Page 20 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
Lily dipped her head. “Yes but what will people say if we go to church without the Duke? Will they say mean things to you?”
Ava's heart sank. She had not realized that her daughter knew about the various insults she endured if she went out in public before she was married.
“Don’t be silly Lily. Why would they do that? I am their duchess.”
Lily still looked skeptical but did not say anything more. Ava sighed in frustration, “Come, we have a trip to the haberdashery today for your curtains. Is that not exciting?”
Lily gave a wan smile and nodded listlessly. Fabric selection was not something she particularly enjoyed.
“And afterward, I thought we might go for a picnic!” Ava clapped her hands trying to elicit some excitement from Lily and was gratified when Lily’s face brightened.
“Oh! That should be quite nice,” she said quietly.
Ava smiled sadly at her daughter, really noticing for the first time how subdued she was. When Lily was a baby and unaware of her surroundings and the possibility of people’s reactions, Ava remembered how exuberant she had been—how enthusiastic about play, jumping on her grandfather without reserve and running in the hallways, screaming at top volume. But as she matured and understood the life they lived, she had gotten quieter and smaller as if she had less right to be here than anyone else. Ava could not believe she had never grasped that before, but then, she had been caught up in her own shame and attempting to make herself as unnoticeable as possible.
All that is going to change from this minute on.
“Come, I want you to wear your sunflower yellow dress, and we shall go visiting after our picnic. It is time you met some children and had companions to play with.”
Ava felt a pang then, of sorrow, that Edward was not willing to give Lily brothers and sisters that she could grow up with. Ava resolved to try again and talk to him calmly. Somehow, she needed to make him see that their marriage need not be the barren waste that it was now.
She went to the kitchens as Lily ran off to change and found Mrs. Sutton hard at work, baking bread. “Good morning, Tina. And how goes it here?”
The housekeeper looked up and smiled. “Well, there is much to be done, and I wanted to speak to you about it, Your Grace.”
Ava nodded. “Of course, shall we go to your office?”
Tina had a tiny cubicle adjoining the kitchens where she kept the keys to all the simple drawers and the pantry and was able to make lists of what or who was needed for the upkeep of the house. Ava closed the door behind herself and turned to Tina, who seemed rather nervous.
“What is the matter?”
“Well… it is, well… His Grace summoned me the other night and emphasized to me that you are in charge of all household decisions, and so I should consult with you.”
Ava was surprised by this news and wondered if it had anything to do with her outburst, but Tina was still speaking.
“So, I wanted to ask you if you could see about getting a full-time cook, seeing as housekeeping duties have increased significantly since you arrived.” She held up a hand in a placating way. “Not that I mind, of course, but I find that I am stretched too thin.”
“No need to explain further Tina.” Ava cut in. “Of course, you are stretched thin, and we should get a full-time cook. Do you have anyone in mind?”
“Well… my sister, Louise, is quite a good cook. She even went to France for a wee time and learned a few French dishes.”
Ava remembered Louise. “Of course. Please have her come to the castle for an interview, but not today as I am taking Lily out for some recreation. In fact, I was hoping you could pack us a picnic.”
Tina’s eyes lit up. “Of course. Anything for the little angel. She is so polite and sweet.”
“Yes, she is.”
“I shall have something ready for you in two shakes of a lamb’s tail,” Tina said.
“Thank you, Mrs. Sutton.” Ava smiled before turning to leave.
“You are very welcome, Ma’am.”
Ava walked out, still pondering Mrs. Sutton’s words.Why did Edward tell her that?
While she was gratified that he would make her position in the household clear, it was still intriguing to her. It deepened the mystery of who he really was.
Perhaps he does care, just a little bit, for us.
