“I will take it as it is,” he replied, prolonging the contact.
She nodded, and withdrew her hand, leaving him the cup. She then loaded two biscuits and a serving of custard on a plate, and handed it to him. “You should eat more, Your Grace. You are becoming far too thin.”
He could have shouted for joy, or wept in despair for the uncertainty of it all. But with David looking on, he simply replied, “Thank you, Miss Singer. I shall endeavor to keep up my strength.”
“See that you do,” she said crisply, returning to the household accounts.
When the tea, custard, and biscuits had been consumed, Jonathan sent David back to the kitchen with the tea things. As soon as the young man was out of sight, Jonathan said, “Celeste…”
“You need not say anything, Your Grace. I pledged to serve you in any way I could when you promised to send for my parents. But even without that, you would have captured my heart. If you were a shepherd, I would have no hesitation in following you and your flocks.”
“But since I am a duke?”
“Then I owe you fealty, and am yours to command inallthings. I trust you, Your Grace.”
And that put responsibility for whatever might come next squarely back with him. “Oh, neatly done, Miss Singer. Remind me not to give you the opportunity to read for law. But my regard remains.”
“As does mine for you, Your Grace.” Celeste boldly reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “You are under a great deal of strain just now. I find you to be both a handsome and an honorable man. I know that you will select a course that will ensure that all is well for everyone, including you and I.”
Jonathan turned his hand, and brought Celeste’s fingers to his lips. “I shall do my best to deserve your trust, Celeste.”
By the time David returned to his post, both Jonathan and Celeste were busy with the accounts. The only change discernable was that the tips of Jonathan’s ears were pink, and Celeste’s cheeks were unusually rosy.
Chapter 41
At daybreak, one of the under gardeners came to Gran’ther Tim with horrifying news.
“All of it?” the Gran’ther asked. “Every dram and crumb?”
“All of it, Sir,” the under gardener said. “Every root, dried leaf, potion and tincture from the poison cupboard.”
“Hoo did they gie in?” Gran’ther Tim asked. “That press was triple locked an' bolted tae th' fluir in th' orangery office.” His brogue was thick and nearly incomprehensible in his stress.
“They took an axe to the door, sir. What should I do?”
“Gae up tae th' castle an' tell Mr. Hammonds sae 'at he can alert th' Duke th' moment he is waukin'. I’ll gae o’er th' inventory list, an' send a copy up as suin as Ah can gie it copied oot.”
“Yes, Sir, Gran’ther Tim. I’ll do it at once.” The under gardener darted out the door, and set off for the castle at a run.
Gran’ther Tim pulled out the big ledger where accounts were kept of what was in the poison cabinet and hastily began to copy out a list of the things that were in it. Aconite, datura, foxglove, rue, so many ways the plant kingdom defended itself from animal and man. So many ways to heal or to kill.
Chapter 42
She checked her face again. It was so hard to holdhisattention lately, even though he was hers, body and soul, as they had vowed to each other. It wouldn’t do to disgust him by looking less than her best.
Was that a wrinkle at the corner of her eye? Her new abigail made her feel old. The chit was scarcely more than a girl. With her sleek blond braids and fresh face, she had half the castle mooning after her and the other half wishing they looked half so good. EvenHehad that look sometimes when the girl was near. ButHewas hers, and had been long before her father had insisted on this ridiculous alliance to a Duke who was little better than a country squire.
She remembered her so-called marriage night. Thank goodness Jonathan had not insisted on the country custom of bedding in front of witnesses. She would never forget the look on his face when she closed her bedroom door, almost on his nose. And thank goodness he was a true gentleman, because he had never claimed his marriage rights by force, as he could have legally done.
She had been such a naïve child when she gave in to her father’s demands, even though she knew it was wrong. Before her shadow man came into her life, it had been so hard to think, to keep herself together. But he had changed all that.
The tonics he brought to her made her feel so pleasant. So light, so airy, as if the world were made anew. She could think when she had them, and she could behave like a lady.
Not only that, whenhecame to her, he knew all the best ways to please a woman without stretching her belly into an ungainly shape with an unwanted child. He made this horrible place of stone, and bugs, and mice, and those horrible night birds bearable. They even helped keep out the sound of the wolves howling on the hills.
Margery shivered. She didn’t like the wolf howls. They were lonely and fierce all at the same time. She wanted to go to London, where all was gaiety and balls, with the best food and drink to go with the sweetness of the late morning hours. There, she could sleep all day and attend parties all night. For a little while, she could forget that she was married to a do-nothing little country squire, even if he did have the title “Duke.”
There came a tap on the door. She rose and opened it.Hewas there, the one she was waiting for. And he was carrying a beautiful little earthenware bottle. “I have something new for you,” He said, offering it to her.
