Page 38 of Three Rules to Wed a Duke

Frances dabbed at her eyes with her napkin when she finished, sighing mournfully. Anthony did not speak for such a long time that she began to wonder if he’d even paid attention in the first place.

“Do you have nothing to say?” she asked, trying to keep her words gentle.

“I’m thinking on it.”

What’s there to think about? The only proper response is fury!she thought bitterly, but she was determined not to spark another disagreement that evening. Instead, she waited patiently for him to proceed.

“It is only proper that I offer them a position,” he finally said.

“Really?” Frances asked in disbelief.

“Don’t you think you are the cause of your uncle’s ire, the reason he vented his spleen on these servants?”

“I suppose that’s true,” she admitted, taken aback by the knowledge.

“Then it stands to reason that we should make this right for them. After all, had I not proposed marriage, you would have had no reason to upset your family. Therefore, I am as much a part of the cause as you, and I should do all I can to put it to rights.”

His simple explanation was both succinct and the most Frances had ever heard him speak at once.

“But I don’t even know who they are or how many. What if you have no need of such a number?” she pressed, though her hope was building.

“It is still my responsibility to help them. They will be employed until they find another position they like better,” Anthony said, returning to his plate as though the matter was settled.

“Are you…” Frances began, but she stopped when she thought that her words might offend him. Still, she had to know. “Are you certain you won’t be uncomfortable with so many people about?”

“Why would I be uncomfortable?” he asked plainly.

“I don’t know, I just thought you seemed like the sort of man who prefers his solitude and the quiet of his own house,” she replied slowly, measuring her words.

“That’s very astute of you to notice. Yes, I do prefer to have quiet and keep my privacy.”

“But these people, so many of them…” she continued, letting her words trail off unspoken.

“I shall just have to accommodate them. As I said, it is our fault they are in this position.” The duke wiped his mouth and slid his chair back. He stood and bowed slightly to Frances. “Now, if you will excuse me.”

And he was gone.

“What was all that?” Frances said aloud after several minutes had passed.

Mrs. Barrett smiled. “That was love, Your Grace.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I have known that man since the day he was born. I have never seen anything like that from him,” she explained with a proud smile, looking quite pleased with herself. “You have made quite an impression on him already, if you don’t mind my saying so.”

“But to just go and hire an untold number of servants? People he’s never even met? I cannot believe it,” Frances said, still astonished.

“He did it for you, Your Grace. He’s trying.”

And with that, Mrs. Barrett took Anthony’s plate and carried it downstairs.

CHAPTER 15

The following day, France awoke early, determined to occupy herself with more of her sewing. She’d made it a point to be on time for breakfast, even arriving in the dining room before Anthony in hopes of making him reveal more of that pleasant demeanor that she knew he was hiding. He was polite enough, as usual, but still closed off and distant, unwilling to engage in her efforts at conversation.

But the disappointment was not going to be the end of her good mood. With the day fair and Frances not yet resigned to accepting the solitude, she sought out a seat in the shade of a tree that overhung the terrace. The book she’d brought down from the library was firmly in hand, and she tried her best to follow the story. However, her attention was constantly drawn to the thoughts that refused to be kept at bay.

To keep to the comfort of the shade, Frances had positioned herself with her back to the gardens, facing the house. From this view, she could see that the back of the structure was just as lovely as the front, an enormous wall of majestic stone blocksand windows that gleamed in the mid-morning sun. As she looked up at the house, she began to wonder about the portion that Anthony had told her was not to be disturbed.

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