Elizabeth suspected that his inclusion would give no pleasure either to himself or her son.
    ‘And what shall you ladies do in our absence?’ Oswald asked.
    ‘Mope,’ Dorinda declared with an air of tragic despair. ‘It will be terribly dull here without male company, will it not, Lizzy?’
    ‘I believe I can bear up tolerably well for a morning.’
    Dorinda leaned over and rapped her on the knuckles. ‘You are the most provoking creature! You should have been an old maid like Mr Markham’s aunt. Oh, Alastair,’ she added, ‘did you know that she actually paid us a visit this very morning?’
    ‘I beg pardon,’ Alastair muttered, reddening. ‘I did not quite.... Who did you say was visiting?’
    Dorinda immediately launched into an exhaustive - and exhausting - description of the recent visit. Elizabeth noticed, however, that Alastair’s attention seemed to wander, and several times he had to be called to task by his wife. This was not at all like him - especially where Dorinda was concerned. Just what had he been doing in London?
    ‘Indeed,’ Dorinda concluded her account, ‘I am surprised that you did not pass them as you rode up. They left not five minutes before.’
    ‘Well, I was coming from the London road, and so would not have seen them once they made the turn for Lammerton Hall.’
    ‘It is a great pity that you missed them,’ Dorinda said. ‘The old lady is such a quiz! It was all most entertaining, was it not, Lizzy?’
    ‘It was anything but dull,’ Elizabeth admitted.
    For the rest of the day, she continued to observe Alastair. His absence of mind was quite pronounced, and there was a recurring furrow above his thick brows. He seemed to be in a perpetual brown study, often quite inattentive to poor Oswald, who tried manfully to hold up his end of the conversation. Dorinda’s bright, brittle chatter became increasingly strained when, after supper, they all sat down to endure each other’s company.
    It had been a taxing day, to say the least. No one was inclined to be witty or amusing, and Elizabeth was glad when she could at last fall into her bed and into a deep, dreamless sleep.
    * * * *
    Arriving at Merrywood the following morning, Dominick was pleased as well as surprised to learn that Alastair had returned and was to accompany them.
    ‘I am glad to see that you have taken my nephew in hand, Dominick,’ Alastair commented, as the quartet set off to find the best available stream.
    ‘Believe me, Alastair, it is a pleasure. I will make a Compleat Angler of him yet.’
    ‘We are best friends already, aren’t we, Dominick?’ The boy took hold of the gentleman’s hand as he spoke and looked up at him with a smile of the utmost confidence.
    Dominick, in turn, looked down at his son with a sudden surge of pride and pleasure, which he hoped was not too apparent. ‘I certainly hope so, milord,’ he teased.
    ‘In my opinion, the child is far too young and inexperienced to be accompanying us on such an expedition,’ Lord Maples said sourly.
    Dominick had not admired Lord Maples before, and his estimation of him declined steadily with every moment spent in his presence.
    ‘After today,’ he said, ‘Nicky’s inexperience will be that much less. It will do him a great deal of good; and he is not a babe, after all.’
    This speech won a nod of approval from Alastair and from Nicky a look of admiration such as he had never bestowed upon the unfortunate viscount.
    The day, however, was not the resounding success which they had anticipated. Mr Markham landed a good-sized trout, and helped Nicholas to catch one somewhat smaller. But it was plain to Dominick that neither of the other two gentlemen was able to enter into the sport with genuine enthusiasm.
    Lord Maples had evidently accepted the invitation partly out of sheer ennui and as an occasion to display his good