Esther, who was in the midst of sweeping away the dust and ash, turned and nodded. “He did, Miss. Rode through the snow himself to deliver the message, but Yvonne—that’s the healer—was already out helping a laboring lass.”
“And wasn’t I surprised to hear that,” Kate interjected, giving a low whistle. “I can’t recall the last time His Grace went beyond the orchards, but Yvonne’s cottage is all the way on the western border of the grounds. Miles, it is. Why, go much further and you’d be in town. Must be ten years since he went so far.”
“Ten years?” Valerie said with a soft gasp.
She was thrilled to discover that the housekeeper was the chatty kind but bewildered by the fact that the duke had gone to the trouble of riding through the snow for her.Morebewildered bythe information that he had, in essence, been a recluse for a decade.
She could not imagine a life spent willingly cooped up, regardless of whether or not that coop was the size of a castle.
“Oh yes,” Kate replied, as she took the poker and stabbed it around in the blaze. “He keeps himself to himself. He never leaves, and no one dares to visit, not even his tenants. There are stories about him, you see, but I’ve never seen a bit of stinginess or cruelty from him; he just… keeps himself to himself, as I said.”
Esther nodded. “We don’t see much of him. Mama and Mr. Jarvis probably see him the most.”
“Has it always been like that?” Valerie prodded, curious to learn more about her unfriendly, unfairly handsome host. “Why, even at Gramfield, where I am from, my father would occasionally arrange a party or a dinner. And he hates such things.”
Kate paused what she was doing, a wistful expression falling across her face. “Oh no, Miss Wightman. It wasn’t always like that at all. At this time of year, the late Duchesslovedto host parties and gatherings and festive soirées. All the way up until Christmas, there would be some occasion or other every week, and, my goodness, no one could resist one of her parties.”
“I never got to attend one,” Esther lamented, adjusting her lace cap.
“You did,” Kate protested. “When you were three, you danced around the Great Hall like a wild thing and drank so much blackberry cordial that you made quite the mess of Mr. Jarvis’ shoes. You had holly in your hair, and the late Duchess picked you up and danced with you in her arms; I shall never forget it.”
Valerie cleared her throat. “Forgive me—the late Duchess used to host parties for the servants?”
Her mother had often made that same suggestion to her father, insisting that it would be a delightful thing to invite the staff and tenants to a party in their honor. Her father had sneered at the notion, asking if her mother meant to make a laughingstock of him, that they would invite peasants to enjoy a gathering at his expense.
“For everyone, Miss Wightman,” Kate replied with a smile. “She would decorate the castle for the season, and arrange events for the servants, the tenants, and every village and town in the dukedom. There are only three, but still—everyone used to look forward to those events, especially at Christmas.”
Turning her gaze toward the softly falling snow, Valerie sighed. “I imagine it was rather magical.”
“It was, Miss,” Kate replied. “Now, the only person who visits at this time of year is the Duke of Delamere.”
“And you, Miss Wightman,” Esther added with a grin.
The girl’s mother chuckled. “Yes, I suppose that’s right. The more, the merrier, I say—but then I am not the duke of this household.”
“Delamere?” Valerie frowned, the name somewhat familiar to her.
“His Grace’s friend,” Kate explained. “The only one he has left, I daresay.”
Had the duke mentioned this friend last night? Was that why the name sounded so familiar? Valerie chewed her lip in consternation, then shrugged off the feeling; the Duke of Delamere was likely someone she had met in passing during the Season, or a name she had overheard someone else whispering about.
“Mrs. Mullens,” she said, a little thrill of excitement sparking, “I do not suppose you would escort me on a tour of this castle, would you? And, perhaps, that tour might include a short wander outside. I am simplydesperateto walk in that fresh snow.”
The housekeeper dusted off her hands, her expression brightening. “I would be delighted, Miss Wightman.” She paused, squinting at Valerie. “But first, let’s see if we can’t find you some warmer clothes.”
Valerie breathed into her gloved hands and tilted her head upward, sticking out her tongue to try and catch a falling snowflake. The air was crisp, the moody skies making her yearn for hot tea by a roaring fireside, the snowy gardens so beautiful that she could have wept, if the tears would not have frozen to her cheeks.
And to think that all of this looked so eerie in the darkness.
Not that she had seen this part of the castle last night.
After touring most of the castle, where Valerie had admired the history of endless rooms that, in truth, all looked the same, Kate and Esther had left her to wander the private gardens alone. They had duties to attend to and, feeling a little guilty at distracting them, Valerie had insisted that she would be quite all right by herself.
“I don’t know if it would be appropriate,”Kate had tried to protest, though Valerie could see that the older woman was anxious to continue with her usual responsibilities.
“I shall be quite well, and I stand no chance of disturbing His Grace out here,”Valerie had replied in earnest.“You said it yourself; he rarely leaves the castle, so we cannot possibly cross paths outside.”
It had been enough to satisfy the housekeeper and her daughter, and the peace was more than satisfactory for Valerie. Attired in the warm, fur-lined cloak that Kate had found for her, she could have stayed out there in the wintry gardens all day.
