She had confidence in His Grace, and in his ability to overcome the tribulations that marred the harmony of the little valley. She would do her best to carry out her part, keeping the greenery in the castle refreshed and serving the Duchess as best she could, just as she had promised the Duke.
The footman on duty in the hall held the heavy door to the Duchess’s chambers open for her as she sidled carefully through it, carrying the heavy tea tray.
The cook had done his best to create a tempting breakfast for the Duchess. The tray held a half melon from the orangery, a dish of curds, soft buns, lightly toasted on the inside, and a large pot of India tea. Celeste settled it carefully on the bedside table, and began to prepare the Duchess’s cup of tea.
“How was the orangery?” the Duchess asked.
“Beautiful, Your Grace,” Celeste answered, a little startled. “There are so many lovely blossoms and fruits. Your melon came from there. It is one of the first of the season. And the dairy maid has sent up fresh curds, just for you.”
“Oh. Curds.” the Duchess turned her eyes toward the window, then looked back at Celeste. “They are fresh?”
“Quite fresh, Your Grace. And there is a little clotted cream to go on them, if you would like. The sweet cream for your tea is from the morning’s skimming. There are strawberries, as well, if you would prefer them to the melon. Or you can have both.”
“Tuck the curds in the top of the melon, and top them with strawberry slices. They are quite delicious that way.”
Celeste took the Duchess’s word for it since indulging in the luxury of both strawberries and melon was far out of her personal experience. It was enough to make her morning brighter when the Duchess sipped her tea and then bit into a piece of toasted bread with evident pleasure.
“This is quite good,” the Duchess remarked. “You have very odd ideas about what gowns should be worn, and your hair-styles are naïve to say the least, but you do have a way with the creature comforts. Perhaps when our resources have recovered a bit, I shall ask the Duke to hire a hairdresser. Yes, I believe that would serve very well. Where is the Duke this morning, by the way?”
“I could not say for certain, Your Grace, but I believe he is in his study. With all of the unusual events, the word below stairs is that he is going over accounts, and then plans to look about for any more information that might be had about the miscreant.”
“Oh, of course. Always so conscientious, is my husband. One might almost imagine him as some sort of feudal lord, tucked away up here in the hills.”
“The villagers admire him very much, Your Grace. You are a very lucky woman to have such a worthy man as a husband.”
“Worthy. Pah. He isn’t even going to Parliament this Season, but is sending a proxy. Were I in his place, I would certainly set someone’s ears to ringing over the sorry state of affairs here and abroad.”
“What would you say to them, Your Grace?”
“Why, I should remind them that we need security here so close to the Channel. Who knows what riffraff might be making their way across from France with all the unrest? I’d remind them that we should have a say in the laws that are passed, that we are not nonentities, even if our holding is distant from the capital.”
“I am sure Your Grace would set them straight,” Celeste commented with an absolutely straight face, mentally thanking her stars that Christopher Hammonds was being groomed to represent the Duke. Gwyndonmere was three day’s ride from Edinburgh, which was the closest seaport.We are very far away from an invasion by sea.Does she not even pay attention to the distances traveled when they go to court?
Mr. McAhmladhson had commented that young Mr. Hammonds was coming along nicely, and might well be his successor as steward since there were no McAhmladhson heirs to take up the position when he retired.
“I want to go riding today, Celeste. I would like my blue riding habit, if you please.”
“Of course, your Grace. I will lay it out while you finish your tea. Would you like to freshen up before putting it on?”
Her Grace would certainly like to freshen up. In fact, she wanted a bath. Celeste immediately rang for the young footman who was in charge of running errands, even though she was fairly certain that the Duchess was going wash herself completely away with all the baths she took.
“Yer in luck, Miss Singer,” he told her. “The laundry water is just now hot, and I’ll bring up some o’ that. Old Nell, I mean Mrs. Possinger, will nigh flay the skin off me with her tongue lashing, but seein’ as it is the Duchess as wants the water, there’ll be naught she can do about it.”
“Please refill her kettle, if you would. This will delay the household washing, but it can’t be helped.”
“What are you clattering about, Celeste?” the Duchess demanded.
“Just talking with the boy about the hot water, Your Grace. It will be up shortly.”
“I should hope so. Now, do see to my riding habit. It must not be crushed or mussed.”
Celeste forbore asking why the habit must be in pristine condition. The Duchess usually rode alone, with only her groom to bear her company as she rode around on the bridle paths. It was doubtful that the heather or the rabbits would care. Even if Her Grace should happen to meet a shepherd or farmer, it was unlikely that they would be cognizant of the condition of the Duchess’s habit.But perhaps she is meeting the man she met by the willow tree. I guess if you are meeting a secret lover, you want to look your best. But why would she want another man? The Duke is certainly handsome. The duchy is a beautiful place to live, even though it probably wasn’t as busy as London.
By the time the Duchess had finished her tea, the footman and three of his fellows had filled the swan bath. Celeste draped the sheet over the wooden sides to protect the Duchess from splinters, then quickly helped her into her bathing shift. She then helped her to bathe, then assisted her with the foundation garments before dressing her hair in a stylish mode that would accommodate the hat that went with the riding habit.
Once the Duchess’s beautiful auburn tresses were done up in high style, Celeste assisted her with getting into the riding habit and finally settled the matching hat onto her head.
Celeste saw the Duchess off in the company of one of the footmen. Two other footmen scooped the used bath water into pails and carried it back downstairs. Celeste cleaned up the chamber and took the laundry down to the washroom. She was heartily glad to give the basket of laundry into the hands of the Duchess’s dedicated laundress, and to snatch a few minutes to have a cup of tea and a bit of bread and butter.
