“Oh, I think this looks quite nice the way it is,” Nancy remarked.
“I thought so too, Your Grace.” The footman nodded, stepping forward and beckoning her to follow him. “And if we put some flowers here, it will really brighten up the whole area.”
Nancy hummed and stepped back, trying to imagine the suggestion he had just made, clapping her hands when she could picture the image he painted.
“I agree completely. Be sure to note that down, so we do not forget later on.”
The footman nodded and wrote in his little notebook then continued to show her around the ballroom, so she could see how her plans were already being executed.
The ball was only a few days away, so the staff had begun to prepare the ballroom for the event. And gradually, they had started to bring in the decorations and were setting them up, whilst constantly checking with Nancy to make sure it was all coming together the way she wanted.
It still felt strange, she realized far too late, how she had gone from the daughter of a kind and noble marquess, whose only desire was for his family to remain happy and healthy, to a duchess and part of one of the most prominent families in England.
Suddenly, there was more to her life than she had ever imagined there would be. And it was a testament to her upbringing that she had not caved and folded yet but had persisted, committed to doing the very best she could.
“Would you like us to pull back the drapes on that night, Your Grace?”
Nancy nodded. “It would be lovely if the guests could get a good view of the night sky as they dance.”
The footman nodded and gestured to a part of the ballroom they had not explored yet. “We are yet to receive the decorations that are meant to go here, but I believe they should arrive in the next half hour or so. Would you like to use that time to rest a bit, Your Grace? I could alert you when they’re here.”
Nancy had been on her feet during most of the morning, so she accepted the offer easily. “That sounds wonderful, thank you.”
The footman bowed as she turned away to leave the ballroom.
Initially, Nancy had planned to rest in a drawing room a few doors down the corridor from the ballroom, but by the time she arrived at that room, she discovered that she had not explored that side of the castle yet.
There was an ajar door on the other side of the hallway, and she went to it, peering inside. It seemed to be one of the castle’s libraries.
She thought a good book would be an ideal way to relax and pass the time.
Once she was inside, she realized that this library differed from the others in the castle as the shelves carried older volumes of books and special editions, their worn-out covers telling of how long they had been around. She continued to explore, impressed by the collection of classical literature pieces and even some booklets filled with poetry.
As she walked down an aisle, she noticed something from the corner of her eye and turned to investigate what it was.
It turned out to be a family portrait, the only one she had seen during her time at Wexford Castle. Richard stood with his brother behind his father, who wore a chillingly cold expression. While Richard’s expression was simply blank, William’s seemed to be the brightest as he sported a small smile.
Something about it haunted her, causing questions she had asked no one in particular about the Duke to resurface. She felt as though this portrait held some answers, but she had no clue how to obtain them.
“Ah, there you are, Your Grace…” Mrs. Silverstone trailed off as she came forward to stand beside the Duchess, following her gaze to see what she was looking at.
“As I told you before, His Grace has had quite a… tumultuous life since his birth,” the housekeeper said suddenly, her expression sad. “His mother passed away moments after he was born. She had a rather weak constitution, you see. And so, his father and brother were all he really had.”
“Yet his father…” Nancy’s voice trailed off as she remembered what the Duke’s father did to him.
“Unfortunately, one cannot really say his father loved him very much. The lord lacked warmth, patience, and tolerance. Still, with family… sometimes we would choose to suffer through the pain as long as we are not alone.”
Nancy focused on his father’s expression, taking note of the cruel lines on his face. “What happened to them? His father and his brother?” she asked quietly.
“His father died in a hunting accident. And his brother, the late duke, fell ill. He passed away last year, leaving His Grace all alone. His life might have not had a lot of warmth and love—without a mother and forced to endure life with a mean father—but he had William. Ah… His brother protected him as much as he could. He thought the world of him, even when no one else did. But he is gone now. That is why we had hoped that you would give him some solace, Your Grace.”
Richard’s story reminded her of the grief she had carried since her father’s passing and of how homesick she had felt, trying to navigate her new life without her family by her side. But at least she had been able to receive some comfort from them initially.
Her husband had not been so fortunate. He had no one to give him support when he became a duke. He faced heavy criticism and was hardly seen as anything more than a rake. Knowing all of that now filled her with immense sadness for him.
“He must have been quite lonely,” she mused quietly.
“At least he has you now.” Mrs. Silverstone sighed. “And we are all hoping that you both can comfort and support each other. Please do not hold his mistakes against him, Your Grace—he is much more than his reputation.”
