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Sarah gestured to the people who were meandering around their conversation, pretending not to listen.

“Mr. Crowfelt, I am no businesswoman, but everyone here looks well fed and not sickly so am I right to ascertain your handling of your products is above board and well maintained.”

Mr. Crowfelt’s expression turned steely. “I serve nothing but the best, Your Grace. I make sure everything is of the finest quality we can afford. We have the best livestock around. I think if you talk to anyone on this street they’d say the same thing regarding their goods.”

Sarah nodded. “Good. I do intend to talk to everyone. For some reason the Duke has decided to leave his people behind and that does not sit well with me, Mr. Crowfelt.”

Sarah swore she could hear William’s physical cringe but she ignored him.

Finally the man dropped his hardened expression and cracked a smile.

“I can honestly speak for all the merchants within this duchy that your words are welcome balm. We would love to serve our Duke, if he would let us.”

Sarah frowned. “He’ll let you, I will make sure of it.”

She finally put William out of his personal misery and bid farewell to the butcher to crossed the street back to her carriage.

“I take it we’re not going back to the estate, Your Grace.” William, God bless him, looked hopeful but Sarah had more important things to see to other than playing by her husband’s rules.

“Sorry, William. I feel there are many other merchants I must speak with. It is time for someone to teach His Grace that there is someone new with power and she intends to use it for good.”

CHAPTER 11

“She went where?” Charles slammed the tumbler down on his desk.

Samuels stood in the doorway with his hands behind his back. “William accompanied her to the town, Your Grace.”

Charles leaned over his desk. It was all he could do to keep himself from charging over to Samuels and ringing his neck for no reason other than he was the bringer of bad news.

“And who let her go into town?” He was seething. The thought of his wife congregating with those people made his blood boil.

Samuels blinked a few times and cleared his throat. “No one, Your Grace. She is the Duchess, I didn’t think she needed anyone’s permission to go.”

“Are you talking back to me, Samuels?” Charles knew his line of attack was uncalled for. He knew Samuels wasn’t to blame for his wife’s actions. But since she wasn’t here, and unfortunately for Samuels was, he was going to get Charles’s wrath.

Samuels audibly swallowed. “No, Your Grace. I’m only saying that-”

Charles’s hand slashed through the air cutting his butler off.

“No. You’re not to blame for this. You know how I feel about those people.”

Charles straightened his posture and adjusted his cravat before running his hands through his hair. “Is she back?”

The sound of hooves hitting the dirt out front drifted in from the outside. Charles’s eyes darted to Samuels.

“That must be them now, Your Grace.” Samuels offered.

Samuels barely had enough time to move out of the way as Charles barreled past him.

Charles pushed out of the main door just in time to see his wife being helped out of the carriage by a young footman.

“Thank you, William.” She smiled at him demurely and, by God, was the boy blushing? “Will you see that my packages make it up to my room, please?”

“What is the meaning of this?” Charles bellowed from the stoop.

The look of surprise only lasted a moment before Sarah’s face turned icy. “Ah, husband. So good to see you today. I missed you at breakfast.”

Charles ignored her jab. “I asked you a question, Sarah.” He growled.