Page 20 of The Duke’s Sworn Spinster (A Duel and a Wedding #1)

Chapter Eighteen

B usiness, once again, called Archer away to London, so Lydia had been busying herself around the house, trying to distract herself from the gnawing feelings that threatened to spread through her body.

With the help of her new aids—two new maids, Dotty and Lucy, and the new footman, Mr. Young.

Together, they had changed the carpets in the grand entrance.

Her goal, which was finally coming together, was to change the carpets and rugs in the Dowager Duchess’ cottage. She knew the place had been allowed to fall into disrepair because of Archer’s feelings for his mother, but she had no desire for it to remain so.

“He does not need that constantly hanging over him.”

She pointed to the disgusting carpets. Too long they had gone without a proper wash, and she had no patience to take on the task of washing, rinsing, and drying them over and over until the odor came out—or at least, directing the staff to do so which hardly seemed fair to the new recruits.

The old carpets had turned a certain color and odor with so much use and lack of care. The front entrance, in particular, had a foul smell. It was only when they had disturbed the carpet from its resting place that the dank smell really rose and punched them in the face.

“Begone with ye, foul beast,” Dotty shouted at the wagon that had come to pick up the old carpets and rugs.

“Oh, spare me, miss,” the driver said as he plugged his nose. “You are not the one who has to drive miles with this vulgar-smelling garbage.”

“I was talking to you, you old coot.”

“Ha,” the man gabbled. “I should have expected such a mouth from a hoyden. Parson’s mousetrap will clear that right up.”

“No man will ever tell me my own mind. You have what you came for,” Dotty snapped. “Away with you before the master returns home. Spare his noble nose this disgraceful smell.”

“Ah,” the driver hacked a wad of spit on the ground.

Lydia almost gagged at the man’s appalling behavior, but it was hard to find someone willing to dispose of their refuse, even at a high price.

Lydia pinched her nose as a gust of wind carried the smell. She could hardly blame anyone for declining the job.

Lydia noticed Dotty getting red in the face, preparing to chew out the man for what he’d done. “Let it be, Dotty,” Lydia whispered to her. “The less we talk, the faster he will leave.”

Her new maid begrudgingly accepted her orders and went inside with Lydia as they left poor Mr. Lyall to pay the man.

“What a horrible man,” Dotty griped. “If I never see him again, it’ll be too soon.”

“I don’t disagree, but I’m afraid this is just the beginning. We still have the upstairs to take apart, and many of the other rooms need new furnishing, and that’s only in the general spaces. So, I’m sure we will have to call on him again soon.”

“Do not say that, Your Grace,” Dotty whined.

“Dotty,” Lucy scolded, “stop simpering and help me with the rest of the carpets.”

Lydia stepped out of the way as Mr. Young rolled out the new carpet in the front entrance. “How is this, Your Grace?”

“Excellent,” Lydia said as she eyed the bright red carpet. She had hoped to replace the old one with an exact copy, if possible, however it was hard to tell whether the carpet was originally red. Maybe it had been pink or burgundy. She tried asking her sisters-in-law, but they couldn’t remember.

“Good Heavens, Lydia,” a voice called out. “What in God’s name have you skinned?”

“Land! Get your dirty feet off my new carpet!” Landon leaped out of his skin and away from the pristine carpet. Lydia smacked his shoulder affectionately. “Did you not just see us roll it out? I don’t need you mucking it up.”

He glanced down at his shoes, which were caked in the day’s jaunt mud, dirt, and other unmentionables.

“Where are your houseslippers?” Lydia frowned at him, ushering him into the garden outside of the dowager cottage before he could bring any harm to her new carpets.

“I had such exciting news, sister. I completely forgot about them.” He gave her an abashed smile as he called over his shoulder. “Besides, I was under the impression that this place was little more than a hovel.”

“Not any more, Your Lordship,” Dotty griped as she washed away Landon’s boot prints. “Though it may be if you don’t screw your head on tighter.”

“Dotty!” Lucy quickly smacked her on the head. “You do not comment on a guest’s mannerisms.”

“Lucinda, it is not your place to punish Dorothy.” Lydia frowned.

“Yes, Ma’am. Sorry, Ma’am.”

“Heavens, Lucy, would you loosen up?” Dotty groaned.

Lydia just shook her head. Both girls were new to maids’ work, but they both had good hearts, and Lydia took a shine to them. However, she would need a housekeeper to keep them in line and correct their speech and behavior.

“The correct form of address is ‘Your Grace,’” Miss Boyd interfered. “It is not ‘ Ma’am,” she said in an overly exaggerated Northern accent, attempting to make a mockery of Lucy’s thick Brummies.

“Miss Boyd, I would appreciate it if you did not mock my maids. It is a poor example to set for Lady Iris.” Lydia flashed the women a dagger sharp smile.

“A thousand pardons, Your Grace, I did not realize you were there,” Miss Boyd simpered. “Have you seen Lady Iris by chance?”

“No,” Lydia cut in as Dotty was about to respond. “Is it not your job to keep an eye on her? Perhaps you should tend to your own work before criticizing others.”

“Correct you are, Your Grace.” Miss Boyd looked at Lydia with contempt. “I shall endeavor to do better.”

“Then you are dismissed,” Lydia said sharply. The woman glanced back at the women before she trudged through the house looking for her ward.

“How much longer will she be staying here, Your Grace?” Lucy asked. “She is like the worst kind of villain.”

“Yeah!” A small head popped out from behind a couch in the sitting room across the way. “I hate Miss Boyd,” Iris stated, an unnerved look in her eyes.

“I know you do, dear. But she is what we’re stuck with for now,” Lydia said quietly, hopefully out of earshot of Miss Boyd. “Obtaining a quality housekeeper should keep Miss Boyd from poking her nose in your business,” she said to her maids.

“I’ve tried so hard to get rid of her,” she whined. “I’ve dumped all of her clothes in the pond. Caked her slippers in mud. Put insects in her food. I even found poop and tucked it into her pillow.”

“Iris, you didn’t!” Lydia was shocked. Clearly, her niece was desperate to get rid of her governess.

“Ew!” Dotty screamed. “Whose poop was it?”

“Mrs. Tidily Winkles,” Iris smiled.

“Lady Juliet’s mare,” Lydia explained, rubbing her forehead.

“Iris, please do not touch poop with your bare hands. It’ll make you sick.

More to the point, I know you do not like Miss Boyd, but I really can’t condone you slipping that low.

If a prank involves…. bodily fluids—of any kind—it is no longer a prank; it is just cruel. And I know you are not cruel.”

“Yeah,” she said with a look of disgust. “That’s the last time I do that.”

“Lydia,” Landon called from outside, “what’s taking you so long, sister? I have good news I wish to share!”

Lydia sighed, “Can you two finish laying out the rest of the rugs and carpets while I tend to my brother?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Lucy stated astutely.

“Your Grace,” Iris whispered, trying to be helpful.

“Oh, yes,” Lucy deflated a little. “Sorry, Your Grace.”

“When it’s just us, Lucy, it’s fine to make mistakes. You will learn in time, but never make those mistakes in front of other nobility. I can’t protect you if you do.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Lucy and Dotty bowed.

“Lydia!”

“Good Heavens,” Lydia huffed before calling out to her brother, “I’m coming!”

“Pardon me, girls, while I answer His Lordship’s beck and call,” she said sarcastically.

She marched outside, hearing Iris’ giggle follow her as she made her way to the garden. Landon had started to pace while waiting for her.

“What is it, brother mine, that has you so impatient that I can’t finish my task?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Ta-da!” Without warning, he swung open his coat jacket and dropped a very hefty-looking purse on Lydia’s foot. She avoided it at the last moment, but it left a divot in the ground.

“Oops,” her brother said in way of an apology.

“It’s fine,” Lydia said in defeat. “Lucky for you, I haven’t started on the garden yet, so I won’t have to thump you, but do try and limit your hurricane tendencies.

“I’ll do my best.” Landon agreed, looking about. “So far, I’ve heard things, good things, about this marriage of yours. His Grace speaks very highly of you.”

“Does he?” she said in surprise.

“Yes, he only mentions how you’ve driven him up the wall on occasion. For the most part he seems rather proud of you. His Grace is the only reason why I’m not in prison or on the streets. So, please, dear sister. I beg of you, do not make him angry,” he pleaded, hands plastered together in prayer.

“I’m not doing it intentionally. I had to help you, remember? And the previous argument was over trying to get his niece some simple painting lessons that I thought she would enjoy.” She shook her head.

“Never mind any of that,” her brother dismissed her problems again.

“This,” he said as he picked up the purse from the wreckage, “is the money I owe you. Every cent accounted for, and every one of them very much earned through hard work and not gambling. It has been a hard couple of months, but I’ve learned so much. ”

Lydia frowned at him. “But I got back my dowry; there’s no money to return.”

“And what about everything you sold to make sure we didn’t starve to death? I never returned that. Until now!” Landon had a proud look on his face as he gifted her the purse.

She looked inside, and there was a mound of coins piled together in that bag. “Landon, you know you didn’t have to pay me back. You’re my brother, and I’ll lend you whatever amount you need, without any expectations.”

“I know that,” Landon said confidently. “But I wanted to. His Grace made an excellent point that you had given enough. Until now, I didn’t realize how true that was. He was right. I have taken too much. And I do not want to keep taking and never give back.”

“That does sound like the sort of thing he would say.” she said, unable to stop smiling.

“For someone who’s been forced into a marriage, you seem fairly happy,” Landon said suggestively. “Why else would you be smiling like that?”

Startled, Lydia felt the warmth in her cheeks grow, not realizing she had been thinking of Archer so fondly. Suddenly, there were small butterflies in her stomach and a nervousness she didn’t expect.

“Perhaps, it’s not all bad,” she said lamely.

“Well, it does my heart good to see you taken care of.”

“He does take good care of me,” Lydia murmured. It was hard not to feel something for someone who cared and respected her. She never thought she would know someone so passionate about what made her happy.

After the Duke had retrieved her dowry—yes, she was angry but happy too. That small joy made her even angrier because she thought she shouldn’t feel that way. She may have taken it out on Archer, not showing how she really felt.

“I care for him deeply,” Lydia said out loud, and fear slammed into her heart.

“Wonderful,” her brother said joyously.

“No,” Lydia shook her head. “Our pre-nuptial agreement is clear: love is forbidden.”

“Well,” Landon scoffed, “that is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard. You cannot control your feelings.”

“I will have to, Land. The Duke has been very strict in that manner and has shown no signs he will change his mind.”

“All in good time, dear sister,” Landon said, not taking Lydia seriously. “Now,” he straightened up and started rummaging through his pockets before pulling out a rectangular box. “I have one last thing to gift you before I’m on my way.”

Landon handed her the velvet box. Clearly, it held jewelry of some kind. Lydia weighed it in her hands, wondering what it could be. Popping open the lid, she gasped in surprise.

“Oh, Land,” she whispered in astonishment. “Grandmother’s cameo!”

“It took forever to track down, but it was worth it.”

Lydia picked out the ivory cameo clasped to a double strand of white coral. It was an expensive piece crafted in the image of her grandmother as a wedding present from her grandfather. Lydia hadn’t known her grandmother long, but the wonderful woman would always hold a place in her heart.

When the time came to start selling pieces of her jewelry, she had given away the least sentimental ones she could find. She had cried two days straight when her brother took her grandmother’s necklace.

Landon beamed ear to ear as his sister cried tears of joy.

“Here,” he jumped up. “Let me put it on you.”

“Thank you, Land. I’m so proud of you.”

Connecting the necklace’s clasp with a snap, Landon bent forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. “It’s nice to finally do right by you, sister.”