Page 45 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Contrite Duke
The butler bowed.
“It is a pleasure,” he said. “Would you like for me to have the servants arrange tea once you’ve finished that?”
Lydia shook her head.
“I might take tea later, if Mother is interested,” she said. “But for now, I wish to see Father.”
Coulton bowed again.
“He’s in his study,” he said. “Would you like for me to escort you?”
Lydia nodded, giving the butler another kind smile.
“No, thank you,” she said. “I will seek him out after I get this stuff off my hands.”
The butler bowed once more.
“Very well,” he said kindly. “Just leave the items there when you’ve finished. I will see to it that everything is put away.”
Lydia nodded.
“Very good,” she said.
Coulton left, and for a moment, she allowed herself to be distracted by the task of trying to clean her hands. But that didn’t take her long, as the turpentine was quick to remove all the stains from her hands. She carefully rested her hands on some of the cloths that the butler had handed her so as to not get any stains on her dress. She was wearing an older dress, since she had anticipated getting dirty in her quest to load up the supplies. Still, it wouldn’t do to return to Michael looking as though she had played in an ink well.
Once her hands were free of ink, however, the nagging thoughts returned. She found the downstairs washroom, rinsing her hands with fragrant soap and water to remove the pungent smell of the turpentine. Then, she went on her next mission. Unable to quell her curiosity, Lydia hurried to her father's study, determined to get answers. She knocked on the door, and when her father's muffled voice granted permission, she entered.
When the earl saw his daughter enter his office, he leapt from his seat, smiling brightly at her.
“Hello, darling,” he said. “What a pleasant surprise. Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?”
Lydia dutifully embraced her father, following him back to his desk, where he offered her a seat and reclaimed his own.
“It was a short-notice trip,” she said. “My school will be opening at Strawbridge Estate in just one month’s time. I had to come retrieve the old school supplies from the schoolroom. I hope that’s all right.”
The earl beamed at his daughter, nodding eagerly.
“That is perfectly all right, my dear,” he said. “I do hope that you will consider staying for dinner. Your mother and sister will be thrilled to see you. They are out for the day as of now, but they would be heartbroken if they didn’t get to see you during your visit.”
Lydia shrugged.
“Perhaps,” she said. “But I came to see you specifically just now. May I ask you about something?”
“Of course, my dear," he replied, looking up from his papers. "What is it?”
Lydia took a deep breath. She was nervous about her questions, now that she was preparing to ask them. But she was determined to understand what was happening.
“It's about the little vase from your collection,” Lydia said. “Coulton told me it was sent to Michael on our wedding day. Why was it sent to him? Was it a wedding present?”
All the good cheer vanished from her father’s face. His cheeks went pale, and he didn’t meet his daughter’s eyes. Lydia’s heart sank. What could he possibly have to say that would make him react in such a way?
Chapter Twenty-four
“Milord?” Patterson said, pulling Michael’s attention away from the window in his study.
Michael turned around, giving the butler a small smile.
“Yes?” he asked.
