After all, Mrs. Farnsworth had admitted she didn’t know his mother initially. How could she say anything about his father?
As he sat down in the chair by the window, Leonard couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing. He longed for his mother’s love and guidance, but she was gone. He was left to navigate life on his own, with only her diary as a guide.
The sound of the clock ticking grew louder, a constant reminder of the time that was slipping away. Leonard took a deep breath and opened his mother’s diary again, determined to find the answers he was searching for.
CHAPTER24
Sally
Sally rose after two long days in bed. Outside, the sky was tinged in orange and purple, and for a moment, she wasn't sure if it was morning or evening. However, when she saw a sparrow on her windowsill, pecking away at the bird food she'd seen Leonard place there the previous morning, she knew it was early still.
Sally turned, her back aching from lying down for so long. She pushed herself up, amazed she could breathe through her nose with ease. The pain in her throat was gone, and the fever hadn't returned.
Gingerly, she turned and placed her feet on the ground, stretching her toes as she went. Then, she got up, glad the dizziness that had caught hold of her was also no longer a constant companion. She slipped on her morning coat and made her way to the door. Sally shivered as she stepped out into the dimly lit hallway. The candles had long been extinguished, leaving a light scent of beeswax in the air.
This mingled with the scent of fresh bread baking in the kitchen two floors below. Her stomach growled, and she looked forward to eating something other than oats and broth, which was all she'd managed to swallow over the last few days. Mrs. Farnsworth hadn’t been pleased when she learned she’d eaten hot cross buns, deeming them unhealthy for someone recovering from a cold. Thus, Sally had followed her instruction – relayed to her by the physician.
The floorboards creaked underneath her feet, and she enjoyed the sensation of being on her feet on solid ground after lying down for so long. Near the landing, she heard a squeaking sound and stopped. Eyes narrowed, she spotted a door slightly ajar nearby.
What was this door? She hadn't noticed it before, as it blended into the hall with its ornate carvings. Where did it lead?
She stopped and peered inside, realizing it was a closet. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw trunks and dresses wrapped up in cloth. A strong scent of lavender accompanied the dresses. A gown shimmered to her right, only partially covered by its wrapping. She was about to touch it when Mrs. Farnsworth's voice interrupted her.
“Your Grace, you are up,” she said, and Sally turned. “How do you feel?”
“Much better. I was about to go down to see if I could get some hot chocolate and something to eat when I came upon this closet. What is it?” She looked back into the closet, and Mrs. Farnsworth joined her side.
“These used to belong to Her Grace, the Late Duchess of Chester.”
Sally's hand dropped, and she turned to Mrs. Farnsworth, her curiosity piqued. “Why are they in here?” she asked. It seemed like an odd place to keep things. She remembered when her grandparents passed away; her parents had given most everything away, aside from sentimental items that had been passed on to the family members. Her grandmother's best gowns hung in her mother's armoire, and at times, she wore them.
Granted, Leonard had no sisters, but still, why keep things here, hidden away?
Mrs. Farnsworth sighed. “They were not always here. They were in her chamber before. Your chamber. Your husband had all of his mother's things moved in here and to another storage area off the grounds when he announced your marriage. He wanted you to have your own space.” She glanced at the dresses and shoes within. “I suppose these are the things he held most dear and didn't want to part with just yet. These were Her Grace's favorite gowns, after all. Her books and her shawls are here as well.”
Sally nodded, but a sense of unease washed over her. “Did he keep his mother’s chamber as it was when she died until then?” Sally asked. “Until I arrived, I mean.”
Mrs. Farnsworth shook her head. “No, my dear. He had a few things given away, like old clothing. He moved some books to the library, but all of Her Grace’s personal effects remained in there. Her furnishings as well. He would sometimes go inside and sit there. It was quite sad.”
Sally listened intently, feeling sad for Leonard, and understanding how much he must have missed his mother. Then she frowned and dipped her head to one side.
“What about his father? Did he keep his things in his chamber also?”
Mrs. Farnsworth’s visage darkened, and she said, “It was quite different, my dear. Well, not in the beginning. In the early days after the old Duke died, His Grace would often go to his chamber and sit there, just as he did with his mother. But after his mother also died, he had everything in his father’s chambers removed and the space scrubbed from top to bottom. Then he moved himself inside.”
Sally was taken aback by the stark contrast in the way Leonard treated his parents passing. “Where are the old Duke’s belongings now?” she asked.
“They were all donated, my dear, aside from a few personal books and things related to the property,” Mrs. Farnsworth replied.
Sally couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness and unease at the thought of Leonard’s father being so easily forgotten.
“Why? It seems odd that his mother’s belongings are still here but his father’s discarded.”
“I do not question His Grace’s choices, Your Grace,” Mrs. Farnsworth said, and Sally noticed how reluctant she was to talk about the late Duke’s death. She’d been reluctant to talk about him before, hadn’t she? This time, Sally was determined to get at least some answer. “Can you tell me more about the day the old Duke died? It was sudden, wasn’t it?” she asked, not sure why she had asked the question. Perhaps the circumstances of the Duke’s death could shed light on Leonard’s behavior.
Mrs. Farnsworth hesitated for a moment as if trying to decide whether to speak. Finally, she let out a deep sigh and said, “It was a sad day, my dear. His Grace was found slumped over his desk in his study as if he had died suddenly while working.”
Sally listened intently, sensing that there was more to the story. “It must have upset his family, I imagine?” she asked.
