The others lifted their glasses and toasted the Duke's brother. Alice looked at him. He still had those shining blue eyes and strong looking body, and he was still very handsome.
After they had eaten and finished the Champagne, most of them snoozed a little. Alice remained wide awake and looked over the lake. It was the place she knew and loved, and a place that had never let her down. Here, she felt at home.
''Oh, I see everyone is awake, why don't you take Reymond for a walk, you two,'' Alice said as she looked at Georgina and Sophia.
''I'd love to walk with Reymond,'' said Georgina
''Yes let's,'' said Sophia enthusiastically.
''Well, if you ladies insist, then who am I to refuse. It will be a pleasure to walk around the lake, with not just one, but two beauties,'' Reymond said.
''Then let's go,'' said Georgina and she got up.
''Don't forget to show Reymond the wood, will you girls? You know, where we used to climb trees when we were young.''
''Now, excellent idea,'' said Sophia. ''I would very much like to be in the woods with Reymond.'' Reymond looked at her and smiled. It seemed to be his lucky day.
The Duke and Alice sat and watched as the three made their way around the lake. Alice jumped as the Duke took her hand. ''Thank you for today. It has been lovely, and the girls seem to like my brother. It was most thoughtful of you to introduce them.''
''It was my pleasure.''
The Duke held her hand for longer than he had ever held it, and watched his brother and the two ladies disappear into the wood.
''It really is idyllic here. Did you spent a lot of time here as a child?'' he asked.
''All of it. I was never away from here. When I think of a home, I think of this place.''
''I would like you one day to feel........'' Philip was stopped in mid-sentence by a horrible scream. ''What on earth?'' He jumped to his feet. Alice got to her feet as well.
''In the wood,'' Alice said.
Charles had been on a lot of training exercises in recent weeks and he was more than a match for Reymond. He'd appeared from behind a tree and knocked him clean off his feet. Reymond was strong and had fought back, but Charles hit him in the groin with a savage blow. The pain was so great, Reymond had passed out. While Charles sat on him, Eleanor appeared from behind another tree, with a pair of scissors. Georgina and Sophia ran to her and stood patiently as she made an incision in the breast area of each dress. When she'd done that, she put her hand inside the hole and ripped the muslin material down and away from their breasts.
When Georgina appeared from the wood, the Duke and Alice were half way between her and the tent. When she saw them, she screamed, ''help, please help, he's gone mad. You have to help Sophia. He'll rape her.''
As they got closer, the Duke was horrified to see Georgina standing in a ripped dress with her breasts exposed. ''Cover her up,'' he said to Alice as he ran along the path and into the wood.
When he arrived at the scene, he was deeply shocked. In front of him on the path lay his brother with a man on top of him. To the right, Sophia bent over a tree with her breasts hanging out and her skirt raised.''
''Who are you may I ask?'' the Duke said to Charles.
''Charles Argyle. I am a neighbor. Half of this wood belongs to my property. I was enjoying a stroll after lunch when I saw this man assault two women. It was the most savage attack, and I apprehended him.'' He looked across at Sophia and gestured towards her. ''Just in time by the look of it.''
''Wait here,'' Alice said to Georgina. ''I'm going to finish this now.'' Alice ran into the wood and stopped next to the Duke. She surveyed the scene, and ran to Sophia. She put her arm around her, and spoke loudly, so that Philip could hear her.
''Oh my dear Sophia, I am so sorry. Please forgive me, I didn't think he would do this again after what happened to me. Will you ever forgive me?''
Sophia nodded. She was extremely embarrassed that the two gentlemen could see her breasts, but she had agreed to do it for the sake of her friend.
As Alice was helping Sophia, Eleanor appeared. ''Please excuse me, my Lord. I am a maid at Stanley Hall, and on Sunday afternoons, I walk in the woods. I saw this gentleman attack two ladies,'' she said pointing at Reymond. ''I was so afraid, I ran and hid behind a tree. It is only now that I dare come out of hiding. If it hadn't been for brave Mr Argyle, I dread to think what would have happened.''
*****
It was late when the Duke arrived back at Stanley Hall. Alice had arranged from them to stay there after the picnic, before traveling back to Winthrop Hall the next day. Alice was lying in her night gown when the Duke came into the bedroom. Alice didn't say anything, she could feel he wanted to unburden his heart.
''Alice, I have been a foolish man. Everything I assumed about you was wrong. He raped you on that evening, didn't he?''