Page 14 of His Stolen Duchess (Stolen by the Duke #7)
Chapter Eleven
“ I just know the villagers will like you,” Bridget said.
“I wish I had your confidence,” Georgina replied. “They don’t know me at all, and now, I’m coming to visit unannounced. What reason do they have to like me or even trust me?”
“They will surely like you.” Bridget giggled. “I don’t think I have laughed as much as I have since you arrived at the manor. And not only me, but all of us. You’ve made us all very happy.”
The sun filtered through the large oak trees at a slant as Georgina rode in the carriage to the village.
“This is far different,” Georgina said. “I don’t have the support of Mr. Squawksby this time. Although that’s perhaps not the best way to make myself welcome. The staff might like it, but the Duke does not.”
Bridget sat with her mouth open for a second before she said, “No.”
I can’t believe he’s run amok through the manor on two occasions and was caught both times by the Duke. I can’t risk him getting loose again.
The coach rumbled to a stop. Georgina’s heart leaped into her mouth. Now that they had arrived, she realized that she would rather return home and face the Duke than visit his subjects. She didn’t know what she was so afraid of, only that she was afraid.
At least it’s easier than going into the water. I don’t feel as if I’m drowning.
“Are you ready?” Bridget asked.
“I’m ready,” Georgina said.
The driver opened the door, and Georgina exited first, taking his arm to descend the three carriage steps. Her skirt brushed the dusty road as she began her walk toward the village green.
She smiled. A trio of children chased each other in circles, moving in one direction, then switching directions all at once without any signal or spoken word.
Georgina stopped and watched them for a while as she got her bearings.
The endearing scene was enhanced by the clanking sound of a blacksmith’s hammer just off to the west, where a plume of smoke rose into the sky, and the smell of freshly baked bread.
A small market stood on the east side of the green, and small thatched cottages surrounded them in all directions.
Georgina took a deep breath and then strode off toward the green.
She had made a calculated decision. An old woman, likely in her seventies, was perched on a small wooden stool at the corner of the green, just off the grass, doing some embroidery.
She likely knew everyone in the village, and everyone knew her.
“Good afternoon,” Georgina announced when she got to the woman. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“A fine day.” The woman’s voice was raspy.
“And some fine needlework,” Georgina said. “I see you are embroidering a rose on a dress. Will that be for your granddaughter? I’ll wager that she’s the one giving those two lads a run for their money.”
Georgina looked over again at the three children in the middle of the green and smiled. “I love to see children playing like that.”
The old woman leaned over to address Georgina, who then crouched down beside her.
“Are you here in secret?” the old woman asked.
“In secret?” Georgina replied.
“I know you are the Duchess, Your Grace. I only wondered if you meant for us to know or if you wanted to visit in secret.”
Georgina smiled. “I came unannounced, but that was more to do with me than anyone else. I must admit that I was nervous about visiting the village.”
“Don’t worry, we are not all monsters,” the old woman teased.
“Just the others,” Georgina replied with a wink.
The old woman burst into a raspy laugh.
“I really do enjoy your embroidery,” Georgina admitted. “There are certain skills that develop over time, and that shows with the elegance of your rose.”
“Well, I have had a lot of time. My name is Elsie.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Elsie, and thank you for making the beginning of my visit to the village a pleasant one.”
Georgina stood up and looked around to see that a few people had begun to gather. The secret was out that the Duchess of Windermere had come to visit, and most people stood close by with curiosity, wanting to see the new lady of the manor.
“Good afternoon,” Georgina said, showing a genuine smile after speaking with Elsie. “It is such a pleasure to be here and meet you all. I hope to come to the village as often as I can.”
There was some murmuring from the gathering crowd, some returned smiles, and several greetings. Georgina suddenly felt less alone now that she was in the village.
“Um, Your Grace,” one of the young men from the crowd said. “Is it true that you have a giant parrot that is causing havoc in the manor?”
“Trevor!” the man beside him hissed and dug his elbow into Trevor’s ribs.
“What?” Trevor hissed in return. “Everyone’s talking about it.”
Georgina laughed. “I do have a pet parrot. His name is Mr. Squawksby, and I shall let you all meet him sometime. And, yes, he is a bother, but he is a regular-sized parrot who gets up to regular-sized mischief.”
“I get up to regular-sized mischief, too.”
Georgina looked down to see the young girl who had been playing on the green.
“Oh, Madeline,” Elsie said, shaking her head.
Georgina crouched down. “It’s always best to get into the right amount of mischief. You don’t want to get into mischief that is bigger than you are. Is that a straw doll you have? I remember having one as a child.”
“I made it myself.” Madeline’s eyes widened as she spoke about it.
“It’s beautiful,” Georgina praised. “I must ask you to make me one when you have time. I would really like that.”
“I will make one right now!” Madeline declared excitedly before running off.
Georgina brushed down the front of her skirt. “I must find some vegetables. Is there a stall at the market where I could buy some?”
“Arthur sells vegetables!” someone from the crowd shouted.
Georgina happily set off for the market stalls, the small crowd following her, with Bridget by her side.
“I would say you are doing just splendidly,” Bridget noted. “They have taken a shine to you. The villagers will always be polite, but you can tell when it is all for show. This is all genuine.”
It feels like when I was struggling in the water and the Duke took hold of me. Everything has fallen into place, and all has become calm.
She went with the crowd to the stalls and admired some of the vegetables, buying some and adding them to the large basket Bridget had fetched from the coach.
Georgina then perused some of the other stalls, admiring some freshly spun wool, carved crests, and the freshly baked bread, also adding some of that to her basket.
A sudden murmur of excitement tinted with some nervousness drew Georgina’s attention away from her shopping.
She looked over to where the crowd was collectively staring to see a rider approaching on a horse.
It took her a moment to realize that it was the Duke riding toward them.
Everyone fell silent as they waited for him to arrive.
By the time the Duke had appeared, so had most of the village, but the gathering had more to do with the Duchess’s arrival.
Lysander was dark, imposing, and every inch the Duke, and the villagers became noticeably stiffer as he drew closer, and seemed to hold their collective breath.
The Duke rode up beside Georgina, looked down upon her, then dismounted his horse and handed the reins to a young villager, who led the horse away to be fed and boarded for however long the Duke needed.
“I heard you were visiting the village,” Lysander said. “I wish you had told me so I could have come with you.”
“I didn’t need any fanfare,” Georgina said. “I don’t wish for them to be told to like me. I only want to visit with them and have them make up their own minds about me.”
She also knew that the Duke might unduly influence them and that his presence would prevent them from speaking out if they had any problems.
Lysander leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “I have spent years cultivating their trust, and they will respect you because they respect me.”
I’m not sure it’s respect I want from them.
Then, something surprising happened. At least, it was surprising to the Duke.
“We’ll keep her, Your Grace!” someone called out. “You’ve chosen a fine lady.”
Shouts of agreement rang out from the mass of villagers.
“She’s one to keep,” Elsie stated.
Then, Madeline ran up from outside the crowd, straight to Georgina. She tugged on the Duchess’s skirt.
“Your Grace, I didn’t want you to leave without a doll. I will have a lot of time to make some new ones, and this is the one I made most recently. Will you please take it? I can make more.”
“I will certainly take it,” Georgina said. “Thank you so much.”
She took the straw doll from the young girl and held it with pride.
Lysander stared at Georgina with open curiosity, as if to say, ‘ Who is this woman?’
Georgina stared back with her own sly little smile. What? Why wouldn’t they like me?
“We all can’t wait to meet Mr. Squawksby!” Trevor shouted from somewhere unseen. “I’ve never seen a parrot before.”
Lysander looked at Georgina again, but this time she didn’t look back.
She only stood within the circling crowd, under the Duke’s appreciative gaze, flushed and radiant from the warm attention of the villagers, standing amidst them as though she’d always belonged there, even though she’d only met them less than thirty minutes ago.
“It seems you make quite an impression on people,” Lysander said.
And then it was Georgina’s turn to be surprised when he wound his arm around her waist and held on tight to her hip.
“I am glad you have all had a chance to meet Lady Georgina, my beautiful wife and the love of my life,” the Duke announced.
There were some ‘awws’ from the crowd.
“You have charmed them,” the Duke said to her.