Page 9 of The Beast’s Duchess (Duchesses of Inconvenience #1)

Chapter Seven

“ D o you know somewhere I could get a dog?” Veronica asked while the pair exited her room the next morning.

“Your Grace?” Daisy asked, pausing in her work, lacing up her gown.

“It’s rather quiet here. I thought it might make me feel more at home if I got a dog. Is there somewhere nearby I could get one?”

“Perhaps you should talk to His Grace about this. He might be able to help you,” she said carefully.

She was starting to suspect that whenever she or Mrs. Carter said that it was more because they wanted them to talk than to actually make sure she asked permission.

Especially since, besides Veronica keeping her distance from his side of the castle, he didn’t really care about what she did: in the house or her life.

“I don’t think I need his help for this. I was just hoping you might know someone in the village I could go to.”

“I suppose I can ask, but anything I find would hardly be a dog of good breeding. He would be far better suited to helping you.”

“But I’m not after a dog of good breeding. I could care less about the dog’s background. All I want is a little friend to keep me company.”

“I suppose I can understand that, and His Grace is so often busy with work. I would hate for you to get lonely.”

“So, you’ll help me?”

Daisy hesitated for a moment before finally she nodded.

Veronica lit up. “Thank you!”

“I’m just doing my job, Your Grace, but you should speak to His Grace about this before I bring the dog on the grounds. I would hate for it to cause any strife between the two of you.”

She tried not to roll her eyes. “I do not know if you haven’t noticed, or if you feel hesitant to voice what you already know to be true, but there is already strife between us.”

When Daisy said nothing instead of another ‘as you say, Your Grace’ she exhaled and stopped in the middle of the hallway.

She moved over to one of the windows and looked outside. It was so gray and empty. When she looked to the horizon, all she saw was fog, rocks, and trees. She couldn’t even see the town she knew had to be somewhere in the distance from there.

Though Daisy insisted while getting her ready that the gardens were truly stunning.

“Please be frank Daisy. What is it you wish to say?”

“Just that, there was always bound to be an adjustment period for the two of you, as a newly wed couple that didn’t know each other well before the marriage. I feel like you have not given each other the chance to get adjusted to this new life, let alone figure out who the other person truly is.”

The familiar pang of regret and confusion kept her quiet. This was a topic that she was still figuring out herself, so she only muttered a “Thank you for your honesty.”

“I am glad you welcome it, Your Grace.”

She walked to the window overlooking the grounds outside, where she had asked Daisy to take her to have a look.

“How soon can you send for someone who has dogs?”

She hesitated. “I can’t be sure since I have never had to look into it before, but it shouldn’t take more than a few days at most, especially if you don’t require the dog to be a puppy.”

Veronica thought for a moment. “I wouldn’t mind if the dog was already fully grown. In fact it might be easier if it was, it would mean we don’t need to worry about training it or finding someone who can.”

“That’s a wonderful point, Your Grace, I can begin making inquiries as soon as I’m done with my duties for the day.”

“Perfect, thank you.”

Though the maid only nodded and continued to keep pace with her. “The gardens are through that corridor and down those stairs right?”

“Oh, actually it is a bit more complicated than that. You see, we exit the corridor before it ends, and we have to go through some other corridors. It is best if I come with you.”

“When you say it like that it sounds like you expect me to get lost.”

“Truthfully, I would be more than a bit surprised if you didn’t.”

“Is the castle that confusing?”

“When you aren’t used to it, it can be.” Daisy’s voice was light and confident, though she glanced nervously at Veronica as she spoke. Odd.

“Well, if I never explore it, I am sure to never figure out the layout. And I have so much free time now that I do not have to attend all the London functions and events, I can afford to get lost a few times.”

What is your game, Daisy?

“Of course, that makes sense. Though it is rather cloudy today and if you delay by getting lost you miss seeing the gardens entirely. And with the weather lately, who knows how long it will be till you can see them again?”

What areas does she want me to avoid? Surely that must be it. More of my dear husband’s unjustified rules, at least to me!

“I see. I must say, I think you should have more faith in me.”

“I apologize, Your Grace, my comment wasn’t about you_”

Veronica cut her off with a smile. “I’m only teasing you. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt for you to come along.” At the very least that way she could start narrowing down which of the rooms were restricted, and start to figure out why...It was strange how even during the day the place was so quiet.

The house echoed their steps as they made it through a truly complicated route, full of twists and turns. If this was what Daisy meant that it was hard to go through the house, she could see what she meant. Surely they could make more doorways connecting the rooms!

“Who came up with the idea that I could start taking care of the gardens?”

“You did! I only mentioned they were lovely.”

They had just stepped outside and the cool humid air of the country enveloped her. She drew in a deep breath and felt her body relax. Perhaps for the first time since she stepped foot in that church.

“I distinctly remember you and Mrs. Carter discussing the garden at length yesterday, and what could be done to it to be better suited for house parties and such. And I am pretty sure one of you mentioned, or implied perhaps, that I could take it on.”

At least she was sure that’s what happened. She had never really expressed an interest in gardening before.

In fact, she had never been one to have any hobbies of her own. So much of her time was always spent looking after her younger siblings, and going to social events to do damage control after the fire.

There was no one here for her to look after any more.

There was barely anyone here at all.

Perhaps she should make gardening her hobby, or at least try it out. Though as she made her way deeper into the gardens she realized they were shockingly well maintained. And almost completely devoid of flowers.

“Are the rest of the gardens beyond the kitchen garden?”

“This is the garden, Your Grace.”

“It is?”

The greenery was still stunning, lush vegetables and herbs of all shape and stripes twined from the ground. Organized in clean, neat sections and filling the air with a distinctly green and fresh scent. To say she was surprised was a bit of an understatement.

Especially considering the sheer size of the thing and the fact that it seemed to be in place of a more traditional garden.

“Daisy, you didn’t mention_” she started to say, but her lady’s maid was gone.

What is going on?

Veronica knew she should leave, but looking up at the huge sunflowers and the vast variety of tomatoes, she felt entranced. Like she had stepped into a beautiful world.

"What are you doing here?”

She froze. His voice, strong and commanding, set shivers down her spine. She tried to ignore how her stomach flipped as she heard him walk up to her. His heavy steps stopping a breath away.

With no other choice, she slowly turned to face Christopher. He looked in every way like a furious God, whose holy grounds had been trespassed on.