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The furniture was bright and reminded her of spring. There was cream fabric across the chairs and the curtains, with dark red accents on the cushions and the tassels that tied them in place.

Her mind turned to the plan she had concocted with Bridget and Katie. It would break her heart to change this room; she loved everything about it, but perhaps she could add a gaudy cushion or two that would not be to the Duke’s taste.

She continued toward the terrace, where a circular table had been placed outside, a white tablecloth covering it.

Stepping out onto the terrace, she enjoyed feeling the sun against her skin and went to sit down.

The Duke was already there, seated with his back to her, relaxed in his chair, looking down at his lands thoughtfully as she took her seat. He glanced up as she did so, his eyes running over her gown approvingly.

“You found your clothes, then,” he said, taking a large bite out of a piece of toast.

“I did. Thank you, they are quite beautiful.”

His eyes lingered on her face for a moment, and then he turned back to his food.

Alicia’s breath caught as she took in the view before her.

Her father’s country estate would always have a special place in her heart, but this was far larger and grander than she had ever seen.

And I am now the mistress of it all.

“What do you plan to do today?” the Duke asked eventually as she helped herself to some toast and marmalade.

It was very pleasant having breakfast outside.

“I will familiarize myself with the household. The housekeeper has offered to give me a tour of the manor, and I intend to take her up on it this afternoon.”

Alicia expected a response, but the Duke seemed to have stopped listening.

Buttering her toast with vexation, she noticed a bird sitting on a bramble just above the balustrade.

Recognizing it from her book, she hid a smile as a maid poured her some coffee. She threw out an arm wildly, startling the maid. Even the Duke jumped, which pleased her greatly.

She pointed a finger, ensuring it looked most unladylike.

“Look, Your Grace. A jay!” she shouted in exaggerated excitement. “I so love their plumage.”

The Duke turned in his seat, his shrewd eyes finding the bird almost instantly.

“And a beautiful specimen he is, too,” he replied. “I see him often around the glasshouse. He likes to eat the insects that burrow out of the lawn from time to time. Intelligent little thing, isn’t he?”

Alicia stared at him, her knife hanging limply in her hands.

Is that excitement on his face? At the sight of a bird?

He turned back to her, his expression shuttering again as though he had forgotten how he should behave.

“But there is all manner of wildlife around the estate,” he muttered dismissively.

“I so love birds,” she simpered, attempting to make herself sound as stupid as possible. “A robin can quite cheer one up on a dreary winter day, I tell you.”

But instead of disinterest, there was a spark of something else in the Duke’s gaze now.

He arched his eyebrows. “I did not know you were interested in ornithology, Duchess.”

Alicia found herself speechless at the warmth on his face. He was not smiling—she wondered if he even could—but there was a more friendly quality to his demeanor than she had yet seen.

“I… It is a new interest, I confess. But I am intrigued by them, nonetheless.”