“Then, we’ll need to sit down with the housekeeper and the cook later this morning to discuss the menu for tonight’s dinner, and the rest of the week. The maids go shopping on Mondays and Thursdays. Those are the market days, so you need to let Mrs. Farnsworth know if there’s anything special to get,” Mary explained, her tone brisk but gentle as she smoothed Sally’s hair into place. “And I’ve already taken the liberty of arranging for the florist to visit this afternoon so we can select the flowers for the drawing room.”
Sally nodded thoughtfully, her brow furrowed with concentration as she absorbed the information. The prospect of overseeing the household affairs was daunting, but she was determined to rise to the occasion, to prove herself worthy of the title she now bore. Her mother had done it with ease for years, but then her estate was smaller and she was familiar with all the servants.
“I understand,” she replied, her voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in her chest. “Thank you, Mary. I appreciate your guidance in all of this.”
Mary smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine affection. “Of course, Your Grace,” she said. “We’re all here to support you in any way we can. The staff is thrilled to have a Duchess again. Your presence brings a sense of joy and hope to the estate. It has been dreadfully sad here since her Grace died. And her husband, the late Duke of course.”
“I was saddened to hear they passed away in such close succession,” she said, remembering hearing the news of the Duke of Chester’s untimely death from a heart attack some three years ago. She hadn’t known Leonard then, having met him only shortly thereafter. She had met the Duchess, his mother, at a few functions but then she too had passed away suddenly. A riding accident, if she remembered correctly. Her heart swelled with compassion for Leonard when she thought of this. This whole time, she had not truly considered how difficult the last few years had been for Leonard. Perhaps the change in his personality and his odd distance were due to the losses of his beloved parents?
She resolved to be kinder to him and consider his lot whenever she felt herself growing impatient and angry with him.
“Well, all that is left are shoes,” Mary said cheerfully and Sally rose, though at once pain seared through her ankle. She bent down to wrap her hand around it which oddly seemed to help whenever such pain troubled her. “Your Grace, are you hurt?” Mary called with alarm and rushed other side.
“No, there is no need to be alarmed. I twisted my ankle in the library yesterday,’ she said, fibbing slightly as she didn’t want the whole household to know she’d attempted to sail off the steps directly into Leonard’s arms … “Some years ago I suffered an injury to my ankle and it has bothered me ever since.”
Mary nodded, and Sally was grateful she accepted her explanation without asking for details regarding the original injury. Sally looked down at her foot, her body stiffening as she remembered just how she’d come about the injury. She gulped down the lump that formed whenever she thought of it. That night had been the most terrifying of her life, so terrifying she’d never told a soul about it in detail. All anyone knew was that she had been running and tripped over a cobblestone sticking up, that was all. And that was all anyone needed to know. They didn’t need to know whom she’d been running from … Besides, she didn’t even really know herself…
A rumble from her stomach interrupted the silence and Mary grinned. “It seems Your Grace is ready for breakfast.”
Sally smiled and placed a hand on her stomach. It was true. She had not eaten since the night before and was accordingly famished. It was time to leave the past – both hers and Leonard’s behind – and focus on the future.
* * *
As Sally descended the grand staircase of the estate, her stomach moaned in anticipation of a hearty breakfast. However, as she entered the dining room, she was surprised to find it unoccupied and devoid of the usual breakfast spread she was used to from home. Confusion furrowed her brow until Mrs. Farnsworth, the head housekeeper, appeared with a warm smile.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” Mrs. Farnsworth greeted cheerfully. “I hope you slept well. Are you ready for breakfast?”
Sally blinked, looking once more at the empty table. “I am but if I am too early I will gladly wait.”
The housekeeper dipped her head to one side and then chuckled. “Oh, no we are quite ready. We have everything set up in the breakfast room. Please, follow me.”
Breakfast room. She had heard some noblemen had such a space, dedicated for one meal per day, but they did not have any such room at Everbright Manor. They had their meals as a family in the dining room at all times. On rare occasions, such as her mother’s ball, they would dine in the banquet room next to the ballroom. Having a dedicated breakfast room told her just how grand a place this was.
Sally followed Mrs. Farnsworth through a series of corridors until they reached a spacious breakfast room overlooking the lush garden. Windows adorned every side, allowing the morning light to flood the room with a warm, inviting glow. Sally’s eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight before her.
The table was laden with a dazzling array of breakfast delicacies, from freshly baked pastries to platters of fruit and steaming pots of tea and coffee. Sally couldn’t help but marvel at the sight, her mouthwatering at the tantalizing aromas that wafted through the air.
“I... I didn’t realize we had a separate breakfast room,” Sally admitted with awe.
Mrs. Farnsworth chuckled warmly. “Yes, it’s one of the estate’s hidden gems,” she explained. “We wanted to make sure you felt at home, Your Grace. Since we don’t yet know your preferences, we prepared a bit of everything.”
Sally felt a pang of guilt at the thought of potentially wasting so much food, but Mrs. Farnsworth quickly reassured her with a wink.
“Don’t worry, Your Grace,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “The Duke always ensures that any leftover food is given to the servants, and whatever remains after that goes to feed the hungry at the church. He’s quite adamant about it.”
Sally’s heart warmed at the mention of Leonard’s generosity. She remembered his dedicated work for the Our Lady of Mount Carmel orphanage, of which Kenneth and Joanna were patrons. It was to be renamed to honor Kenneth’s brother shortly and she recalled Leonard was meant to attend – as was she. She took a gulp of air, wondering if they would go there together. She knew he cared about the orphanage a lot, and she knew he cared about a great many other social subjects. Poverty, the elderly – she’d heard much about his actions in the House of Lords from both Kenneth and her father. Despite the strained nature of their relationship, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of fondness for the man, encouraged that he retained those desires.
She slipped into her seat and unfolded the silk napkin over her lap and then sat back. Perhaps once Leonard arrived she could ask him questions about his charitable work. It could be something they bonded over. Just because they were going to have a partial marriage that was never going to be real didn’t mean they could not at least be friends … perhaps one day they might find enough common ground to enjoy one another’s company. Indeed, she had enjoyed his company the previous day in the library. And if she wasn’t mistaken, so had he.
“Your Grace?” Mrs. Farnsworth asked from the corner where she’d stood at attention. “Is something the matter with your meal?”
Sally looked up. Her plate was still empty but that was by design. She cleared her throat.
“No, everything looks lovely. In fact, I am quite famished. However, I think it is polite to wait for my husband,” she said with a smile. At once, the housekeepers visage changed and she looked past sally, out of the window as if she could not bear to look at her directly. Then she took a deep breath.
“His Grace has already eaten. He had breakfast an hour ago but asked that you not be disturbed,’ she said and bit her lip, her discomfort obvious.
Sally’s heart sank at Mrs. Farnsworth’s words, a pang of disappointment washing over her like a cold wave. She had hoped to start the day with her husband, to share a meal together as husband and wife,. She’d even imagined they might build on their connection the previous day but Leonard’s absence shattered that fleeting dream.
