As Leonard guided Sally’s attention towards his estate, Sally was momentarily speechless. The quaint Tudor-era dwelling nestled amidst lush greenery. Its intricate timber-framed façade invoked images of days gone by, with leaded windows adorned with colorful stained glass casting playful patterns of light onto the cobblestone path. She could almost see knights jostling in the courtyard, jesters telling tales and jokes, and the nobility indulging in a feast.
However, as they arrived at the grand estate that would now be her home, Sally’s thoughts turned to more pressing matters. Was she expected to greet the servants like Joanna did when she married Kenneth? She recalled Joanna telling her how exhilarating it had been to be introduced as the new Duchess to an entire household.
As the carriage came to a halt, she looked outside - though, to her disappointment, only an older housekeeper stood at the door, awaiting their arrival.
“Here we are, your new home,” Leonard said as he hopped out of the vehicle and proffered his hand to assist her out.
“This is Mrs. Farnsworth, my housekeeper.” he stopped and pulled his shoulders back, his hair shimmering in the sunshine. “Our housekeeper.”
Sally turned to the older woman, who stood half a head shorter than her but exuded warmth and joy as she curtsied.
“Your Grace,” she said, and Sally felt a thrill go through her at her new title. “What a pleasure to meet you.”
“And you, Mrs. Farnsworth,” she replied as the woman beamed at her.
“Is everything ready?” Leonard asked, and the woman, whose hair was still a brilliant auburn despite her age, nodded eagerly.
“Of course, the entire house has been prepared. Your Grace, if you need anything, please you need only ask. I have served in his house for forty years, and I can surely assist you with anything,” she said, but Leonard stiffened a little beside her. Why? The woman had said nothing out of the ordinary.
“Indeed, Mrs. Farnsworth knows this place better than I, and thus I am sure she will show you everything you need to know. Meanwhile, I must excuse ...”
Sally’s eyes grew wide. He was trying to pawn her off on the housekeeper instead of showing her their home. She knew this wasn’t real, but they had an arrangement, and this was not it.
Oh no. Not like this. I will brook no such treatment.
“Leonard,” she began firmly, “I thought you might take the time to show me yourself,” she dropped her voice a little as she added, “as we discussed.”
“Mrs. Farnsworth, would you excuse us?” He said and then took her gently by the elbow. Despite their strain, the sensation of his touch sent a jolt through her. Once they came to a stop, Leonard lowered his voice, his brow furrowing in consternation. “Sally, I have work to do. Mrs. Farnsworth is more than capable of showing you the estate.”
Undeterred, Sally pressed on, reminding him of his commitment to spend their first few weeks together. “I do not doubt her capabilities. However, you said you had to work this whole last week so you could take the time to spend our first few weeks together. That is why none of this was discussed properly between us. I would rather have arranged all of this, but you were unable to meet. Thus, we must make do with it right now.”
“I did have to work,” he protested, but she would not have it.
“You said we’d spend this honeymoon here; we’d be seen together so everyone would believe our story. Do you not think your housekeeper and your staff will find it odd if you do not at least show your wife around? Besides, you gave me your word. I won’t let you go back on your promise,” she asserted.
Her words struck a chord with Leonard, and she could see the flicker of hesitation in his eyes. With a sigh of resignation, he relented.
“Very well,” he said and turned to his housekeeper. “That will be all, Mrs. Farnsworth. I will show the Duchess the estate myself and you can meet with her regarding her preferences at another time.”
The woman curtsied again and then disappeared down the hall. A door opened with a creek and closed once more as she made her way back below the stairs.
Sally couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction at her assertiveness, and she admired the strength she found within herself to speak her mind. She would make this work, but in order to do so, she could not be timid. Leonard might think he was strong-minded - but he had nothing on her.
* * *
As Leonard led Sally through the labyrinthine halls of the Tudor estate, a palpable tension hung between them. Sally did her best to make polite conversation, wishing to somehow rediscover the young man she’d bantered within the library just a week ago.
That man, while a little too forward, had been good company, and he’d brought out both a playful and witty side in her. Alas, he’d been gone ever since this marriage had been thrust upon them.
“A lot of stairs,” she commented. “One will not need to worry about exercising with this man’s steps to scale each day.”
This earned a little smile, and he nodded. “True indeed. My mother used to climb the stairs up and down before each means in order to allow herself extra indulgences. She’d make her poor maid come along so she’d not be lonely,” he said with a small chuckle, though his eyes betrayed a deep longing for the woman of whom he spoke.
Eager to build on this small thawing, she motioned to the tapestries around them. “They are intricate. Your mother’s?”
“My grandfather’s. He brought them from Spain nearly eighty years ago. I used to sit here and make up stories about them,” he said with a smile. Sally was about to follow by asking what sort of stories he’d make up when her eyes fell on the library they were just passing.
Rows upon rows of leather-bound volumes lined the shelves. “Can we stop here?”
