Page 59 of An Unwanted Widow for the Duke
She followed the housekeeper up the grand staircase. The tall, mullioned windows opposite the banister distracted her a little. She loved how the sunlight streamed through the glass and hit the stone. The house was old, but it smelled faintly of roses.
She reminded herself to ask Mrs. Everly what was done to make that happen.
Eventually, Mrs. Everly stopped. Wilhelmina’s heart rate quickened as she lifted her head to see a pair of tall brown doors. The housekeeper opened one with a flourish. It was clear that she was proud of the rooms.
“Here are your chambers, Your Grace. They had been carefully prepared and decorated specially for you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Everly.”
Wilhelmina stepped inside, all while holding her breath. She almost gasped, for the place did look like it was specially designed for her, with shades of blue not too different from her eyes, her favorite shade of green, and the hushed browns in the paneling.
The first thing she noticed was the sitting room, comfy and welcoming. By the window, a writing desk with quill and paper waited for her. Her heart hammered in her chest with excitement.
A thoughtful gesture.
The bedchamber itself was spacious, with heavy drapes framing her bed. This time, she didn’t smell roses, but lavender, meant to soothe her to sleep.
Her eyes were eventually drawn to a door standing discreetly to the left. Mrs. Everly immediately noticed.
“That door leads to His Grace’s chambers,” she explained matter-of-factly.
Wilhelmina felt a flush crawl up her neck. She tried her best not to stare too long at the connecting door.
Of course, that was the way with husbands and wives. It was not her first time getting married, after all.
Still, this was different.
With Robert, the rules were clear. Or rather, there weren’t even any rules, because her first husband preferred the company of men. Their marriage was more of a friendship, and it worked well for both of them.
Gerard was harder to read. He didn’t want any more children, but the way he looked at her made her feel…
All right, she wasn’t sure what it was.
Light footsteps approached. Wilhelmina turned to find a young woman around her age.
“This is June. She’s your lady’s maid,” Mrs. Everly announced.
“Nice meeting you, June,” Wilhelmina said with a smile.
The maid’s brown eyes lit up at the greeting. “It’s my pleasure, Your Grace.” She bobbed a quick curtsy. “I’m here to assist you with anything you need. At the moment, if it pleases Your Grace, I could help you change for the tour.”
“Oh, yes. That would be lovely, June,” Wilhelmina replied, trying her best to sound more confident in her new role as a duchess.
The young maid led her into a dressing room where she could have privacy. Her hands were quick and graceful as she loosened Wilhelmina’s wedding gown and helped her into a softer one more suitable for walking.
“Your Grace, do not hesitate to tell me if my work isn’t up to your standards,” June offered softly.
“I believe you know your job better than I do,” Wilhelmina replied lightly.
“I tended to a viscountess before, Your Grace. I learned how to style hair when I was working for her. However, I know that each lady is different. You can tell me your preferences.”
“I will tell you when I need something done in a certain way, then,” Wilhelmina promised.
When Wilhelmina was finally dressed for walking, Mrs. Everly reappeared. “Your Grace, if you are ready, I can now give you a tour of the house.”
“I am ready, Mrs. Everly,” Wilhelmina said, feeling a little excited.
It wasn’t a tour of the forest, like the one she and her siblings had when they were little. Their father loved hunting, and it was simply part of growing up. Still, there was something magical about exploring someone’s history.
