Eva closed her eyes and went to sleep with the steady rhythm of her husband’s heart beating beside her own.
They rose early and were soon back on the road for the final leg of their journey. Daniel had watched Eva grow more nervous with each mile until by the last few she was answering him with gestures and single, quietly spoken words. Her questions had long since ceased and now she sat stiff and pale. Entering the city of London, he feared she was about to relieve her stomach of its contents.
“If you don’t breathe soon, you shall swoon, Duchess.”
“It is very large and noisy,” Eva whispered, her eyes, if possible, growing wider as she looked at a group of people gathered around a shop front.
“And smelly,” Daniel added, picking up her slim fingers and twining them through his own. He had hoped to make her laugh, however, she remained silent.
“There is a lady wearing pattens on her shoes, Duchess. Remember I told you about those?” Daniel pointed out the window.
“I remember.”
“We will go driving in my phaeton and I will show you all the sights tomorrow.”
“Y-yes.”
Daniel felt a tug of shame at the stammered word. He had forced this on her, compounded her fears by making her accompany him here. “Eva, I brought you here because I believed it would benefit us both, but I would not have done so if I did not believe I could protect you and keep you safe.”
“And because society is curious about the new Duchess of Stratton.”
“Yes,” Daniel sighed.” That too.”
If possible, her body grew more rigid as the carriage slowed and stopped and Daniel decided to leave any further conversation until they were inside and she was more comfortable.
“Come and meet your new home, Duchess,” Daniel urged, taking her hand in his and climbing from the carriage.
“Wernham - ” Daniel led Eva forward to meet the butler who was coming down the stairs toward them “ - this is your new duchess.”
“Your Grace.” The butler bowed deeply.
“W-wonderful to meet you, Wernham.” Eva took his hand and squeezed it.
Startled, Wernham straightened, his cheeks flushing with color.
Daniel watched his usually stoic butler stammer a few words before smiling at his wife. She definitely had a way with servants; both Luton and Mrs. Stimpel had quickly joined the ranks of her devotees.
“Your maid has arrived, your Grace, and your luggage,” Wernham said, his face now sporting a wide smile. Eva thanked him profusely for his efforts. Daniel refrained from rolling his eyes while watching his butler bow so low, his nose nearly touched the ground.
“I shall never bend him to my will again.”
“Pardon?”
“In minutes, you have reduced my very correct butler to your devoted servant. How will I ever bend him to my will again?”
“It is important, I think, to get on with all the staff, but Claire told me the butler was the most important.”
“Did she? Well, she’s probably right and now that Wernham is your slave, I’m sure the rest of the staff will follow,” Daniel said, taking her hand. “Come. We shall go inside.”
Daniel knew his town house was a male domain, yet he thought it a comfortable one. It was not stuffed full of furniture and the walls for the most were painted in dark colors or paneled with wood, but the pieces were well-crafted and comfortable. Eva trailed behind him as he walked her through some of the rooms, explaining that he rarely used them and that often they stayed locked up for months.#p#分页标题#e#
“I have purchased a piano for this room.” He led her into a large, light-filled room. It was painted in daffodil yellow, with curtains of white and yellow satin stripes hanging at the windows. He watched as Eva studied each wall and piece of furniture, her eyes taking in everything.
“It will be a beautiful music room, Daniel, but are you sure?” She ran a finger over the backs of two large chairs he had placed around a fireplace, satin pillows heaped high on their seats.
“You like to play the piano and I like to listen so I have purchased one to go in this room. Yes, what is it, Wernham?”
Eva looked up as the butler appeared in the doorway.
“A young man has arrived, your Grace, and is requesting to see the duchess. He says his name is Mr. Reginald Winchcomb.”
“Reggie!”
Eva was out the door and running down the stairs before Daniel had moved one foot. He followed at a more sedate pace, wondering how the youngest Winchcomb had made his way to London.
“Eva!” Her brother saw her coming and ran to meet her. They hugged and cried, both as eager as the other to talk.