Page 17 of A Duchess to Unravel (The Devil’s Masquerade #3)

“No thank you, Mrs. Mackenzie,” Theo said, finally drawing her eyes away from the stairs.

Mrs. Mackenzie, a kind-looking middle-aged woman with mousy brown hair under her bonnet and bright blue eyes, looked at her with surprise.

“Surely after ye journey ye need a rest, Your Grace,” she insisted. “And perhaps something to eat?”

Steaphan stepped out of line then, appearing ready to accept any request she made.

“No, thank you,” she said to Steaphan, then turned back to Mrs. Mackenzie.

“Strangely I am abuzz with excitement,” Theo replied, forcing a bright smile. More like madness.

Theo was tired, she could feel the weariness in not just her bones but her head. But she could not rest now. Not with all of the work before her.

“I thought perhaps you and I could walk around this monstrosity and make some notes for future improvement,” she suggested, “then afterward you could dole the tasks to the appropriate staff members until I have the ability to hire more.”

A look of apprehension crossed Mrs. Mackenzie’s face, but she took out a small notebook from her dress pocket and a stick of charcoal.

“I would be happy to make your list, Your Grace, but I must warn ye, His Grace prefers his privacy. I dinnae think he will be keen on hiring more help.”

“Well, I am not keen on impossible tasks,” Theo quipped, “However, I shall take your warning under advisement and will put off any new hiring until we gain a full understanding of what work needs to be done.”

“Very good, Your Grace,” Mrs. Mackenzie replied, curtseying yet again. “If ye will follow me, I think it is best we start in the kitchens.”

Fueled by a mixture of rather explosive-feeling emotions, Theo spent the next several hours being led from one vast room to the next.

There was much to be done, no doubt. The upkeep of the castle in its unoccupied century had been sparse.

Even her untrained eyes were able to spot the vast amount of masonry work that needed to be done.

Along with that, the lighting needed to be updated, the decrepit furnishings and tapestries needed to be replaced, the millions of stones that made up the castle needed scrubbed free of their mildew, and there were several signs of water issues from the roof when they made it to the top floor.

It was dark and dirty and crumbling. However, with Theo’s imagination, she saw the potential of what the castle could be.

With strategically placed mirrors the rooms could be filled with sunlight.

Richly colored rugs and tapestries could bring life to the dull darkness of the stones.

And proper lamps and the cleaning of the many and vast hearths could bring warmth.

In addition, the molded books in the library would need to be discarded and new volumes brought in. She had her own collection, of course, but it would barely take up half of one of the many rows of shelves that lined the expansive room from floor to ceiling.

“When did you arrive here, Mrs. Mackenzie?” Theo asked.

After filling the housekeeper’s notebook and searching every room, Theo had invited the woman to a cup of tea. It was getting late, and she would not keep her long, but Theo’s curiosity about her new husband had grown with every room they had explored.

Mrs. Mackenzie had led Theo to her quarters, which to her surprise were by far the cleanest and most updated parts of the castle.

The duchess quarters consisted of five rooms. A sitting room, a changing room and clothing closet, a writing room, a bathing room, and a bedroom.

The decor was sparse, but the fireplace and walls were clean, fresh candles placed in her chandeliers, and new furniture and linens had been brought in.

“His Grace sent my husband and me here just four days ago, my lady,” Mrs. Mackenzie replied, pouring their tea.

“Though the rest of the staff was sent on a week earlier, save for the cook. We were told to ensure your rooms were ready first and foremost, which is why we have not been able to attend to the rest of the castle yet.”

Theo’s brows drew up in surprise as she accepted the cup of tea, surprised that Alistair would take such care in regard to her.

Not sure what to say about it, she pressed her palms into it for warmth and thought of her next question.

Though it was summer, the stone walls kept the castle cooler than she normally liked.

“When did he choose to take up residence in this place?” She asked next.

“Och, not long ago at all,” Mrs. Mackenzie replied, “We’ve all only been in England less than a month.”

“Yes,” Theo mused, then sipped at her tea. “I did notice you all spoke with a similar brogue. Did you all come from Scotland with His Grace?”

“We did,” Mrs. Mackenzie agreed, a note of pride in her voice. “Mr. Mackenzie and I have been with his family for nearly twenty years now.”

“And his family,” Theo gently urged, “They were prominent there?”

“Prominent and wealthy,” Mrs. Mackenzie agreed. “The late Lord was a master of the coin. Could turn a penny into a brick of gold, he could. His Grace inherited the trait and their family became the envy of every Laird in Scotland.”

Theo rose a brow in intrigue.

“How so?” She asked.

“The Lairds and Ladies in Glasgow made their wealth within the city,” Mrs. Mackenzie explained, “But His Lordship expanded beyond that. Edinburgh, Dundee, Stirling.”

Theo was silent a moment, mulling over all of the new information.

Alistair was arrogant and had an annoying sense of superiority, but now she was starting to understand why.

He hadn’t just built businesses. He’d built an empire.

And he and his father had done so without any help from their family in London. Theo had to admit she was impressed.

“Thank you for the conversation, Mrs. Mackenzie,” Theo said, putting down her tea. “And for your assistance earlier. I believe we should both retire now. We are going to be very busy these upcoming days.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” Mrs. Mackenzie replied politely. She picked up the tray and curtseyed.

“And thank you for inviting me to a cup of tea. That was most gracious of you. Shall I send Anne up to help you ready for bed?”

Theo smiled at the housekeeper, deciding already that she liked her.

“We will do so again. And no, thank you. I shall handle it myself this evening.”

“As you wish, Your Grace,” Mrs. Mackenzie replied. “Rest well. And welcome home.”

Theo’s smile dipped a little as she was left alone, and she looked around.

Home. This monstrous, cold place was to be her home now.

With a sigh, she stood from the table and left the sitting room to go into her bedroom.

She was grateful that Mrs. Mackenzie had already lit the fire in the hearth there.

Not just for the warmth, but for the light.

Like the rest of the place, the room felt big and empty.

As she pulled her nightgown from the single chest that she’d brought along with her and readied herself for bed, Theo’s thoughts turned to Alistair yet again. Not to his apparent wealth or arrogant nature, however, but to what had happened between them in the carriage.

Her skin warmed and hummed as she thought of how delicious his lips and hands had felt.

How with just a simple touch of his thumb he’d made every anxiety slip away under a murky surface of desire and had her melting into his arms. Sliding between the clean sheets of her new bed, she closed her eyes and hung on to that feeling until she fell asleep.