Duchess by Chance(6)

“Your Grace,” the other lady said as she, too, came forward to meet Eva, “I am the housekeeper, Miss Sullivan.”

“I hope you were not displeased with the breakfast, your Grace?” Mrs. Stimpel rushed in.

“Oh, no,” Eva quickly said, looking at the horrified expression on the cook’s face. “The breakfast was wonderful and the eggs lighter than any I have tasted. However I do not have extravagant tastes and although my appetite is healthy, I would be happy with smaller meals.”

“Smaller meals, your Grace?”

“Yes, Mrs. Stimpel, smaller meals. And once the Duke has left, I would be happy with simple fare,” she added.

“Simple fare, your Grace?” The cook appeared confused at the concept.

How did one explain simple fare Eva wondered, having eaten it her entire life. Waving her hand vaguely, she said. “We will discuss my needs once the duke has left, Mrs. Stimpel. For now I would just like you to know that I do not eat a large amount of food. Therefore I have no wish to sit down to a meal the size of the wonderful but large breakfast you served me today.”

“Of course, your Grace,” the cook said, lowering her eyes and bobbing into a curtsy.

Next, Eva talked briefly to the housekeeper, assuring her that until she found her feet she was happy to leave things as they were.

Feeling a flush of elation as she left the kitchens over her success with the cook and housekeeper, Eva thought maybe she could establish a civilized relationship with her husband. Surely he would not get angry with her for approaching him? Throwing back her shoulders, she asked directions to his study and before long was knocking on the solid wooden door.

“Enter!”

Eva nearly ran as he roared out that single word, but instead, she gripped the handle and opened the door.

He rose slowly as she entered and, dear Lord, if possible his scowl had grown more menacing since yesterday.

“Good morning, your Grace.”

“You require something, Duchess?”

Eva forged on even though his tone did not suggest she should. “Would you care to take tea with me, your Grace?”

She stood very still while his slate-grey eyes ran over her. He looked like an angry beast that had been disturbed in his lair. His hair stood off his head, a shadow marked his jaw, which suggested he was in dire need of a shave, and his clothes appeared so rumpled, Eva wondered if he had, in fact, slept in them.#p#分页标题#e#

“Please accept my apologies, Duchess, but I have no time for tea this morning.”

Eva bit her lip as he held her gaze for several long-drawn-out seconds. His grey eyes were piercing in their intensity and she wanted to shuffle from one foot to the other like a child. Yet she was made of sterner stuff; she held herself still and waited.

“I will be leaving for London as soon as my work here is complete and I would like to reach there by the end of the week. Therefore I have little time for…tea.”

She winced at his precise pronunciation of the word; there was little doubt in her mind he found her request ridiculous.

“Is everything to your satisfaction, Duchess?”

“Pardon, your Grace?”

“Is everything here at Stratton to your satisfaction?” Eva watched as he unclenched his fists and braced them on the desk before him, his eyes steady and unwavering as they studied her.

“Yes thank you, your Grace.”

“Excellent. Well, if that is all, Duchess, I really must return to my work.”

Eva dropped into a curtsy and quickly turned to leave the room.

“Do you ride?”

Gripping the door handle, she nodded but did not face him after he asked the quesiton.

“I have a grey mare that will suit your needs and will instruct my staff to show you the best paths to ride when you are ready.”

“Thank you but I do not want to put you to any trouble, your Grace.”

Eva wasn’t sure but thought he sighed.

“This will be your home, Duchess, I think in time you will wish to explore it.”

Eve heard the impatience in his voice and reluctantly turned back to face him.

“Of course, thank you again. She waited to see if he said anything further and when he did not she bobbed her head and quickly left the room, closing the door softly behind her.





CHAPTER TWO





Sinking into the chair, Daniel stared at the door. The anger in him was so close to the surface, he feared one wrong word or action from someone would see it unleashed. He would be just like his father then.

The old duke had raised his son using discipline. No matter the situation, if he felt Daniel needed whipping, he undertook the punishment with relish. Daniel had learnt to keep out of his father’s way, yet he’d never learnt to be submissive when the punishment was being meted out. He had taunted his father, smiling through his pain, enraging him further until one day his mother had tried to intervene.