Duchess by Chance(5)

Molly returned with her tray as the water began to cool. She helped Eva climb out of the bath and slip into her nightdress. After she had drunk her tea and dried her hair, she climbed into the huge soft bed and fell into a deep sleep.



For one heart-stopping moment when she opened her eyes, Eva felt the same sinking feeling she’d experienced every morning when she woke in her small bedroom, located in the drafty attic of her father’s house. But then she realized where she was.

“No more,” she whispered, looking around the beautiful room. “They can hurt me no more.”

Climbing out of bed, Eva then walked to the windows and opened the curtains. It was still early. The rising sun cast a soft shadow over the land, and she had a feeling her new home was going to be a wonderful place to explore. She could see gardens with hedge-lined paths as well as beds filled with flowers and different varieties of plants. In the distance she caught a glimmer of water. A lake? She hoped so. Perhaps she could go swimming when no one was looking. Though who would be there to look, she asked herself, remembering the anger in her husband’s eyes and knowing he’d be leaving as soon as he could. Thinking of the duke made her heart plunge to her toes so she pushed all thoughts of him aside and hurried to answer the maid’s knock on her bedroom door.

After dressing, she left her room. Following Molly’s directions, she headed down the long hallway, stopping to look out the floor-length windows along the way. Her new home was beautiful but a little tired, Eva thought as she looked at the worn carpets that ran the length of the hall. Perhaps she could restore Stratton Lodge to its former glory.

“If you will follow me, your Grace, I will take you to the breakfast parlor.”

“Luton!” Eva squeaked, startled by the butler’s sudden appearance. “Good morning.”

“Good Morning, your Grace.” Luton offered her a smile before turning and making his stately way toward the stairs without further comment.

“Mrs. Stimpel, the cook, and Miss Sullivan, the housekeeper, will meet with you at your convenience, your Grace. Please let me know and I will take you to them when you are ready.”

“Thank you, Luton.” Eva suddenly felt queasy at the prospect of meeting the women.

The breakfast room had a faded red-and-gold patterned carpet and pale gold walls. She could imagine that in its day the room had been very grand. The table, thankfully, was not overly large and was draped in a soft white linen cloth. She sat in the chair Luton pulled out for her and noticed that only one place was laid.

“The…the...uh, the Duke has eaten already?”

“He had a tray in his room, your Grace.”

“Oh, well then, I’ll just have tea and toast, if you please, Luton.” Eva wasn’t sure, but she thought Luton tsked as he left the room.

“Your breakfast, your Grace,” Luton said a while later.

“Tea and toast, Luton?” Eva queried, looking at the plate piled high with ham and eggs. A small basket held toast and muffins and the pot of tea would have served at least ten people.

“Mrs. Stimpel does not often have someone to cook for, your Grace,” was all Luton said before he left the room.

Eva, who had never been a fast eater, took nearly forty minutes to finish the meal. Staggering out of her chair and feeling stuffed to her toes, she then asked Luton to take her to the kitchen where she would tackle Mrs. Stimpel first.

“If you will wait in the lemon parlor, your Grace, I will have Mrs. Stimpel brought to you.”

“That is not necessary, Luton - I am more than happy to go to her,” Eva skirted around the butler to head off in what she hoped was the correct direction.#p#分页标题#e#

She smelt the kitchen before it came into view. The sweet scent of spices tickled her nostrils as she walked into the heated room. She found the cook - a small, stout woman - scrubbing vegetables in a tub of water. Beside her, drinking tea and eating a large wedge of fruitcake, was an older lady, her grey hair scraped into a neat bun.

“Mrs. Stimpel?”

“Yes, I’m Hepitatia Stimpel,” the cook said. “And who are you?”

“The Duchess of Stratton,” Eva said, holding herself very still as the cook looked up.

Silence filled the kitchen as color came and went from Mrs. Stimpel’s cheeks. She lifted her hands out of the water and hastily wiped them on her apron. “Please, your Grace, accept my apologies. I…I was not aware… I mean, you should have sent for me, your Grace. Tis not right for you to be down here.”

Eva smiled as the woman hastened toward her. “Please, Mrs. Stimpel, do not concern yourself. We have not yet been introduced, therefore you did not know my identity.” And I do not look like a Duchess, Eva thought, looking down at her worn grey dress and faded leather boots. Her toes had made small, white marks in the black leather as she had grown. “I merely wished to discuss menus and meal sizes.”