“Did you hate her so much that you are allowing your hatred to wash over two innocent little girls? Have they not lost enough in this world?”
Who was it that he had hated so much? Surely it could only have been Eleri and Ffion’s mother. But who was she to the Duke that he hated her so? And how could that very hatred have spilled over onto two such helpless and wonderful little children?
Although she could still hear voices from within, they seemed to have lowered just a little. Finally coming to her senses and realizing that she could very easily be discovered any moment, Georgette had hurried away without finding out anything about the woman who had spoken to the Duke in such a forthright manner. Surely only a relation could speak such for anybody else would undoubtedly have been thrown from Draycott Hall.
When they finally reached the great door of Draycott Hall, Georgette looked over the little girls once more, checking that everything was in place. Their little blue bonnets were straight and their gowns immaculate.
“Well then, let us go to church,” Georgette said brightly and was pleased to see that both girls smiled back at her response.
Chapter 11
Just as Georgette had feared, the carriage ride did, for the most part, proceed in silence. When she and the girls had walked down the stone steps towards the carriage, the Duke was also making his way from quite another direction altogether. Georgette had briefly wondered where he had come from before surmising that he had likely been into the stables for some reason or other.
“Allow me,” the Duke said gruffly and held out his hand for her to take so that he might help her into the carriage.
Once again, Georgette was rather surprised by his behaviour. After all, the coach driver had been ready and waiting to help her in and, once the Duke had seen that she was safely in the carriage, he stood to one side as the driver lifted and handed the children in.
Georgette thought it such a strange thing that a man who did not even bother to say good morning was so keen to help her into the carriage. She really did wonder at the man’s character and if she would ever truly know what it was that passed through his mind.
When he climbed into the carriage and sat alone on the seat opposite Georgette and the girls, she rather thought that nobody would ever know what it was that ran through the Duke of Draycott’s mind. There was something about him which seemed so very apart from everybody else. It was not simply a matter of his title and elevated status, she was sure. It was as if he himself thought that he was so very separate. In truth, she did not even think it was an arrogant thought, but rather a very sad one.
Ffion’s tiny hand in her own finally pulled Georgette from her musings. Whilst Eleri sat quite contentedly looking out of the window, her tiny body sitting a little sideways on the seat to accommodate her observations, Ffion obviously felt the weight of atmosphere settle about her. Without any other movement, the little girl had gently wriggled her hand into her governess’ and, when Georgette took the little hand and gave it a squeeze, she elicited no response whatsoever. It was almost as if Ffion needed the comfort but did not want the Duke, sitting opposite, to witness it.
Once again, Georgette was drawn into thoughts of the curious relationship between the little girls and the Duke of Draycott.
The Duke seemed to sit like a statue, comfortable in his own the presence, his silence rather more natural than determined. Georgette could not help thinking that he looked very smart indeed in his spotless tan coloured breaches, gleaming brown knee boots, and deep brown tailcoat and matching waistcoat. The crisp white necktie of his shirt was rather high collared, as was the neck of his waistcoat. It rather gave him the appearance of sitting up very straight and tall. The stance also made him appear somewhat imposing; intimidating even, although his countenance was neither of those things. Rather, he seemed simply to be at rest; at one with his own thoughts.
With the flicker of his eyes, Georgette knew that he was aware of her close study of him and, feeling her cheeks flush, she hurriedly looked away from him and out of the window. She remained that way for several minutes, wishing that they would arrive at the church. Whilst Daisy had claimed it to be ten minutes, Georgette thought the journey felt so very much longer. Of course, discomfort rather had a habit of distorting time.
Georgette maintained her surveillance of the countryside until she felt Ffion squirm a little at her side. Immediately looking down at the child, she could see that her head had dropped, and she was looking rather blindly at her lap. Casting her eyes up just a little, Georgette could see that the Duke was staring quite fixedly at the little girl. He was so intent upon his study of her that he did not this time recognize that Georgette was looking at him with equal intensity.