Page 39 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)

The wall sconces in the main part of the house were left burning when the servants retired, so this meant they did not need to take candles.

Beau made sure he did not touch her, made no attempt to put his arm around her or take a hand as he had done previously.

He must keep his distance, remain friendly, but keep his love in check.

She must come to him if they were to mend this unnecessary rift.

He shouldered open the kitchen door and was pleased to find this large chamber pleasantly warm. He had never visited here himself so was as much at a loss as to where they would find what they needed as she was.

‘The range is alight, Beau, so I will revive it so we can make coffee.’ She raised an eyebrow and he shook his head. ‘You have no more idea about the ramifications of your kitchens than I do. I suggest that you be seated and allow me to find us what we need.’

‘I can make coffee. I can also prepare a reasonable omelette, but that is as far as my culinary skills go.’

Her smile was genuine this time. ‘That is more than most gentlemen of your status, so I am impressed. You can deal with the beverage whilst I go in search of the food.’

Half an hour later they were sitting on opposite sides of the long table that ran down the centre of the kitchen eating a tasty supper.

‘Did you get a tray in your room, Beau?’

‘I did, but I sent it back untouched, which is why I am here now enjoying the excellent repast you have prepared for me.’

‘Then it is even more peculiar that nothing was sent to me. I had been intending to talk to you about staff, but after your revelation it seemed unimportant. Nevertheless, I might as well mention it now as it would seem you have no intention of departing in the immediate future.’

‘Then I am all agog. What about my staff do you wish to change?’

‘Not yours, but those at Grosvenor Square. They were appointed by Rupert; they could be dismissed and replaced, I thought, by the staff at Fenchurch. Those are all loyal to me and will have nothing to do now I am living here.’

‘I think that an excellent idea. After I have spoken to Fenchurch I will set that in motion. Once you have everything you require from there, do you wish the house to be put under covers? There will need to be a handful of inside staff who remain to light fires and so on. As the horses have been transferred here, along with the grooms, the stables can be closed down too. The outside men must be retained as it would not do for the grounds to become unkempt.’

‘I agree, but what about the dairy and kitchen garden?’

‘Perhaps you would like the produce from the gardens and orchards to be distributed to your tenants. The milk, butter and cheese could also go to the village.’

‘I am happy with that. The interior of the building is in need of refurbishment and redecoration so this would be a good time to do it. I should like it to be modernised as well. After all, if there are to be tenants taking care of it until Thomas is of age, there will be no other opportunity for building works to be carried out without inconveniencing the occupants.’

This was a strange conversation to be having in the middle of the night with someone who had quite vehemently told him she wished to sever the connection at the earliest possible opportunity. Was it possible things were not as dire between them as he had feared?

* * *

When Viola eventually retired she was feeling more sanguine about the outcome of her relationship with Beau.

He had every right to be furious with her, to treat her with contempt, but he was behaving as if nothing untoward had happened between them.

No, that was not quite correct. He was relaxed and friendly, but no longer loving and affectionate.

In a few hours she would have to break the news to her mother and children that she had married a duke and not a commoner. She would have to pretend to be pleased about the situation and she was quite certain that they would be overjoyed she was now someone of such importance.

Dissembling was as much against her nature as it was his, and it was going to be torment keeping the truth from them.

She fully understood why he had not told her his secret and forgave him for his minor deception.

She doubted that the twins or her parent would be so lenient with her when they discovered her perfidy.

What she could do was enjoy the brief time they had together and pray that when he returned to his family they would agree with her that he had made a catastrophic error by marrying an infertile woman.

Whatever was required of her in order to get him released from this union she would do, but she dreaded to think how Thomas and Elizabeth would react if Beau was no longer to be their papa.

Despite her misery and heartache, she slept heavily and did not stir until someone knocked loudly on her bedchamber door.

‘Viola, the children are becoming anxious about your absence at the breakfast table. It is now after eight o’clock.’ It was her husband come to find her.

‘Hughes has not appeared again this morning, so I did not wake. I shall be down shortly. Please do not make your announcement until I am there.’

‘Then you had better be quick, as I intend to tell them immediately after breakfast.’

She was out of bed and into the dressing room before he had finished speaking.

There was no point in arguing; she must get downstairs as speedily as possible.

She snatched up the nearest undergarments she could find and stepped into them.

Next, she grabbed a blue velvet gown that required no help to fasten, as the buttons were at the front.

Her stockings were mismatched, her indoor slippers the same ones she had worn with a different gown, and her hair had been bundled up inside a lace cap. Not ideal, but it would have to do as she was determined to be downstairs before the revelation was made.

Everyone was in the breakfast parlour, so she was not too late. ‘I am so sorry I have kept you waiting, but Hughes has vanished. I have sent one of your chambermaids in search of her, as I fear she must have been taken ill to not have fulfilled her duties.’

She had been careful not to address Beau by his real name but had no wish to call him by the false one. ‘I find I am not hungry. Did Papa not tell you we had a midnight feast?’

The children were eager to know what this meant and talking about their visit to the kitchens was enough to lighten the atmosphere and hopefully not draw attention to the fact that she was only taking coffee. He too did not have his usual piled plate but was toying with a slice of toast.

Something made her decide to pre-empt his announcement. ‘I have a most extraordinary thing to tell you. Mr Sheldon does not exist; my husband is actually the Duke of Silchester. I am now a duchess.’

The only one who appeared unsurprised by her dramatic revelation was her mother. ‘Your papa would have been delighted you have gone up in the world. I always suspected there was more to you, my boy, than you were telling us.’

Thomas was staring at Beau as if he were a stranger and Elizabeth looked equally upset. She had thought the children would be delighted and her mother dismayed. His eyes were cold; he was like a stranger to her.

‘Well, are you not going to explain to everyone how this deception came to take place?’ She addressed him too sharply.

His lips tightened and she feared she had made an irredeemable error of judgement by blurting out something he had intended to tell himself at a more suitable time.

He told them exactly what he had told her. When he had finished it was Thomas who spoke first.

‘Papa, if you are a duke, should you not have had a grand wedding in a big church and not married in a little chapel with none of your family present?’

‘Circumstances caught up with us, Thomas, but…’ He hesitated and glanced at her.

She knew what was coming but could do nothing to prevent it.

‘But that will be rectified in due course. Your mama and I fell in love so quickly, and then the imminent arrival of Mr Fenchurch and his lawyers meant we had to get married immediately.’

‘Your papa has yet to inform his family he is now married. He will be returning there soon to do so.’

‘Please don’t go soon, Papa; we have only just got you with us. Promise you will stay for a few weeks more before you leave,’ Elizabeth said tearfully. ‘How long will you be away? Can we come with you? When will we be moving to Silchester?’

Viola closed her eyes and waited for him to say he would not be coming back. This would break her heart as well, but no one had ever died from a broken heart and they would all recover eventually.

Her mother prevented him from speaking by standing up so abruptly all attention was centred on her. ‘I am feeling most unwell. I wish to go to my room.’

Beau was on his feet and beside her immediately, his face etched with concern. ‘Allow me to assist you, ma’am, and I can only apologise that my deception has caused so much upset for all of you.’

‘No, thank you, my daughter can take me, your grace.’

She had no option but to hold her mother’s arm and lead her from the room. As soon as they were a few yards away it became clear her mother was perfectly well.

‘We need to talk, daughter; we can do so in my sitting room where we will not be disturbed. There have been too many strange occurrences in this family of late. The man you saw in Romford, the attempt to lame our horses, the tree across the road and all this related to the arrival of Mr Fenchurch.’

Viola attempted to stem the flow of words, but her mother raised a finger, something she had used to do when Viola was a child and misbehaving.