Page 42 of Secrets of the Marriage Bed
Chapter Eight
When Julia arose the next morning, to the annoyance of Robins she hurried hertoilettein hopes of meeting Alistair at breakfast. She wanted to see for herself whether what had happened the previous evening augured a new beginning in their marriage. Or whether he’d be back to his cold reserved self.
Doubts pecked at her hopes. Sharp claws tore them to shreds like raptors at a kill. Their lovemaking had been lovely. Extraordinary. And yet... She’d felt as if Alistair, the man, had removed himself from the equation and left her with the dissolute Duke. A man whose emotions were uninvolved and only physical pleasure held sway.
And then he’d walked away as if it had been no more than a handshake.
Was it something she had done? Had she been too bold? Too wanton for a duchess? A chill ran down her spine as she entered the breakfast room.
Empty apart from Grindle.
‘His Grace?’ she asked hating the hesitation in her voice.
‘He left earlier, Your Grace. A meeting with Mr Thackerstone, the land steward. Some issue with a tenant.’
Her heart sank. Could it be he’d left to avoid her? He’d certainly avoided her attempts to talk to him before she fell asleep.
She pushed the fear aside, vowing to face him when he returned. Somewhat disgruntled by her solitary state in the breakfast room, solitary apart from two footmen and Grindle, Julia wondered if she might just as well have taken her breakfast in her chamber.
Grindle poured tea from the pot that Alistair must have drunk from. It was still hot. And it was Oolong. Apparently, she had only missed him by minutes.
She added more sugar than usual. ‘Did His Grace indicate when he might return?’
‘It is a fair distance to the Mollet holding, Your Grace, a good morning’s ride. I doubt we will see him until late this afternoon.’
So what was she to do with herself all day?
There was one duty she had not yet performed. ‘Then I will meet the staff, if you would be so good as to have them assemble in the hall in one hour’s time.’ Allowing them time to finish their morning duties. ‘After that I think a tour of the house would be in order.’
Grindle looked pleased. ‘I will let the housekeeper know, Your Grace.’
* * *
After breakfast, Julia spent the remaining time before meeting with the staff in the library trying to choose a book. She could not keep herself from glancing through the window, wondering if Alistair might return earlier than expected. How could she be missing him already? They had been together last night. A ripple of warmth went through her at the memory.
Yet miss him she did. She missed him and worried. She had the odd feeling something was wrong.
‘The staff are ready, Your Grace,’ Grindle announced. ‘The indoor staff. I think we will leave those employed outside for another day, if that suits you?’
‘I am happy to abide by your advice.’
He led the way to the hall, where some twenty people were gathered in order of importance. She walked down the line meeting everyone from the tweeny, who cleaned the fireplaces before the family were awake, to the jolly cook and the fearsome housekeeper.
Everyone seemed pleased to meet her and she managed a few words with each. The housekeeper then led her on a tour from attics to kitchens where Grindle took over her education and proudly showed off what were the finest wine cellars in the country, according to him.
‘There was a time when things here were not so well run,’ Grindle said lowering his voice. ‘After the old Duke died and this here one was declared dead, the Dowager Duchess nigh on sent the Duchy to the poorhouse.’
Wait! What? ‘His Grace was declared dead?’
Grindle frowned. ‘By his stepmama, he was. Did he not mention it? It is old news now, I suppose. He went off to France during the false peace. He was caught there when war was declared and nothing was heard of him. Sent the old Duke into a decline, it did, and ’tis my belief he died of guilt for sending his heir away in a fit of temper.
‘After that, the Dowager Duchess badgered the House of Lords to have him officially declared dead and Lord Luke made Duke, but Parliament is slow to move when there’s no corpse.’ The old man gave a little shiver of distaste.
Julia knew she should not be gossiping with the servants, but these were things Alistair should have told her and had not.Morethings he should have told her. ‘If not dead, where on earth was he?’
He gave her a piercing stare. ‘Your Grace, to my knowledge he has never said where he was, but whatever happened, His Grace came back a changed man. Older. Well, he would be. But older than his years. More reserved. But he worked day and night to turn the Duchy around.’ He grimaced. ‘Well, that and other things.’
He was hinting at Alistair’s reputation for debauchery, no doubt.
