Page 27

The Duke’s visit the night before had been entirely unexpected. She had assumed he would avoid her after they had gone to bed. Instead, he had shown up at her door, his cravat loose, his coat gone, a tight waistcoat over his muscular torso.

Alicia was not too proud to admit that she had barely been able to take her eyes off him.

The man may be unfeeling and cold, but he is irritatingly handsome.

Shaking off the memory, she pulled on her robe and rang the bell, hoping that the servants in the manor rose as early as her father’s household.

Sure enough, Rose soon opened the door, beaming happily at her as she always did.

Alicia often found her maid’s enthusiasm and youthful exuberance tiring in the morning. But today, she welcomed it. Her own melancholy mood and feelings of uncertainty about what lay ahead were assuaged by Rose’s happy chatter.

As they moved through their morning ritual, Alicia found herself lost in the comfort of her old routine. She chose a simple cream muslin gown for the day, reassured by the familiarity of it. But as she laid it on her bed, she caught Rose’s look.

“What is it?” she asked.

Rose shook her head. “Nothing, Your Grace,” she said, backing away from her.

The title sounded strange to Alicia, who was used to a far less formal relationship with her maid.

Rose had always called herLady Alicia, and hearingYour Gracemade her anxiety spike.

“Rose, I would ask that you speak your mind as you have always done. I may be a duchess now, but I have not become someone else overnight.”

Rose immediately moved to a wardrobe on the other side of the room that Alicia had ignored until that moment. When she opened it, Alicia gasped, walking over to it and running her fingers over a multitude of fabrics within.

There was damask, brocade, velvet, and silks. The colors were vivid, vibrant, and far finer than anything she would usually wear in the day.

She glanced at Rose. “Where did these come from?”

“I believe they were made for you before the wedding, Your Grace,” Rose said simply. “The housekeeper informed me that they were ready last night.”

Alicia turned back to the gowns hung in neat rows inside the wardrobe. Feeling overwhelmed, she eyed them before turning back to Rose.

“Which would you prefer?” she asked.

Rose’s eyes lit up at the unusual question. She stepped forward almost hesitantly, and when Alicia nodded to her, she selecteda deep green and gold gown with beautiful beading all over the sleeves.

She raised her eyebrows, and Alicia nodded again, glad to have the choice taken out of her hands.

“The Duke has requested that you join him in the breakfast room,” Rose added as she took the gown to prepare it.

Alicia stood helplessly beside the wardrobe, unable to process all the changes that were happening in her life.

He wishes to eat with me, then. He no doubt hopes to assess my table manners.

Once dressed, she had to admit that the gown was beautiful. It was what she might have worn to a ball in the past, but with her new title, she now understood that a muslin gown would not do, even for day wear.

She sighed, running her fingers over the fine fabric.

I could get used to this aspect of my new life.

Nodding to Rose, she headed downstairs, realizing belatedly that she did not know where the breakfast room was.

She needn’t have worried, however, for a footman bowed to her as she stepped off the stairs and held out an arm to show her the way.

The white panel door ahead of her had touches of gold all over it and shimmered as she approached. The handles were enormous, almost the length of her forearm, and she looked in amazement around the room that was revealed to her.

The breakfast room was not overly large, but it was stunning in its simplicity. Wide doors took up most of the wall ahead, leading to the terrace. Sunshine poured inside, glancing off the accents of gold all over the room.