We stood and greeted them. Richard led Miss Terry to a window seat where he sat next to her. They all listened to me play another piece, but I kept this one simple and short.

I stopped when the servants brought refreshments. I closed the lid of the instrument, and went to sit next to Lizzie. Gervase had moved to occupy the place Richard vacated when he took Miss Terry to the window seat. “You play charmingly, Miss Golightly,” Mrs. Terry said indulgently. She must have known some response was expected, but I suspected the lady of having cloth ears.

Richard corrected her. “She plays superbly.”

Mrs. Terry stared at him in exaggerated surprise, her finely plucked brows nearly up in her hairline. She wasn’t used to people correcting her opinions. Mrs. Terry considered herself one of the leaders of fashion in the county, and her opinions were usually accepted without demur. Discussions were not part of her nature. However, this time she evidently decided to let it pass, and smiled kindly at Richard. “I have an excellent ear for music. Miss Golightly’s playing has always been welcome in my house. Do you know Devonshire at all, sir?”

I noticed the “sir”, and winced a little bit. It was usual to use such forms of address when one knew the recipient for a time, not immediately after first acquaintance. They were planning to move in. We might see them in London before too long if we spent any time there. I saw myself becoming, “My dearest friend, Lady Strang,” if I wasn’t too careful.

“I can’t say I do,” Richard replied.

“No.” Her voice held a pitying tone. “Then perhaps you have heard of my house, Penfold Hall?”

“Sadly not, ma’am.” He didn’t sound sorry.

“You really must come and see it.” She addressed Gervase then. “I hear you are interested in old houses, sir.”

“Only in antiquities. Many people think my interest amounts to an obsession.” Gervase glanced meaningfully at this brother. “But everybody has an interest.”

“Indeed so, sir,” Mrs. Terry agreed. “My daughter has a great interest in painting, don’t you, my dear?”

Eustacia started, her mind obviously on other things, but rose to the occasion with aplomb. “I paint in watercolours.” She stole a glance from under her lashes at Richard, who smiled at her. Her mother watched with approval. Martha would have discouraged such flirting from us, especially with a nearly married man.

The door opened and Martha came in with Lady Skerrit. Remembering my last encounter with the lady, I hoped Lady Skerrit had taken my advice and asked Martha how it was between Richard and me. Lady Skerrit favoured us all with a pleasant smile until she saw Richard sitting next to Miss Terry on the window seat.

Martha busied herself pouring tea and passing round the various plates of this and that. When we were all hampered with tea dishes and little cakes, she took a seat.

Mrs. Terry had heard of the previous day’s happenings in the village. “You were involved in an unseemly episode yesterday, my lord.”

“Sadly, yes,” Richard favoured them with a brief explanation. “Two bullies attacked another man. I made the odds a little more even, that’s all.”

“Did you know the men were Cawntons?” Lady Skerrit demanded.

“Not until afterwards,” Richard admitted. “But it wouldn’t have made any difference. I dislike injustice in any form, and I couldn’t have stood by and watched.”

“They could have killed you.” Miss Terry was nearly breathless, apparently thrilled by the idea of such danger.

He smiled at her, a particularly warm smile for his society manner. “But they didn’t. I sent them off, and they went quite willingly in the end.”

“They may take it amiss, my lord,” Lady Skerrit warned him.

Richard lifted his hands in the air in a gesture of despair, reminiscent of his brother’s gesture earlier. “The whole county seems to be in thrall to these villains.”

Gervase put his hand to his eyes and groaned. “Not another cause, Richard, please.”

Richard looked across at him. “Not yet. I have other business first, but the matter should certainly be looked into.” Another cause? What on earth did Gervase mean?

Lady Skerrit shook the heavy lace ruffles lying on her arms, drawing attention to their lavish splendour. “The gangs are large and well organised.”

“And what is a little free trading?” Mrs. Terry queried. “I believe they run goods across our land, because we have found a barrel or two outside our door sometimes.”

Richard frowned. “Apart from the fact that it’s a violation of the law, these people create terror in the countryside. I cannot approve.”

Miss Terry glowed, looking up at him, through her lashes. “You are a hero, my lord.”

“You think I should take them on single-handed?” Amusement crept into his voice. “It might have been acceptable to knights of old, but then, they had armour to protect them. There’s little I can do on my own, but I might ask some people I know to help me. But not yet.” He glanced at me and smiled. I smiled back, an easy social smile, but I wasn’t entirely at my ease. I glanced at Gervase. I smelled a secret, perhaps the same secret Richard had promised to enlighten me about the day before.

“We have nothing to do with them,” Lady Skerrit said. “I love this county, but the smugglers are a slur on our good name. They don’t pass over our land, to my knowledge.”

Martha agreed. “Nor ours.”

“You may find you have a little more influence with your change of fortune,” Richard pointed out.