Page 32 of His Darling Duchess
“It’s still almost a mile to the house,” Stowe advised her as the carriage began to climb a shallow slope. “At the top of this hill.”
Eager for her first sight of her new home, Aurelia leaned to the window, a gasp escaping her lips as it came into view. Built of golden Costwold stone, Stowe Hall was a magnificent building, much larger than she had expected even for a ducal seat.
“Why, it’s a palace!” she gaped. “It looks brand new!”
“It is, almost. No sooner did my father inherit the duchy than he ordered it built, to replace Stowe Castle, which is a drafty old pile on the next hilltop over.” He gestured to the other carriage window, and she saw a sturdy grey castle on that side. “It looks all right from here, but up close it’s falling into disrepair, and to be honest would cost far too much to bring it up to a habitable standard. Nobody has lived there in forty years.”
The castle looked forbidding and cold against the grey sky, and Aurelia looked quickly away, returning to the much more comforting prospect of Stowe Park. “From what you have told me of your father, he sounds a most unpleasant man, but I suppose I must be grateful for his decision to build a new house. Stowe Park looks exceedingly comfortable.”
“It is.” Stowe’s mouth twitched into that almost-smile she was coming to know well. “Every modern convenience you can think of has been installed. There are even bathing-rooms attached to all the principal bedchambers, with the water piped down from cisterns on the roof and heated in copper boilers installed in the attic.”
Aurelia had never heard of such a thing, and gaped at him in astonishment. “That sounds positively decadent!”
“It is, but it’s an indulgence one can quickly become accustomed to.”
The carriage was slowing now, the driver bringing the horses down from a trot to a walk, and then at last halting them at the very foot of the gracious sweep of steps leading up to the handsome double front doors, standing wide open. Servants were filing out to stand on the steps, smiles on every face as they waited to greet their lord and his new lady. A footman opened the carriage door, and Stowe rose to jump out, turning immediately to offer his hand to Aurelia.
A light cheer went up as she stepped down, her hand held firmly in Stowe’s, and she deliberately pasted on her widest smile. She would not for a moment have the servants suspect she was anything other than a young bride besotted with her husband, not when she knew how much Stowe cared for the people here. Taking a firm grasp on his arm, she turned her face up to his and gushed;
“Oh, Stowe Park is even more beautiful than I had imagined, my lord! And all your people come out in the cold to greet us; no, I shall not have it. Inside, I pray! I would not keep you all out here, not when I have no doubt there are lovely warm fires inside. Nobody shall catch a chill for my sake!”
“Well done,” Stowe said softly, for her ears alone, as broad smiles broke out on every face. “Come, everyone,” he raised his voice. “My duchess has little liking for the cold, let us show her Stowe Park’s comforts and leave winter outside!”
That raised a little cheer, and the servants turned to follow as Stowe led Aurelia up the steps, through the doors and into a magnificent hallway all tiled in white marble. A broad staircase curved away to the right, leading up to the first floor, emerald-green carpets lining the steps held in place with polished brass stair-rods.
Aurelia had been inside both Kensington and St. James Palaces, as well as innumerable homes of the wealthy and titled in both London and the countryside, but very few of them could hold a candle to Stowe Park in terms of grandeur. She just about managed to keep herself from gaping, smiling graciously and following Stowe through open doors which proved to lead to a magnificently furnished salon, a crackling fire in the grate to welcome them.
“Mrs. Henley,” Stowe said, and a plump woman with a lace cap over her grey hair and a smart navy dress stepped forward, curtsying deeply. “My lady, allow me to present my housekeeper here at Stowe Park, Mrs. Henley, who does an exceptional job of keeping the house running smoothly.”
“I am delighted to meet you, Mrs. Henley,” Aurelia said warmly. “Stowe Park is a jewel, a brightly polished one, due no doubt to your excellent management.”
“Thank you, Your Grace; I couldn’t do it without my staff. We’re that honoured to welcome our new mistress.”
Rhys watched with awe as yet again, Aurelia took his staff under her spell with a few well-chosen words and that smile which was like pure sunshine. Even Mrs. Henley, who Rhys had always thought rather stern if not unkind, blossomed out in a smile of her own.
Aurelia requested that the housekeeper present her assistants and principal staff members, and would have stood to greet every one of them, trying to learn all their names, but Stowe interrupted after the assistant housekeeper, head cook, butler and land steward.
“Mrs. Henley, I do appreciate all the staff coming out to greet us, but it’s been a long day. There will be plenty of opportunities for the duchess to meet all the staff in the days to come.”
“Of course, my lord.” Mrs. Henley bobbed a curtsy, and as though that was a signal, the waiting staff all melted discreetly away with a wave of bows and curtsies.
“Tea,” Rhys requested as Mrs. Henley reached the door, and the housekeeper acknowledged the request with,
“At once, my lord.”
He didn’t doubt that the redoubtable woman would have a maid with a laden tray back at the door within five minutes, so lost no time in turning his attention back to his wife.
“Or would you prefer to rest?”
“I thank you, I have rested sufficiently well in the carriage.” She was looking about her with bright, lively inquiry, crossing the room to look out of the tall sash windows at the far end, obviously hoping to take in a little of the view before the light faded completely. “What a delightful prospect, with that little lake down in the hollow and the woods beyond!”
“You have the same view from your suite,” Rhys told her, pleased she liked it. “It’s directly above where we stand.”
“How pleasant it will be to wake up and see that every morning.” She turned to smile at him, and he thought she was genuinely happy with what she had found at Stowe Park; either that or she was the finest actress he had ever met.
“I am glad it pleases you.” He walked over to stand beside her, point out a few local landmarks. They could just see Stowe Castle off to the far left of the view, lowering atop its hilltop, looking very much the grim medieval fortress it had been built as.
“How could it not?” Aurelia laid her hand on his sleeve, and even as he had in the carriage, he found himself instinctively retreating. Determined to conquer the impulse to flinch back - it had been a long time since anyone touched him with anykindness - he made himself stand still and lift his hand to place over hers. She had given her gloves to one of the footmen, as had he, and her hand felt very soft and small under his fingers, callused from holding reins and swinging a sword.
