Mrs. Silverstone exhaled deeply and turned back to Nancy with an apologetic expression. “It might be a tad too much to ask this of you, but… please be patient with His Grace. He is doing his best, given the circumstances. I am sure that with time, you both will find happiness in this marriage.”
The older woman’s words reminded Nancy of what her mother had told her after the Duke had come to propose, and she accepted.
“Although our reasons for wanting this marriage are different, just do your best to take good care of him. The rest will naturally fall into place.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate that,” she replied with an air of honesty she did not know she had that day.
“It is my pleasure, Your Grace. Now, come, let us show you to your quarters,” Mrs. Silverstone urged, leading the way into the castle.
The interior was decorated with vibrant hues of blue, accentuated with strokes and trimmings of gold. Something about it gave it a cold air, despite the beautiful designs and expensive ornaments that spoke volumes about the wealth of the Wexford family.
The castle seemed more like a house on display and less like a lived-in home.
On the way to her quarters, Ernest pointed out several parts of the house, showing her the most important rooms. He gestured down the hallway that led to the library, showed her where the drawing room and sunrooms were, and mentioned that the Duke had a number of horses in case she wished to ride sometime.
He soon left her with Mrs. Silverstone, who took her to her assigned chambers. There was a young, bright-eyed girl waiting for her in her assigned quarters when she arrived.
The girl curtsied excitedly.“Your Grace, it is an honor to meet you and an even greater honor to serve you,” she said with a grin.
“This is Paula, your lady’s maid,” Mrs. Silverstone announced with a little laugh at the girl’s excitement.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Paula.”
“You should get some rest, Your Grace. Dinner is in about an hour, so you can freshen up whenever you are ready and then?—”
The girl’s lively spirits reminded Nancy of her younger sister, and she began to miss her family, speaking up to distract herself from the ache within her chest.
“Oh, I do not think I will require a meal before bed. I… I do not have any appetite, and I would much rather retire early. It was a long day,” she expressed hurriedly, desiring nothing more than to be left alone with her thoughts.
All this day had done was chip away at the fortitude she had tried to hold onto since her father’s passing, and every interaction she had had since she awoke that day had left her feeling weary.
She had done it. She had married the Duke and had achieved most of what she had set out to accomplish within the first few hours of their marriage. But the mess of what remained for them to sort through made her tired, and the lack of any good feelings between them made her heart crave the presence of her family.
“Of course, Your Grace. Are you sure you would not like something small and light to nibble on, though? We could fix a refreshment platter for you,” Mrs. Silverstone offered kindly.
“I am certain I am all right. I just wish to rest. Anything else can be dealt with tomorrow.”
Mrs. Silverstone nodded. “As you wish, Your Grace. Once again, it is truly wonderful to have you here with us.”
The housekeeper’s words were incredibly kind, and they managed to soothe Nancy’s frayed nerves enough for her to sincerely express her gratitude before the older woman took her leave.
Nancy exhaled and turned to Paula, who was staring at her expectantly with wide eyes, and she tugged at her wedding dress.
“Please help me get out of this dress.”
Paula moved quickly and efficiently, chattering happily about how she hoped Nancy would come to love Wexford Castle and all that it had to offer. Nancy listened for a bit then she asked a question that had been floating in her mind since the carriage ride earlier.
“Paula?”
“Yes, Your Grace?” the maid asked, her eyes wide with eagerness.
“The Duke… what is he like?”
Paula hesitated, seeming as though she wasn’t keen on speaking up about her master, scared that she might upset the Duchess.
Swiftly, Nancy eased all of the maid’s worries.
“Do not worry, I won’t be offended. Whatever you tell me cannot be worse than what I have heard in London.”
