“Yes,” she said. “My name is Cecily Archer. I am the new Duchess of Archington.”
The clerk gasped, and there was another pause. Cecily felt Greta squeeze her hand tightly.
“Pleasure to meet you, your Grace,” the woman behind the counter said at last. “Is there something else with which I can help you?”
Cecily shook her head and smiled again.
“No,” she said. “It was a delight to meet you. You have a lovely shop.”
She heard the woman’s skirts rustle and Cecily assumed that she was curtseying.
“Thank you, your Grace,” she said. Her voice sounded strange, as though she was nervous. Cecily gave her another warm smile and curtseyed again.
“Have a lovely day,” she said.
When they stepped outside the shop, Cecily looked at her maid with confusion.
“I wonder what that was all about,” she said.
Greta patted her hand and Cecily could feel her give her a reassuring smile.
“I am sure she just wasn’t expecting a duchess to come into her shop,” she said. “Especially one as sweet as you.”
Cecily blushed and smiled.
“Just as I said,” she said. “You are too good to me.”
They visited the bookstore and then the milliner, where an idea struck Cecily as the milliner was packaging up the hats she bought.
“Let us go to the haberdashery,” she said, grinning.
She could feel Greta’s eyes on her.
“Of course, your Grace,” she said. “But why?”
Cecily grinned and winked.
“You will see,” she said.
Cecily and Greta spent some time in the haberdashery. Greta was very helpful as she made her selections. When they left the shop, Cecily was vibrating with delight.
“That was very sweet of you,” Greta said warmly.
Cecily blushed.
“I just hope that Val approves of what I did,” she said.
With all her packages in tow, Greta and Cecily made their way back to the carriage. A footman rushed up to them and took the packages from them. All except from one.
“Thank you,” Cecily said, gently pulling that box back from the man and smiling slyly. “I will hold onto this one.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Val was in high spirits as he bade his wife farewell. Seeing her eyes light up yet again filled him with a warmth and pride he had only experienced in the past week. Everything he had been feeling the last few days was new to him, and it came as a great surprise. He had been so thrilled and encouraged that he wrote to his mother about his blooming friendship with Cecily.
For the first time since his accident, Val didn’t think about his scars as he walked. He thought only of the happiness he felt as of late. Most of all, he thought about the joy he saw in his wife’s face every single day.My wife,he thought, his smile widening. The thought suddenly filled him with tingles, and he shivered with delight.
He first went to the bank and tended to business there. Then, he went to his business manager’s office to give him some paperwork to be signed. The gentleman was not there, but his assistant was happy to take the papers. He promised to ensure that he got them as soon as he returned to the office, and Val thanked the short lad.
