Page 12 of Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Duchess
Kate turned on her heel and looked out the window. She couldn’t bear the man. He was simply too provocative in his looks and in his speech. “This will never do. I think that we should simply tell Miss Roves and the Earl that we cannot work together.”
“I agree.”
Kate whirled around in surprise. “You do?”
“Of course. You are quite willful and unable to listen to reason. However, I am a man of my word, and I shall see this through to its conclusion despite how trying it will be on my own.” Andrew’s visage remained stony. He dared not let her know how fetching Kate looked with the morning sun shining through the window behind her. He would not rise to her verbal challenges.
Kate stamped her foot. “It seems I am not the one who is trying. You fight my every suggestion. I shan’t spend one more moment in your presence. I must go speak with the cook so that I can finalize the menu for the wedding breakfast.” She reached down and picked up her book of household accounts from the desk.
She hurried from the room. Andrew allowed her a moment to escape before following behind her. “I will come with you. This is a mutual decision to be made. I want to ensure that Harry’s wedding is everything it should be. As I said, I am a man of honor, so we will need to work together.”
“Fine.” Kate refused to look at him. She marched down the hallway, startling a maid who was busy polishing the candle holders.
In the kitchen, the cook and staff looked up at Kate’s entrance with the Duke at her heels. Mrs. Humphrey, the cook, did not know whether she should curtsy or continue to stir the pot hanging above the open flame of the fireplace. It was a rare moment when the lady of the house would bring a visitor into their domain.
Kate realized that she had put her servants at a disadvantage and felt a moment of shame. She had allowed the Duke to upset her. She drew in a breath to compose herself. “Please continue with your task, Mrs. Humphrey. I have gone over the menu for the wedding, and I wish to make a few changes.”
“Of course, My Lady. Hannah. Take over stirring the pudding. Don’t let it scorch.” The cook wiped her hands upon her apron and glanced at the Duke, in awe and unsure of herself.
“Pay me no heed. I am simply here to help plan the wedding. I did not mean to disturb you, Mrs. Humphrey,” Andrew said.
Kate opened the book and read off the first few items. “I know we discussed having sweet rolls and bits of ham and beef at the table, but I think we will need to add an additional dish as our guest list has grown by an additional twenty people.”
“It shan’t be a problem, ma’am. I have spoken to the butcher’s boy just yesterday and they promised to provide additional meats in their delivery. I have taken the liberty of asking for two girls to be sent from the village to help out the week of the wedding. They will assist with duties in both the kitchen and in the guests’ rooms.”
Kate felt a small glow of pleasure that her servant displayed such efficiency in front of the Duke. She was able to run a household with no input from a husband.
“What of the cake, Mrs. Humphreys?” Andrew said. “There must be a wedding cake and chocolate at the tables for our guests.”
Mrs. Humphreys bobbed her head. “Yes, Your Grace. I’ve soaked the fruit for weeks in the rum. It should be large enough to serve all the guests.”
“Very good.” Andrew nodded. He turned to Kate. “I see your staff is more than capable of handling things. You run an excellent household, Miss Avery. You shall make someone a fine wife. Shall we walk to the family chapel so we can discuss the flowers?”
Kate shook her head. His mention that she would make a fine wife when he knew she was past a suitable age for marriage wascruel beyond measure. She fought to keep her emotions under control. Suddenly, she felt drained from the constant battle of words. “I feel quite unwell suddenly. I think I should rest, and then perhaps, we can discuss the flowers this afternoon.”
Andrew thought she did look quite pale. Perhaps he had been too harsh in his words earlier and had caused her greater distress than was warranted. “Shall I ask a servant to attend to you in your room?”
“No.” Kate shook her head. She fled from the kitchen, leaving Andrew standing bewildered amongst the kitchen staff.
Upstairs in her bedchamber, Kate paced. Now that she was alone, she felt silly to have let his words distress her. When he said that she would make a good wife, it wounded her. She knew that such an event would not occur. She was always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Of course, Andrew would have no way of knowing this. When he chose to marry, he would have a whole stable of women willing to accept his proposal. Kate, however, would have to sit and wait until a man chose to notice her. Something she knew would not transpire.
She flung herself on the bed. Her tears, when they came, were brief. Kate did not care to wallow in self-pity for long. If she allowed herself to dwell on her lack of prospects, she would simply languish away from despair. She wiped her eyes. A quick glance in the mirror told her that her face was pale, and her hair had fallen from its combs. If she dared to appear downstairs, hergrandmother would proclaim that she looked unseemly and that wouldn’t do.
She sat down and looked at the damage her emotions had wrought.
“I am worried. I’ve never seen you so out of sorts, ma’am,” Sally said. She moved swiftly next to her mistress and attempted to repair Kate’s hair.
“That man is insufferable,” Kate sputtered. “If I say blue, he says green. If I say the weather is pleasant, he will claim it is stormy.”
Sally kept her face neutral. “He is a man used to having his own way.”
Kate gave an unladylike snort. “And I am a woman who will not simper and act a fool for any man no matter how handsome he is.”
Sally wisely kept her own counsel and focused on securing Kate’s curls.
A short time later, Kate descended the stairs and felt ready to proceed with planning the wedding. However, she failed to find Andrew in any of the downstairs rooms. Perhaps he had retired to his room or gone to walk about the grounds.
“Mr. Scoville, have you seen His Grace? We were to inspect the chapel this morning.”
