Mr. Hanes practically gasped in joy. “Your Grace! It is an honor—oh, no. We were only expecting His Grace, and we hadn’t prepared anything special?—”
“Oh, that is fine,” Nancy assured him with a smile. “I am merely here to accompany my husband and meet you, fine people. There is no need for anything out of the ordinary?—”
“That simply will not do, Your Grace! This is your first time in our town! We must be perfect hosts to ensure your comfort.” Mr. Hanes shook his head, looking around wildly.
“Do you like cakes, Your Grace? We have a tea shop just down this street, and they sell lovely cakes! They might not be as classy as the ones in London, but ours are certainly as tasty.”
Richard noticed how his wife’s eyes lit up at the mention of cake.
Somebody has a sweet tooth then, he thought.
Nancy sputtered, seemingly overwhelmed by the attention. “I do love cakes, but really, it is no trouble?—”
“The Duchess will have five of the finest cakes the tea shop has to offer,” Richard said. “Please have them put it in a basket to take with us when we leave.”
These were his tenants. Who was he to refuse their generosity?
“Excellent!” Mr. Hanes grinned, already beckoning an errand boy over. “Now, let us begin the tour.”
* * *
Richard’s tenants really were the sweetest people.
Some had looked at him skeptically at first, but as soon as it became evident that he meant well, their demeanors softened, and they began to view him and his intentions in a better light.
“I think some crop rotation will help fix the cultivation issue with the lands,” Richard explained to some farmers who had brought up the problem they had been facing with low yields that year.
“And when the fields are being left alone to replenish their nutrients and begin to grow weeds, they can serve as grazing areas for the livestock,” he added.
“An excellent idea, Your Grace. Thank you again for coming all the way from Wexford Castle to listen to our little problems,” a farmer said gratefully.
“Your problems are mine to solve. They are not little or to be dismissed as insignificant. Otherwise, I would serve no purpose. And I should have come much sooner. I had no idea things were this dire,” Richard responded.
“Not usually, Your Grace. The last few months, it seemed all our efforts were falling short, and we were running out of options. We really do appreciate your presence, but next time, it would be all right to send your steward as you usually do, Your Grace. We derived enough comfort knowing that he was delivering all our complaints to you, and you were sending possible solutions in turn,” Mr. Hanes said.
“Well, you can rest assured that I will be handling all matters that arise as efficiently as possible,” Richard promised.
His words were earnest and sincere, and in the two hours they had been in the town, he had managed to win over everyone he crossed paths with.
“They really are such wonderful people,” Nancy noted as they walked around the town after his meetings. “And you, Your Grace… You’ve been very generous with them.”
He blinked at her, his face taking on a surprise that saddened her a bit.
Had he never heard words of praise before?
“Yes, well… That is my duty,” Richard shrugged, staring off in the distance.
“Still, you did very well today.” She stopped walking and smiled when he stalled his steps as well.
His face was blank for a moment then he nodded with a crooked, awkward smile, which perplexed her even more.
The more time passed, the more confusing the Duke seemed to her. Because the man she saw today… She was proud of him. And she wanted to know him better.
The problem was…
Would the Duke allow that to happen at all?
ChapterTen
