Warner sat in the servants’ dining room. He looked sullen and hungover. Celeste wondered where he had been last night when the Duke was tracking a frightened kitchen maid across the lake front and into the bog. Wherever it was, it was clear that the valet was already the worse for drink and was exceptionally hung over. What was the Duke doing for a valet this morning?
“What are you looking at?” Warner demanded. “Haven’t you ever seen a man the morning after a good time?”
“I’m sorry if I offended you, Warner,” Celeste said evenly. She loaded the tray onto the dumbwaiter, and tugged on the bell pull beside it to start it on its journey to the depths of the kitchen.
One of the bells above the door jangled. “Ah, the master calls and the dog must answer.”
Celeste stared after him.What was all that about?Whatever it was, it seemed clear that Warner was out of charity with the Duke.The Duke is so kind to everyone; I can’t imagine why Warner would be upset with him.
Celeste realized that she was probably running late for getting started on the household floral displays, and that Gran’ther Tim was no doubt waiting for her. She ran down the stairs to the kitchen at a far from decorous pace. Just as she rounded the last turn for the bottom landing, she ran right into a well-muscled chest.
The owner of the chest made a soft “umph” sound, and she found herself looking up into the Duke’s face.
“I am so sorry, Your Grace,” she stammered, trying to curtsy in the small space available in the stairwell.
The Duke was dressed in a rough overcoat, worn canvas workpants, and heavy chore boots. Clearly, he was not in his chambers above. So who had rung for Warner?
The Duke handed her gently down the last stair and asked politely, “Where is the fire?”
“Fire?”
“There must be one considering the way that you were pelting downstairs.”
“Oh, no, Your Grace, no fire. I am late for meeting with Gran’ther Tim. He must be waiting for me by now.”
“Then I will not stand in your way,” said the Duke of Gwyndonmere. “The decorations for my study and the rest of the house have never looked better. But do slow down lest you bowl over a lesser man, or perhaps a woman.”
Now on the sandstone blocks of the kitchen floor, Celeste gave the Duke a proper curtsy.I wish the stones would open up and swallow me, I am so embarrassed.“Thank you, Your Grace. I will slow down and be more careful, Your Grace.”
“See that you do.” He smiled at her, and added, “Even when there is a fire, orderly movement toward the goal is to be preferred. Oh, and one more thing, Miss Singer. You and Gran’ther Tim are to forage in the orangeries today. You are not to go nigh the Lolly Mire or Gwyndonmere Lake. Do I make myself clear?”
Celeste curtsied once more. “Yes, of course Your Grace. Did we do something wrong?”
“No, not at all. But I value your skill as an artist very much, Miss Singer. We have had two unfortunate accidents in the last month, and I’d prefer not to add you or Gran’ther Tim to the list.”
“Oh!” Celeste stood still and stared at the Duke for a moment. “I had not even thought of that. Thank you, Your Grace. I will try not to rob the Orangeries of too many of their blossoms.”
“Don’t worry about that. Just stay safe. I’ll have Mr. Hammonds send young David Hammonds and Miss McGuire to keep the two of you company and to help carry things. David is in trouble with Mr. Hammonds over something he said, and being your assistant for today might keep him out of more hot water.”
The Duke gave her a nod, and went on up the stairs. Celeste went on into the kitchen at a more sedate pace.
“Celeste!” Martha came bustling over. “Are you well? You look pale.”
Celeste said. “I ran into the Duke.”
“You ran into the Duke?”
“Just now. I was running down the stairs, because…well, because I thought I was late for meeting with Gran’ther Tim, and I ran right into the Duke. I am so embarrassed!”
“Embarrassed? Running? Over a meeting with Gran’ther Tim?”
“And, oh, Warner spoke to me in oddly.... But the Duke rang for him, and he went away.” Celeste stopped and caught her breath. “But it couldn’t have been the Duke because I just ran into him. This makes no sense at all.”
Martha looked thoughtful for a moment. “Perhaps the Duke rang from the stables. He does sometimes when he is in a hurry. I would not read too much into it.”
“He does? Then that must have been it. Warner certainly looked irritated to be called. I can’t imagine why he would be. The Duke is so easy to work for.”And a dream to look at, listen to and just to be near. He is such a handsome man, so well-spoken and courteous. I feel so foolish for running into him, but that chest was all muscle when I bumped into it. What would it be like to be held against that chest?
Martha smiled wryly. “He is for those who are interested in working. Warner has a way of slipping off when there is anything but taking care of the Duke’s needs to be done.”
