Once the guests had returned to Marlbeck and the reception was underway, Lucy took the first opportunity to escape. Marianne’s house was beautiful, but Lucy loved being outside, especially on such a pleasant afternoon. It was warm, but not overpoweringly hot as she wandered across the lawn to what was the beginning of a large park. Here, there were wonderful old trees with sweeping branches that offered a perch. Lucy had discovered that she could climb up into an ancient oak tree quite easily and watch what was going on around her without being seen. It was a favourite place, and she gathered her white muslin gown up so as not to catch it on protruding branches, climbing into the canopy of leaves and settling down on a thick branch.

      From her vantage spot she could see the back of the house. One or two ladies had come out to stroll on the terrace, their delicate lace parasols raised to protect their fair skins from the sun. Lucy was for ever being scolded for going without a hat, as she had today, for, as Mama had often told her, freckles were not admired.

      Lucy had a faint sprinkling of them across her nose. Mama had prepared her own lotions, and even bought some Denmark Lotion from the apothecary, but nothing had worked. It seemed that she was doomed to have them as soon as the summer came.

      Lost in her dreams, Lucy was not aware of the dog until it barked fiercely. She looked down, dismayed as she saw the huge black hound at the foot of the tree. It was growling, its front paws against the trunk, as if it were considering climbing up after her.

      ‘Go away!’ Lucy said. ‘Do not growl like that, you horrid thing! I do not know how you came here, but you do not belong in this place. Go away!’

      The dog barked louder than ever. It had heavy jaws and looked as if it were some kind of hunting hound, trained to attack. Lucy felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach, because she knew that she dared not climb down while the dog continued to stand guard at the base of the tree. A similar animal had once bitten her as a child, and, though generally not afraid of dogs, she was frightened of this particular beast.

      ‘Lucy…where are you?’ Jo had come out on to the terrace at the back of the house and was clearly looking for her. Lucy hesitated to call her, because if the dog was wild it might attack her sister. ‘Lucy, Mama wants you.’

      Jo returned to the house, obviously thinking that Lucy was not in the gardens. Lucy moved gingerly, wondering if she could get down, but immediately the dog started barking its head off once more.

      ‘Oh, do go away, you horrid creature! I want to get down.’

      ‘Come down if you wish, Brutus will not hurt you,’ a voice said from somewhere behind her. Lucy glanced over her shoulder and saw a gentleman riding a horse in her direction. As she watched, he halted a few yards from her tree. ‘Here, boy! Down, I say. Come here!’

      The dog immediately obeyed. It sat at its master’s command, and though it turned its head to watch her as she climbed out of the tree, it neither barked nor sprang at her—though she was sure that it would have done had the man commanded it to do so.

      ‘I was alarmed,’ she said, settling her skirts about her and realising that he must have had a clear view of her legs as she climbed down. Indeed, she suspected that he might even have caught a glimpse of the lace garters that held up her white silk stockings. ‘He is a fierce-looking creature.’

      ‘I fear his looks do not pity him,’ the man said, a smile on his lips, for he had been treated to a view not often granted by properly brought-up young ladies, as he was certain she actually was despite being in the tree. ‘But I promise you he has the softest mouth. He is trained to retrieve game when it has been shot, and it is unlike him to behave so ungallantly towards a lady. I dare say he thought you were up to no good up there.’ He glanced up at the broad branch on which she had been perched. ‘You must admit, it is rather an unlikely place to find a young lady of breeding.’

      ‘Yes…’ Lucy’s cheeks were on fire. She was well aware that her behaviour was not what it ought to be. ‘Mama would scold me if she knew. I have been asked not to climb trees in future, though I often did so as a child. I am too old for such larks now.’

      ‘Indeed?’ He gave her an indulgent look, clearly thinking her still a child. ‘How old are you—sixteen?’

      ‘I was eighteen two weeks ago,’ Lucy said and hardly dared to look at him. He would think her a hoyden, and in truth she was. ‘Mama is to take me to London in a few weeks for my first Season.’

      ‘You surprise me. I had thought you younger. You will need to curb your inclinations for tree climbing once you are introduced into London society, young lady, otherwise you will incur the censure of its hostesses, and that would be a shame. It would be a pity if you did not meet with the success you deserve.’ He turned to look at the dog. ‘Brutus, follow!’

      He gave his reins a flick and rode off, following the drive round to the stable block, which was away to the right. The dog trotted behind obediently and Lucy drew a breath of relief as she fled back across the lawns to the safety of the house.

      She was certain she knew who the gentleman was, though she had not seen him since Marianne’s wedding. Her pulses raced, because she had not expected that Lord Harcourt would come to the christening. He was, of course, one of Drew’s best friends, but she had not met him here before and had not thought him in the habit of visiting.

      Oh, why did it have to be he who found her in the tree? Lucy bit her lip in vexation, because she knew that he had thought the incident amusing. And, indeed, she did feel very foolish. She wished that she had not been caught in such an undignified situation. He must think her a foolish little girl—and in truth she had behaved like one! Lucy’s cheeks were warm as she went into the house, running upstairs to her own room. She must make sure that her gown was not dirty or torn before she rejoined the company! But she feared that the damage was already done.