They stepped into a land of wonder. Long tables held row after row of blossoms in every tint and shade, from tiny white bell-shaped flowers to a crimson cabbage rose that was so dark that the petals were nearly black. “These’uns are at ther prime, and won’t be near so purty next week. You can use anything in here you want.”
Celeste headed for a bed of ivory lilies. She already had a good idea what she would use for the Duke’s study.I might not be able to solve the mysterious incidents or get the Duchess to be a nicer wife, but I can make a beautiful arrangement with his favorite flowers.
Chapter 22
Jonathan shook his head in amusement as he climbed the stairs from the kitchen. Surely Miss Singer could not have been in that big of a hurry to meet with Gran’ther Tim! Could it have been that she was that eager to meet with young David Hammonds? No, that could not have been it. She had not known that the young man would be accompanying them because it was a last-minute decision. Mr. Hammonds was exceedingly upset with his grandson over a flippant remark about one of the housemaids.
In view of recent events, Jonathan could scarcely blame the butler for his outrage. It was no time for careless remarks that could be misconstrued by investigators, even though it was likely to be at least six or seven days before the men he had sent for the constable could return.
Still, it could not have been David who had her all of a twitter. He felt a strange sense of relief that the young man could not have been the cause of her precipitous flight down the stairs.Whatever did we do for amusement before she came?
Miss Singer’s body had been slender and lithe against him in the brief moment when she had bounced off his chest. How prettily she had colored up with embarrassment, yet she had maintained her decorum.For a fleeting minute I wanted to hold her, to make sure that she was all right. What is wrong with me? I am married, however unhappily, and even if I were not, we are worlds apart.Even such a moment begun in all innocence would be wrong. It would be like owning a masterpiece painting and covering it up with your own work.
Jonathan shook his head to clear it and went on up to his rooms to change into something more presentable than the clothing he wore to work with the horses in the stable. Warner was waiting for him with his fresh clothing laid out. The dun colored trousers were unremarkable, as was the linen shirt. The ensemble would be completed with a dark brown jacket.
“None of your fancy neckcloth tying today, Warner,” Jonathan directed. “I’m a plain country gentleman today, dealing with matters having to do with the estate, not some fanciful dandy.”
“I understand, Your Grace,” Warner commiserated. “What a sad state of affairs. Have you any idea as to the culprit?”
“None at all. We’ve never had this sort of problem before, so I don’t think it is anyone who lives here or has worked at the estate for very long.”
Warner quickly brushed and fastened Jonathan’s hair at the nape of his neck with a dark brown ribbon. He then helped the Duke ease into his coat. Although it was not as tight as some of the worn by more fashionable men, the cut was good and Jonathan needed no padding to fill out the shoulders nicely.
“There you are, Your Grace. Every inch the country gentleman, quite respectable.”
“Thank you, Warner. Respectable is what I shall need this morning. I am meeting first with the men on staff, except for Gran’ther Tim and young David, who are escorting the gathering party for the household floral arrangements. Then I will meet with Constable McHenry from the village and the village council. We must get to the bottom of this before anything further can happen to anyone.”
“Oh, I quite agree, Your Grace. With so many young ladies on the staff, you could scarcely do otherwise. Why, if this goes on, the household would become completely disrupted.”
“An interesting point of view, Warner. And while I am thinking about it, would you please step back a little from your flirting with the maids? It has gone a bit beyond pleasing, and I have received several complaints. We are a decent, Christian household, even if our villagers do still dance the maypole and put out milk for the fairies.”
“Quaint customs, to be sure, Your Grace. I will have a care to be more discreet, but I can assure you that all of my amours are willing.”
“There’s willing, and then there’s willing,” Jonathan said. “Do not lead the young ladies on the staff astray. I’ll not take kindly to it. More than that, this is not a time when you should wish to draw attention to yourself as a lady’s man.”
“I’ll keep it in mind, Your Grace.” Warner bowed slightly. “Will you have further need of me?”
“It is unlikely that I shall, but stay where you can hear the bells. You have been remarkably laggard in your responses of late.”
“I’ll be sure to be on hand, Your Grace.”
“See that you are.”
Jonathan stalked out of his rooms, fuming. The encounter set him on edge. The man was not a comfortable person to be near. Sometimes Jonathan longed for amiable old Edward Smith, the valet he inherited from his father. But Smith and Margery had been at loggerheads from the moment she set foot in the house. For the sake of a little peace, he had pensioned old Smith off when he asked to be let go.
Jonathan saw his old valet now and again. The venerable fellow lived in a little cottage near the mill, just at the bottom of the green. He kept a little garden, and seemed content. For a moment Jonathan wondered what it would be like to live with so few responsibilities.It must be pleasant to have only your own little plot to tend, to sit in the sun on warm days and tell stories to the village children. Especially if you could sit there with a person as delightful as Miss Singer, having grown old in her company, relying on her good sense and support.
Well, each to their own last, as his late father used to say. Jonathan squared his shoulders, shook off the daydream, and entered the main hall.
The masculine members of the staff were seated in rows. No doubt this was the handiwork of Mr. Hammonds, who would know down to the last pin the right way to go about setting up a meeting. Indeed, the gentlemanly butler stood at the back of the hall, surveying the young men sitting before him.
“His Grace, the Duke of Gwyndonmere!” Mr. Hammonds announced in his sonorous, perfectly modulated voice.
There was a bit of shuffling as the staff members rose, then sat back down when Jonathan sat in the big oak chair on the slightly raised dais at the front of the room.
“As you have probably heard, we have had a death and a young woman pursued and frightened by someone or something. There is no solid evidence as to the person responsible for these deeds, but I am going to ask all of you to be extra respectful of the female staff members and to do your part in helping prevent any further incidents.
“We will be cooperating with Constable McHenry from the village, and I have sent to Edinburgh for a specialist to assist him. We are not prepared for crime on this level, nor shall it be tolerated. Rest assured that when the culprit is found, he shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
