Page 8 of A Lady's Christmas
“On the one hand, I think you’re apologizing, but on the other, I think you’re setting up some elaborate plan. As such, I’m left in disbelief.” Gwen should thank him and let it go, but except for some random moments when he was kind, he had been the worst part of her life.
“I’m sorry, Gwendolyn. I will endeavor to earn your friendship.” The sincerity in his voice and expression takes her by surprise and a knot forms in her chest.
“Well, that’s a lovely start,” Lady Chervil chirps.
Tricia, the maid, brings the tea, saving Gwen from responding.
* * *
In her bedroom, Gwen paces and tries to figure out what it is that Theo is really after.
“You’ll wear a path in that rug if you keep going like that.” Lady Chervil breezes in wearing a flowing lavender dress. “Are you going to change for dinner?”
Stepping behind the dressing screen, Gwen begins to change. “I didn’t realize so much time had passed.”
“What has you so upset?”
Gwen wants to interview all the servants rather than dine with Theo, who is acting so strange. “I just don’t understand why the duke is so, so…”
“Handsome, gracious, warm, or was charming the word you were looking for, my dear?”
“I need someone to button this dress.” Crossing the room, Gwen pulls the cord for a maid before sitting on the edge of the bed.
Honoria, sitting on the chair at the small writing desk, fusses with a bit of lace at the waist of her bodice. “You really should travel with a maid.”
“I didn’t bring my maid when I left home to join the society. I found her a good position in the home of the Earl of Brent.” Unexpected emotions rise inside Gwen, and she has to take several deep breaths to push them down.
There’s a knock at the door before it opens and Ella the upstairs maid pokes her head in. “Did you need something, miss?”
“Yes, Ella. Can you help me dress?”
With a bright smile, Ella comes and closes the door.
Gwen stands so her dress can button up the back. “Thank you.” Returning to the conversation with Honoria, Gwen says, “He has never been nice to me. I know you see a handsome charming duke, but I see a boy who tormented me and a man who ignored his uncle most of the time, and when he did grace us with his presence, he criticized everything. I was the most flawed of all his complaints.”
“Perhaps he’s seen the error of his ways.” Honoria smiles and fusses with her emerald ring.
“He’s up to something. I just have to figure out what it is.”
“There you are, miss.” Ella brushes out the skirt.
“You look lovely, Gwen.” Honoria’s bright happy company is welcome.
“Thank you both.”
Once Ella leaves, Honoria says, “He may have realized he missed you when he came home and found you gone.”
For a brief second, Gwen considers this. “No. He may miss all the things I did to keep his estates running and profitable, but he certainly never missed me.”
“I noticed when we drove up and you mentioned having first met the duke here, you smiled. So, it wasn’t always contentious between the two of you.” Honoria may seem like she’s frivolous and not paying attention, but clearly, she’s keenly observant.
Gwen wishes she could say that Theo had always been one thing or the other, but there have been times when he was kind and perhaps it’s those glimpses of the man he could be that make her so critical of his behavior in general. “He was very kind to a small child when she was afraid and brokenhearted. On that day, I thought it might all be all right, if this boy could be my friend. We had two lovely weeks playing in the gardens while I got to know my new home and the duke.”
“It sounds lovely.” Honoria smiles. “What changed?”
A knot forms in Gwen’s chest. “He had to go back to school and then we didn’t see him for several years. When he returned, he was twelve and full of himself. I don’t know why he teased and tormented me, but after that, he was horrible every summer until he went to Oxford. Then he came less often.”
“Was he never again the kind boy you met that first summer?” The sympathy in Honoria’s eyes makes Gwen want to cry.
