"Wonderful," Agatha beamed, a warm smile lighting her face. "With me are the maids who will assist in preparing you for the day. I need to bring you up to speed with the morning routine and the duties that await you as Duchess of Ravenmoor."
Alice nodded, a mixture of anticipation and trepidation swirling within her. "I would be most grateful for your guidance. But first, I am rather famished. I had nothing to eat all day yesterday."
"Of course, Your Grace. Allow me to arrange for some breakfast to be brought up at once," Agatha said.
"Wait, I can have my breakfast alone...right?" Alice questioned, recalling that she was a married woman now. "I mean, it wouldn’t be rude of me not to sit with His Grace?"
"Well, His Grace left for Bath in the early hours of this morning, Your Grace," Agatha said.
Alice tilted her head sideways. "Left for London? Whatever do you mean? Shouldn’t the married couple stay together for the honeymoon and... Consummate?"
Agatha lowered her head. "His Grace arranged for his bags to be packed as he will be living in a different estate henceforth."
Alice sat upright. "Henceforth?"
A silence ensued, and all Alice could do was stare on, confused, to say the least. She thought back to the night before and wondered if that little argument had sent Victor packing.
She had no idea what to make of it or if she was supposed to be relieved that she was free of Victor’s intense presence for a short period of time.
"Well, I am sure he won’t be gone for long," Alice said, climbing off the bed. "Now, how about that breakfast, Agatha?"
