“You will want your sturdy walking shoes, then, Your Grace?”
“Yes, of course I will. Did I not just say I would be tramping through mud all day long?”
Celeste had seen the stablemen and houseboys busily laying out wooden planks to create walks, so she was sure that the Duchess would be able to avoid the mud. Still, it would not do to contradict Her Grace.
In spite of her waspishness, it seemed as if the Duchess was looking forward to the day. Celeste dressed the Duchess’s hair in a simple knot of curls high on her head, positioned so a favorite chip hat could rest just in front of them.
The hat matched the blue piping on a gray wool walking dress with a matching light jacket. The jacket was likely to be appreciated until the sun evaporated the dew off the grass and warmed the air. “Will Your Grace be doing anything special today?” Celeste asked.
“Oh, I think the Duke mentioned judging cattle in the morning, flowers and early spring preserves in the afternoon. I’ll not need you until shortly before dinner, so if you want to go down to the merchants’ row to buy yourself some frippery, you are welcome to go.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Celeste stepped back and bobbed a curtsy. “Would you care to see yourself?”
“Yes, girl, I would. Mind you hold the glass still!”
Celeste got out the long mirror from its special holder beside the wardrobe. It was framed in ornate oak and must have weighed nearly three stone.It is a great way to grow strong.But it is no wonder my arms trembled the first few times I held it up.Today she was able hold the mirror steady. The Duchess seemed to look at herself forever.
At last she said, “Acceptable.”
Celeste had learned that “acceptable” was high praise from the Duchess, so she nodded and put the heavy mirror back into its holder.
I just hope I don’t break the horrible thing one of these mornings.
“Be sure to clean my rooms before you go gadding about. I don’t want to come back to a slovenly chamber when I return.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
Celeste cleaned the rooms as quickly as she could, leaving everything in perfect order. She then eagerly picked up the laundry basket and hurried downstairs in the hope of getting her turn at going to the fair.
Chapter 9
The first day of the trade fair was an excellent success, and the second morning dawned bright and beautiful. Jonathan sat at his desk making a few notes before heading out to play the dutiful host to the dignitaries and tradesmen who were in attendance. He was deep into figures concerning the planting of the upper fields when a light footstep alerted him that he was not alone.
Celeste stood at the door; her hands full of carefully shrouded plants. “Oh! Your Grace! I had not expected to find you here so early.”
“There you are, Miss Singer. Do not mind me, but go about your business with the arrangement. It is beginning to look a little shabby.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. I have the doing of bouquets for the whole house this morning. I had thought to do your arrangement before starting on the others. Her Grace is likely to sleep in this morning since she was quite worn out yesterday.”
“So she was. She pretends to despise these country affairs, but in truth I think she revels in them.”
“I’m sure I would not presume to know, Your Grace.”
“Indeed you would not, Celeste. You are the soul of discretion. Now what do you have for me this morning?”
“Heartsease and pansies, Your Grace. It seemed a good week for something subdued and soothing.” Celeste spread a cloth on the floor. Taking the drooping paeonies from the stone planter, she carefully replaced them with earthen pots of violets and pansies. She then backed them with some graceful ferns and disguised the roots with a layer of moist, green moss.
Jonathan watched the proceedings with interest. “Why do you leave the plants in their pots?”
“They will last longer so, Your Grace. If I am attentive to them this week, these little flowers can be returned to the orangery and refreshed so that they might bloom again another time.”
“Ah. Very frugal of you, my young friend.”
“Am I your friend, Your Grace?”
“I would like to think so, Celeste. Your company as you arrange your flowers gives me great pleasure.”
Celeste’s face colored up at this praise. “Thank you, Your Grace. I enjoy being here.”
