Page 15 of Once Upon a Winter's Tale
He resembled the man who used to work as underbutler on their estate years ago. Albert remembered him as a kind man.
Sometimes household occupations ran in families. Perhaps they were related.How strange.Brianna would know his name.
Soft footsteps in the short hall revealed her approach, and he turned back to the door as two ladies entered.
“Your Grace, I am Brianna’s mother, Lady Thomas.”
He turned the name over in his mind and was struck by the resemblance between the mother and daughter. Lady Thomas was a slightly more mature version of Brianna. This was what Brianna would look like when she reached the age of his mother. He was unsure why, but that made him smile.
“The Duke of Kendall, my lady,” he said with an elegant bow. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I appreciate Brianna’s accompanying me to the village. This is my first visit to the property. Her guidance will be of tremendous help.”
He wondered why they lived in the dowager house on his Devon property. He started to ask but held back. Perhaps his father’s adage to listen first would supply the answers he sought.
He looked at the younger woman. “Miss Brianna, are you ready to show me about the village?”
“Yes, Jane and I are ready,” she said, smiling. “I have been looking forward to showing you some of my favorite places and people in the village.”
“I promise not to keep her out too long,” Albert said, before escorting Brianna and her maid to the carriage.
West opened the door to the sleigh as they approached. “Your Grace,” the footman said, giving a quick bow.
“The village is only about twenty minutes,” Brianna said. “I cannot wait to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Crustin. They own my favorite shop.”
“And what would that be, Brianna?” Albert said with an amused smile.
“The bakery, of course! The smell of bread baking is probably the most wonderful scent on earth. I should be three hundred pounds if I allowed myself to eat much of it, but I do allow myself to smell it. Mrs. Crustin always has a small package set aside for my mother and me. She is almost like a grandmother to me. I’ve never known any other family but Mama, and my pets.”
The wind blew the white flakes into small tornados of winter as the sturdy horse pulled the sled into town. Three bells mounted on the harness collar jangled softly as the horse set a lively pace into the village, the song sounding clear in the crisp winter environment. Albert inhaled the morning air as it whipped across his face.
Brianna snuggled beneath thick blankets, and warming bricks heated her feet. Her cheeks shone with a bright pink and her eyes glistened with wonder. Alfred wished he could tug her close and keep her warm with his body heat, but with her maid sitting across from him, that couldn’t happen. He noticed Jane stayed to herself, while Brianna became animated with excitement as they entered the village.
When they slowed in front of the bakery, Brianna lightly touched his arm. “Can we stop here? That’s Crustin’s Bakery.”
*
“Good afternoon, MissBrianna! What a wonderful surprise to see you! Who is your new friend?” Mrs. Crustin said, wiping her hands on her apron and moving from behind the counter to greet them.
“Mrs. Crustin, allow me to introduce the Duke of Kendall,” Brianna said. “You may remember his father, who used to come into the village with his wife whenever they visited. This is his son.”
“Your Grace, it is a pleasure to meet you,” the proprietress said, dipping into a curtsy. “How sad to hear about your father. We always enjoyed his visits. Wait! I want my husband to meet you.” Before Albert could say anything, the cook disappeared into the kitchen, calling her husband.
An older, stooped man ambled out of the kitchen a moment later. “Your Grace, how nice of you to visit our humble bakery,” he said. “Before you leave, I have a package for you and your mother that you must not forget,” he said to Brianna, pointing to a small brown basket on the top of the counter.
“Are those cinnamon rolls?” she asked, sniffing the air. She turned to Albert. “You will love these. They are my absolute favorite, Your Grace! I’m almost drooling over them.”
“Why don’t the two of you have a seat over here?” Mrs. Crustin said, ushering them to a small parlor table across the small room. “I’ll bring you your favorite chocolate and cinnamon rolls.” She turned to Albert. “Would you like chocolate or prefer tea?”
“Tea, please,” he said, noticing how she also made Brianna’s maid comfortable.
Mrs. Crustin signaled the maid to her side. “Miss Jane, you know I have some for you, too. May I give you the package to hold for Miss Brianna? I’m sending some loaves of bread home for Lady Thomas.”
“Yes ma’am,” Jane replied, taking a seat at another table, as Mrs. Crustin placed a brown package next to her.
“Thank you, Jane,” she said, hugging the maid.
Albert and Brianna were finishing their rolls when a young man burst through the door. “Miss Brianna. I saw ye come to town and hate to bother ye, but could you look at m’young horse? He slipped on a large icy patch and is in a lot of pain. I think ’e may have broken ’is foreleg, but I cannot tell. I don’t want to lose ’im.”
“George, I’m sorry to hear about Major. I’ll be glad to look at it. Let me introduce you to the Duke of Kendall.” She stood. “Your Grace, would you mind if I stepped across to the stable?”
