Page 73 of Trapped with the Forbidden Duke
“Your Grace!” she greeted. “It’s an honor to have you here. What can I serve you?”
“You know I am the Duchess?” Edwina asked.
“Well, I assumed.” The young baker gave a sheepish smile. “I am friends with Lily, you see. She told me she was your lady’s maid, Your Grace.”
Edwina turned to Lily, smiling brightly. “How wonderful! In that case, I have heard that His Grace frequents this bakery and gets some venison pies. I would like to try the same.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Shall I wrap them up for you?”
Edwina hesitated. “Yes, but… well, it would be rather rude of me not to try one first. I shall try one now and take the rest with me.”
“I’ll only be a few moments. If you wait outside in the fresh air, I’ll bring them out to you. It gets rather hot in here, and I wouldn’t want you to ruin your pretty dress.”
Edwina nodded and headed back outside with Lily, where she watched a couple stroll along a nearby lake.
Lily cleared her throat, drawing Edwina’s attention. “Stormhold Lake has been a rather pretty spot for many couples,” she explained. “Not all of them villagers. Many nobles promenade nearby. Just beyond, there is a lovely deer park, with a bridge, where couples might pause for a few moments and watch the passing swans.”
Edwina laughed quietly. “You overheard His Grace telling me about the things I can do in the village.”
Lily nodded. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, only?—”
“I did not think you did,” Edwina was quick to assure her. “Thank you for the suggestion.”
“Of course, Your Grace. There is also a lovely, little clearing in Green Bank Woods. It has a small pavilion that somebody set up for a play once, and it was simply never disassembled. Many bring their own blankets, but it is a lovely place. Very peaceful and private.”
Edwina’s mind raced. She did not quite understand why her thoughts went back to that night in the hallway, when the Duke’s hand slipped beneath her nightgown. It was far too scandalous to think of such a thing in public, and yet… she was rather interested in the idea.
Just how peaceful and private was it?
She was stopped from wondering further when the young baker returned clutching a bag of pies, which she handed to Lily, and passed a wrapped pie to Edwina.
“Give His Grace my mama’s thanks, Your Grace. And thank you for your patronage today.”
“I am assuming His Grace has an account with you if his cook purchases from you regularly?”
“Yes, Your Grace. He is most generous and keeps the account replenished even if he does not always purchase as much from month to month. My, even just one month of his support can keep us afloat for half a year.”
“How generous,” Edwina murmured, realizing how it went in line with her husband’s generosity towards her family.
He was a rich man, and he used his wealth well and selflessly. Even Stormhold Hall, while opulent and stunning, was not as lavish as one may have thought. It was as if the Duke did not enjoy a massive display of wealth but spared no expense when it came to others.
“He knows what it is like to rely on family, after all,” the baker added. “He has been kind to us, and in turn, my papa supplied His Grace a lot of safe food, given what he was going through. We remember those times. Excuse me, I must get back to work.”
Edwina could only politely nod as the young girl hurried away. She turned back, frowning.
Why would the Duke have needed ‘safe’ food? And why would he go to a village bakery to get it?
What, exactly, had he gone through?
Edwina ate her pie as she walked around the rest of the village. She met a jeweler who tried to sell her pearl-drop earrings, and she could not help but give in.
“You are as generous as His Grace,” the jeweler commended, after Edwina had asked how the business was faring and if she or the Duke could be of any help. “It has been a while since I have had the honor of crafting a piece for a lady. I believe the last one was for his aunt.”
“You do not make anything for her now?”
The jeweler looked alarmed for a moment before handing Lily Edwina’s bag. “I have spoken out of turn, Your Grace. Do enjoy your afternoon!”
Edwina, confused, could only call after her to wait, but the woman had already disappeared into another part of her store. So she left, frowning.
