Page 11 of His Extraordinary Duchess

Chapter Eleven

C laudia caught herself watching the door to the dining room and forced herself to smile at the story Georgie was telling Oliver instead. What, was Claudia actually listening for Ben’s footfall in the corridor? She really needed to host a dinner party or soiree if she was this desperate for diversion!

And yet it didn’t feel like desperation. It felt like anticipation, as if the golden days of summer were coming early.

The case clock in the library down the corridor chimed the quarter hour. Sophia frowned at Claudia. Yes, dinner was late. The platters of sliced cheeses, meats, breads, and fruit Cook had left for them sat waiting on the sideboard. Oliver was rubbing his stomach as if to hide the growl.

Sir Winfred opened his pocket watch, then snapped it shut. “Never could abide a tardy fellow.”

Ben strode into the dining room, pausing to bow to the assembled company. He had not bothered to change into his evening clothes. That was surely the same navy coat he had worn this morning.

“Forgive me,” he said, straightening with an apologetic smile that included Anastasia, who had scampered from under the table to greet him. “I can get too caught up in my work. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”

Sir Winfred raised a snowy brow, but Claudia nodded Ben into his seat, drawing a deep breath as she did so.

“We’re simply glad for your company, Mr. Warden,” she told him. “Sir Winfred, would you be so good as to say the blessing?”

The baronet puffed out his chest. “With pleasure, my dear.” He bowed his head and clasped his hands. So did everyone else.

“Bless, O Lord, this food to our use and make us ever mindful of the needs of others,” he intoned, “through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

“Amen,” they chorused.

Sir Winfred looked to Claudia. “May I fill you a plate, my dear?”

“Thank you, sir, but I’m happy to fill my own.” Claudia pushed back her chair and rose, forcing Sir Winfred and Ben to their feet as well. Oliver frowned at them all.

She went to the sideboard. Georgie and Sophia swiftly followed, Anastasia pacing them hopefully.

“Rather attentive, isn’t he?” Sophia murmured, selecting some of the first strawberries from their glass house at the estate’s Home Farm.

“I cannot see why you’d say that,” Claudia protested. “He was in the library half the afternoon.”

Georgie dimpled, scooping some potted tongue onto her own plate. “I think she means Sir Winfred, not Mr. Warden.”

“Oh.” Claudia took a slice of herb bread for her plate and cast the baronet a glance where he was waiting his turn farther down the line. He must have been watching her, for he inclined his head, beaming.

She focused on the repast before them. “No doubt he is simply recognizing my place in the household.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” Sophia allowed. She popped a strawberry into her mouth and turned for the table.

They were all seated shortly, Anastasia making the rounds in search of a willing donor. Georgie poured lemonade for everyone from a crystal pitcher. Conversation flowed well enough, thanks to Sophia’s interjections and Claudia’s direction, but Claudia could not help noticing that Ben gazed off into the distance, a slight frown on his face, as if his thoughts were far from the table.

When everyone seemed to have eaten their fill, Claudia rose again. “Shall we gather in the sitting room for some music and games?”

To her surprise, Sir Winfred waved a hand. “By all means, ladies. We gentlemen will join you shortly.”

What, did he intend to sit and smoke in her dining room? She hadn’t allowed Joseph to take up the filthy habit.

“Nonsense, sir,” she chided. “However would we enjoy ourselves without your company?”

“Well, when you put it that way.” He nodded to Ben. “I’m afraid duty calls, Mr. Warden.”

“Allow me to settle Oliver first,” he said, putting an arm about his son’s shoulders. “And then I’ll join you.”

“Whist,” Sophia whispered to Claudia as they left the room to Bailey, the footman who had returned early that Sunday. “I’ll partner Sir Winfred. You can partner Mr. Warden. Georgie can play.”

“Oh, good,” Georgie said with a sigh, Anastasia trotting along beside her. “I never could manage a hand of whist well enough to suit Freddie.”

Claudia patted her arm. “No one could, dear.”

And so they spent a pleasant enough evening, though Claudia was surprised by how poorly Ben played whist. She would have thought a man used to designing buildings from his imagination and his calculations would have been able to keep better track of the cards.

As Sir Winfred was chortling over his win, she finally managed to draw Ben aside.

“You seem preoccupied tonight, sir,” she murmured. “Penny for your thoughts.”

His smile was kind. “I’m not sure they’re worth that at the moment. Give me until tomorrow. I’m mulling over something.”

“Very well,” she said.

They all bid each other good night shortly after, and she led Georgie, Anastasia, and Sophia up the stairs.

“Was something troubling Mr. Warden?” Sophia asked as she helped Claudia with her tapes. With so few staff, Claudia and the other duchesses took turns helping each other undress on Sundays so as to give Violette and Maisy an entire half-day off.

“You noticed too?” Claudia asked as she stepped out of the gown.

“Only that he often spends his time watching you when we are in company, and tonight not so much.” The stays loosened as Sophia must have set to work on them.

He watched Claudia? Pleasure rippled through her, then she drew in a breath, scolding herself. “If he watches me, it is only because he knows I will have to approve his designs. He sees me as his client.”

Sophia came around, head tilted. “I do not recall any professional gentleman of my acquaintance gazing at his clients with longing in his eyes.”

Claudia turned away to hide her blush. “Nonsense.”

Sophia sighed. “Would it be so very terrible to be admired and cherished?”

Claudia closed her eyes as an ache rose up. “No, of course not. But no one would think it seemly if he pursued me.”

“Since when do you care about what others think?” Sophia challenged her. “You married a man many years your senior to serve your family’s ambitions. You stayed on after he died to help his son and wife step into their new roles. You must have heard whispers.”

“More than whispers,” Claudia allowed, opening her eyes to face her friend. “But that was different. Then, it was only my reputation at stake. Now I must think of Benjamin and Oliver, as well as you and Georgie.”

Sophia waved a hand. “It would take the hardest-hearted fool to think poorly of dear Georgie. And I never plan to marry again, so I couldn’t care less. If you admire him, pursue him.” She pecked Claudia on the cheek. “Sleep well, dear. I’ll have Georgie help me undress.” She hurried out and shut the door behind her.

Sleep well? Easier said than done. Thoughts circled her mind that night, and she had not settled them to her satisfaction by the time Violette came to help her dress.

At least her maid was in good spirits, bustling about the room opening the drapes and pulling various items out of the wardrobe and chest of drawers.

“The blue wool today,” Claudia said, going to stand in the center of the room.

“ Oui, madame ,” her maid said, laying the dress with its embroidered hem and puffed upper sleeves on the bed. “And might I suggest your white silk shawl and the ruff for your neck?”

Claudia smiled. “I continue to be amazed how well our tastes align, Violette.”

Her maid returned her smile. “You have excellent taste, Your Grace. I merely learn and obey.”

Claudia chuckled as she raised her arms and allowed the maid to pull off her nightgown. “Tactful and humble too. I am very glad the duke sent you to me.”

Of course, just the thought of the annoying man wiped the smile from Claudia’s face. She went down the corridor to where the breakfast room looked out on the rear gardens to find the brace of six chairs around the mahogany table unoccupied.

As if he’d seen her glancing around, Mr. Kinsle moved closer from where he’d been attending to the sideboard along one silk-papered wall.

“Mr. Warden dined not a quarter hour ago,” her butler told her as he poured her a cup of coffee. Joseph had introduced her to the stuff, and she found she liked the almost bitter taste in the morning better than tea, for it never failed to heighten her senses. “I believe he’s in the library.”

And so, as soon as she’d eaten a scone and jam, her feet led her to Ben’s library. Funny how already she thought it more his than it had ever been Joseph’s or hers.

Dressed in a brown tweed coat and chamois breeches of a country gentleman, he was standing and staring down at a set of plans on the desk as she entered. That lock of dark hair sat firmly in the center of his forehead, curling more than usual, as if he had been tugging at it. But he looked up as she started across the carpet.

“Good morning, Claudia,” he greeted with a smile. “Was there something you needed?”

To see him. To speak with him. To learn his deepest longings and share her own. No, she could say none of those things. “Only to know if you have finished your mulling,” she said lightly.

He puffed out a sigh. “Not entirely. And I begin to believe I need help. Here. Let me show you.”

She came around the desk to stand by his side. He was less than a foot away. Sunlight from the window behind them brushed his temples with gold. Fortunately, his gaze was focused on the papers, so he did not notice her study.

“I began outlining the existing layout of the manor,” he explained. “But I swiftly realized that the dimensions of the first floor do not match that of the ground floor.”

Claudia frowned, leaning over the drawings. “Could it be an error in the measurements?”

He did not take umbrage. “I confirmed most of them this morning. My only conclusion is that there must be another room behind the paneling.”

She jerked upright. “Nonsense. With no heat, no light?”

He rubbed his clean-shaven chin with one hand. “Good point. I’ve been so focused on the inside, I never thought to check the outside.”

“Easily remedied,” she said, striding for the door. “I’m sure we’ll find it is merely an error.”

She wasn’t sure why she was so certain. Perhaps it was because she’d lived in the house for so many years. She’d visited every room, frequently. She would know if there was another.

But she had to admit it did not seem like him to have made such a mistake.

He fell into step beside her, the thump of his boots matching the clack of her heels. He held open the terrace door for her, and she swept out into the chill morning air. Joining her, they both turned and gazed at the manor.

Chimney pots jutted up above the red clay tiles of the roof into a lowering, grey sky. The uncertain light turned the golden limestone redder, so that the white surrounding the windows was even more noticeable.

“Those three windows belong to guest bedchambers,” Claudia told him, pointing to the west inside corner of the manor. “Next to them are three for the main staircase. The traditional suite for the duke and duchess take up the last two.”

“So eight in all,” he mused, gaze following the line of windows. “Why is there a ninth?”

Claudia gaped. It couldn’t be. There, beyond the duke’s bedchamber, sat another window. “I never noticed before! What could it be? A priest hole?”

He shook his head. “The rooms designed to hide Catholic priests from persecution during Elizabeth’s reign are generally fairly small. This room, whatever it is, appears to be significantly larger and located to one side of the duke’s bedchamber.”

What had Joseph neglected to tell her? Or had he too been ignorant of the space?

“Would it have been built into the original house?” she asked.

“Possibly. Or an earlier duke may have divided his bedchamber to give himself two rooms.”

She had always thought Joseph’s bedchamber a little narrow for the head of the house. Certainly, it was smaller than her own bedchamber, but then perhaps the previous duchesses had demanded more space.

Either way, this was a mystery. She turned and seized Ben’s hand. “Whatever it is, let’s go find it!”

* * *

Her eagerness matched his own. Her breath steamed in the cool air, her blue eyes sparkled, and she grinned as if the two of them were privy to some secret. Perhaps they were. Together, they entered the manor and hurried up to the first floor. Peters, his valet, was seeing to Oliver until the other dowagers were ready for the day, so Ben and Claudia saw only chambermaids tidying various rooms. The maids quickly excused themselves, darting into the servants stair.

Ben paced off from the door of the duke’s room toward the landing. “Based on our measurements, the room should be right about here.” He stopped and gazed at the paneling.

Claudia came to stand beside him, so close her skirts brushed his boots and he caught the scent of roses. Her head turned as she scanned the wall. “I don’t see anything like a door.”

Indeed, the corridor was paneled in dark wood, so highly polished Ben could make out his wavering reflection as he studied the space, arms akimbo. A suit of armor, dulled and battered in places as if well used, hid a portion of the wall, but surely if the room had been used, the door would have been more accessible. He could not imagine previous dukes muscling the armor aside every time they wished to enter.

Ben pressed his hands against the smooth paneling to one side of the armor and pushed. “Perhaps a hidden door?”

“Where?” she asked. She turned as he did, and they both froze, faces inches apart. Her eyes were wide, her lips parted as if in expectation. If he leaned a little closer…

“Something amiss, my dear?” Sir Winfred asked, reaching the top of the stairs.

Claudia flamed, then turned away as if to hide it. Had she realized Ben’s intent? For a moment, he had seriously considered kissing her. Now his face heated!

“I had a question about the arrangement of this floor,” Ben managed to tell the baronet. “Her Grace was kind enough to help me attempt to answer it.”

Sir Winfred looked up and down the corridor. “I see nothing to question.”

“Mr. Warden’s measurements and the actual arrangement differ,” Claudia replied. Here was the dowager duchess, calm, cool, and in command of the situation. “We begin to suspect there may be a hidden room.”

Sir Winfred drew himself up, his broad chest expanding. “A hidden room? Nonsense. What purpose could it serve?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” She frowned at the paneling as if daring it to give up its secrets.

The baronet shook his head. “The previous dukes never mentioned it to the family.”

Ben grimaced. “Measurements do not lie, I’m afraid. And there’s a window that can be seen from the outside that aligns with no other room.”

Sir Winfred paled.

Claudia had already begun to move along the paneling, gaze sweeping from top to bottom. “It must be here. Surely we can find the entrance.”

“Perhaps the door was walled over decades ago,” Sir Winfred mused, watching her. “Who knows what sorts of unhealthy air it might hold. Best to leave it undisturbed.”

Claudia turned her frown on him. “Mr. Warden is endeavoring to improve the manor, sir. Why would he want to leave a perfectly usable space hidden?”

The baronet stepped back as if to distance himself from the very idea. “We should wait for the current duke’s advice. This investigation is entirely too intrusive.”

Disappointment nipped at Ben. He hadn’t intended to do much remodeling on this floor, but an extra room held such promise.

“This is our home as well, Sir Winfred,” Claudia reminded the baronet. “And I demand to know what’s taking up a portion of it.”

Ben could wait no longer. He tapped along the wall, listening. There. The deeper thunk. “You hear that?” he murmured, leaning closer to it. “We could likely break through here.”

Sir Winfred marched up to him, as if intending to pry him away from the paneling. “You cannot simply break through walls. I forbid it.”

Ben leaned back in time to see Claudia raise her chin. No queen had ever looked more regal as she stared down Sir Winfred.

“His Grace commissioned Mr. Warden to see to the remodeling of the house, sir. While there are times I disagree with the duke’s decisions, I have no wish to countermand or undermine him. As an honored member of his family, I would think you would feel the same.”

Sir Winfred dropped his gaze and shifted from foot to foot like Oliver when caught in some infraction. “Certainly I wish to support His Grace. But to break through a wall…”

“Perhaps it needn’t come to that,” Ben offered, eyeing the wall in question. “At one time, there had to be an opening. All we need do is find it.”

Claudia nodded. “Georgie and Sophia can help. Oliver and the staff as well. The opening must have been along this corridor.”

“Or in the duke’s bedchamber or the landing,” he offered. “Those flank the space.”

Sir Winfred inflated again as if to protest anew. A glare from Claudia made him deflate as quickly.

“Let me call for the others,” she said, marching for her bedchamber. “We are going on a treasure hunt.”