Page 19 of An Unforeseen Kiss (Captivating Kisses #4)

E den returned to her bedchamber, removing her riding habit and washing. She deliberately kept her mind a blank going through the routine. She dressed again in the gown she had previously worn and headed to the drawing room for tea.

She would not think of the duke.

She repeated that phrase over and over, each step bringing her closer to the drawing room and his presence. She had much to think about regarding him—and yet nothing to think about at all.

When she arrived, Eden saw she was almost the last to do so. Only Lady Traywick and Her Grace had yet to appear. That meant she had a bit of a choice regarding where she sat, and she took a chair that, fortunately, was as far away from Millbrooke as she could get.

“I see the six of us were famished after our long ride,” the duke said, causing them all to laugh.

Wanting to seem that she contributed to the conversation at tea, Eden remarked, “Thank you again, Your Grace, for letting us make use of your stables.”

“I am happy the horses got the workout they did, especially Andromeda. You are an exceptional rider, Miss Snow, with a true affinity for horses. I hope that you and my cousins will take advantage of the stables on a daily basis.”

“Miss Snow won first prize in our village’s riding contest three years in a row,” Justina bragged.

“And the only reason she has not won more often is because she refuses to enter again,” Verina added.

She felt the duke’s eyes upon her and met his gaze. Shrugging, she said, “It is only fair to give others a chance at the trophy.”

Her employer and the duchess came into the room, the teacarts following behind them. Eden did as she had planned and simply listened to those talking around her. All the while, though, she felt the Duke of Millbrooke staring in her direction.

“How was your ride about Millvale?” Lady Traywick asked the group.

Her daughters responded, telling their mother of the various places they had gone, with the duke’s sisters chiming in upon occasion.

Then Lady Tia said, “You should have seen Miss Snow riding Andromeda, Mama.”

For the first time, Eden felt the attention of the Duchess of Millbrooke upon her. “You must be quite the rider, Miss Snow. From what Millbrooke tells me, Andromeda is both fickle and feisty. Quite hard to manage.”

“Miss Snow did not only manage Andromeda, Mama. She charmed the beast. I did not think it possible.”

“I am glad to hear so, Millbrooke. I know you had mentioned you might get rid of the horse if she could not be tamed more.”

Without meaning to, Eden made a sound of distress, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Have no worries, Miss Snow,” the duke assured her. “Now I see all it takes is a very skilled rider to be upon Andromeda’s back.”

“What will you do with the horse when we leave?” Lady Traywick asked. “If you believe you can find no one to ride her, I will purchase the horse from you, Millbrooke. The horses in our limited stable are far too tame for Miss Snow.”

Immediately, she protested. “You cannot buy a horse for me, my lady. It simply is not done.”

“I am the Countess of Traywick,” her employer replied, the corners of her mouth turning up.

“I have found I enjoy being her and asserting a bit of authority every now and then.” Her face softened.

“I have had to do so ever since I lost my husband, and my son took on his father’s title.

Fortunately, he has recently come into his majority, but I am certain he would see Andromeda as a good investment. ”

“I wrote Traywick this morning,” the duke mentioned. “I feel remiss for not having done so before. I invited him to come to Millvale once his university term finished.”

“That was a lovely gesture,” Lady Traywick said, smiling fondly at her nephew.

“He will be busy at Traywick Manor this summer, though, followed by a final year of his studies. Extend the invitation to next summer, Millbrooke. Perhaps he might want to come then and see how Millvale is run. He will take on more responsibilities, and your guidance would be a boon to him.”

Talk shifted from Andromeda, for which Eden was grateful. She kept silent as the others spoke, skipping from topic to topic, then Justina drew Eden into the conversation.

“Miss Snow, do you remember you were going to inquire about where to hold our music lessons?”

“Thank you for reminding me.” She looked to the duchess. “I am seeking a place to conduct pianoforte lessons for Lady Justina and Lady Verina, Your Grace. I see there is an instrument here in the drawing room, but I do not wish to impose and hold the room hostage while we conduct our lessons.”

“You may use the drawing room anytime you wish during the day,” the duchess replied.

“We are not often in it until tea in the afternoons. I prefer my small parlor. My daughters also have other rooms they use. We do have a music room at Millvale, however. It contains a pianoforte and a harp. It would be more than suitable for you to conduct lessons. Perhaps while one of my nieces has her lesson, the other could practice here in the drawing room.”

“Then we would be happy to use this music room anytime it is available,” she said.

Lady Lia said, “I like to practice after breakfast each morning. It is a lovely way to start my day.”

Lady Tia laughed. “And I practice only sporadically. It definitively shows.”

“That would work well for us since we do our lessons in the morning in your library,” she said. “Thank you for use of both pianofortes, Your Grace.”

Tea concluded, and Eden excused herself, returning to her bedchamber.

She sat in the chair, opening the book of Wordsworth’s poems. The poet had lived in the Lake District near Traywick Manor for a few years, and he had captured the beauty of the land in his poetry.

It did not appeal to her today, however.

She closed the book and held it in her lap, staring out the window for a good hour, her thoughts drifting aimlessly.

Finally, she stood, placing the volume of poetry on the table next to her.

She decided to go and walk the gardens now since she had yet to visit them.

Being in nature always brought her comfort.

It would be interesting to compare the gardens at Traywick Manor to those at Millvale.

This ducal estate was far larger, and she suspected the gardens would hold a larger variety of flowers and plants.

Eden went down the back staircase, designated for servants, and cut through the kitchens, greeting Cook and the scullery maids, who were hard at work as they prepared dinner for the family and staff.

“Going for a walk, Miss Snow?” asked Cook.

“I thought I would see the gardens,” she explained. “I have always enjoyed the beauty of nature.”

“His Grace’s gardens are fine ones,” the old woman said. “Enjoy your walk. I’ll have a tray for you by the time you return to the house.”

“Thank you, Cook.”

Eden exited the house and made her way down to the gardens, which looked massive.

She entered them and took her time, strolling slowly, studying the different flowers in bloom.

She might ask Her Grace for permission to work in them some, something she often did at Traywick Manor.

She even arranged fresh flowers she cut into bouquets for various rooms in the household, something which Lady Traywick always complimented her on.

There was a peace here, walking these garden paths. Eden reminded herself when she needed to find solitude, this should be where she retreated.

Left alone both physically and with her own thoughts, she decided she needed to broach the topic of the Duke of Millbrooke.

And try to talk herself out of the growing attraction she felt for him.

*

Val went to his study and dealt with some pressing correspondence, continually having to refocus on the task at hand.

He decided to go and take a walk to clear his head.

He had always done his best thinking when walking.

He wished he had Con here, so that he might share his thoughts with his friend.

Perhaps he could convince his cousin to abandon the Season for a week and come to visit Millvale.

Withdrawing a fresh piece of parchment, he dashed off a quick letter to Con.

My dear Con –

I know the Season is just getting underway, and I already miss you terribly. You—not the social affairs—which had begun to bore me in recent times.

If you are of a mind and willing to miss a week of the social whirl, would you consider coming to Millvale? I would like to show you some of the changes I have begun making about the property now that it is mine.

To tempt you further, two of our cousins are visiting. Yes, Aunt Agnes asked if she could send for Verina and Justina. They are lovely girls and are proving to be good company for Lia and Tia.

If you are unable to get away at the moment, feel free to visit whenever you can. We have an abundance of guest rooms at Millvale, and it would take but a few minutes to make up one of them for you.

I miss you, Cousin.

Yours,

Val

He wondered if he should sign it in a more formal manner, using his title, but he had never been pretentious with Con. Besides, the ducal seal would be enough to let his friend know who had sent the missive.

Val folded and sealed the note, dribbling wax across it, pressing his signet ring into it. He left his study and coming across a footman, gave it to the servant.

“Have Quigby post this to town tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” the footman said as Val walked away.

He left the house, not certain where he might go, and then decided to head to the gardens.

He could use a bit of solitude and doubted anyone would be there since dinner started within an hour.

Fortunately, his mother had always allowed for a more relaxed seating in the country than in town, and he would not need to change into formal attire for the meal.

Entering the gardens, his thoughts began to drift, knowing he would need to confront the reason he had come here.