“Yes, Your Grace. You probably ordered your gown from an established shop where they have several seamstresses who do piece work. If they all work together, the dress can be completed quickly. Only the final touches need to be done by one person.”
“Oh.” The Duchess sat down and thought about this for a moment. “How astonishing. I’m not sure I ever thought about it quite like that.”
No. I’m sure you didn’t. You just ordered your gowns to be delivered at a certain time.Aloud she commented, “It is always difficult to know how others manage these things.”
“I suppose it is,” the Duchess commented. “How long do you think it would take to make up a dress or two, Celeste?”
“A fortnight for one, a month for two.”
“Even if I give you the afternoons to work on them?”
Celeste thought with regret that she would no longer be able to work with the housekeeping staff in the afternoons. “Even so, Your Grace. I would work hard and they might be done a little sooner, but you want something that will look nice. That takes time.”
“This will be our secret. I will find a reason for you to work in the solar while the dresses are being made. You have been doing the household bouquets?”
“Yes, Your Grace, I have.”
“We shall add care of the solar to your floral duties. Old Tim usually takes care of it. But he can work outdoors at this season.”
Another person to be put out by this arrangement, Celeste thought. She hoped Gran’ther Tim would understand. She knew that he looked forward to the afternoons spent in the solar where the warmth eased his aching joints. Perhaps she would be able to make some sort of arrangement with him so that she would not be, indeed, taking on the care of the solar in the afternoons. While the Duchess clearly felt the work to be negligible, Celeste knew that it was not.
“I will make your dresses, Your Grace. And I will speak with the cook about something that will rest easy on your stomach. Remember to gush about your lovely home. The ladies might not have even thought about how it must seem to you when they boast of pleasures you have missed.”
“I that is possible,” the Duchess said thoughtfully. “Well, I must go to my guests.”
After the Duchess left, Celeste began to clean up the broken glass. It was difficult the make sure all the tiny shards were picked up, so she lit a candle and moved it about so the bit would glitter in the light.
“Broken your mistress’s things and now trying to cover up?”
The voice so startled her that Celeste nearly dropped the candle. “Warner! What are you doing here?”
“Checking on you. Do you not think that I see what you are about?”
“I’m sorry. What do you mean?”
“You romance the Duke in the morning, then you cozy up to the Duchess. Looks like you are going to be able to feather your nest quite nicely.”
“I am taking care of the tasks I have been assigned. Unlike some people I know, I am aware of where I should be and when.”
“That isn’t what I hear.” Warner took a step closer, and spoke in a whiny falsetto, “‘Oh, Celeste is taking care of the arrangement in the Duke’s study. She should not be disturbed.’ Then not thirty minutes later, it’s ‘Oh, Celeste is taking care of Her Grace. She should not be disturbed.’ So what exactly are you doing, little Celeste?”
Celeste bristled. “I have done nothing that could not have been done in the village square in full view of everyone.”
“So say you. But I’ve seen how you look at the Duke. Did you think no one would notice?”
Celeste felt her cheeks grow hot. “I have nothing to be ashamed of, Warner. Nor do you have any room to criticize me. I’ve seen how you flirt with the other maids.”
Warner drew his eyebrows together and bared his teeth in something that might be called a smile, but didn’t look very friendly. “The Duchess has declared you off-limits for fun and games. But the moment she casts you off, and make no mistake she will, then you are mine.”
“And I have no say in this?”
“None at all whatsoever,little friend.”
“You have been spying on me!”
“I’m the Duke’s valet. I go where he goes. When he is scratching in that great record book of his, I relax in the library. It isn’t hard to keep out of sight in a room designed to give readers privacy.”
“I’m surprised that you have no other duties.”
