Page 34 of The Wise Daughter
“Maybe. Your Grace, what did Mr. Ruthers mean when we first arrived? He rushed out to our curricle and said Carver was right.”
He ran a tired hand down his face. “Carver told me days ago that he suspected the chimney sweep.”
“I see. And he was the one who invited Mr. Rowe here today when the fireplace clearly did not need the attention.”
He knew what she would conclude from that. “I cannot believe Carver would ever orchestrate something like this.”
Nora paced across the room, eyeing the pianoforte before circling around again. “Hmm. So Mr. Carver planted the suspicion in everyone’s mind, but Ruthers could have taken advantage of that.”
“But Nora, these are my friends and most trusted servants.” Accusing them was like having the carpet pulled from under his feet.
Nora’s brows knit together. “I know, and I’m sorry. I’m not sure who is at fault, but these are things we cannot ignore.”
His stomach sank, but he did not disagree.
Chapter 13
Nora strode through the castle, smugly satisfied she was finding her way perfectly well by herself. Every sconce, every tapestry, and every stern or critical glare from a portrait became a landmark to guide her through the endless corridors. She was pleased to see that, more often than not, the maids and footman she passed returned her greetings with their own smiles.
When the duke had not come to find her that morning to breakfast with him, she had given into her curiosity and asked where she could find him.
The music room. Of course. She should have guessed. After the ordeal with the chimney sweep and all that she had observed there, Nora was certain there had to be more to that room than what she had seen.
Finding the tapestry with the deer on it that marked where she turned, she stepped swiftly down the long corridor until she came to the music room’s door. Unsure whether to enter right away or knock, she hesitated, then went inside.
Why should I knock if this is to be my future home?
Nora placed a hand on her stomach and closed her eyes.Future home?Just days ago, she would have given a resolute no to the possibility, but today?
She still was not confident enough in the engagement to think she could go through with it. There was so much she did not know about the duke. Even Mr. Hunt, who had tried to court Nora in West Riding, had also seemed perfectly kind and gentlemanly until she learned of how cruelly he treated his servants.
But she no longer felt certain that her answer to the duke was no.
Nora was disappointed to find the music room empty. Her duke was not there.
Even stripped of furnishings and adornments, the room was impressive. Lavish, though dusty, silver curtains framed the windows where sunlight entered. Elaborate white wood paneling lined the otherwise sky-blue walls. She could imagine the round, vaulted ceilings swelling with music in years gone by. Concerts, dancing, plays, there were so many possibilities in a room like this. So where had all the instruments gone?
And where was her duke?
She stopped abruptly. In the middle of the room was a small dusting of paint and plaster and splinters of wood that she didn’t recall being there last time. There were also more scratches on the wood floor in the center of the room than anywhere else.
She picked a few scattered sheets of music off the floor and blew off dust and soot. The pages held simplified songs with the nameAaron Derricottwritten at the top in large, unsteady letters with theDwritten backwards. She couldn’t help but smile. Was this why the room was so special? Had he learned to play the pianoforte here?
A giddy rush spread to her fingertips. This was something she and the duke could share. Memories of all the concerts she had hosted with her mother made her hungry for the music she had once enjoyed. When her mother died, there had been no reason for concerts. It was just another part of the life Nora had left behind in West Riding, but if the duke would play for her, she might find the motivation to revive that part of her life.
She let the hope linger as she went to the pianoforte and laid the duke’s childhood sheet music on the stand. Nora had been an utter disappointment at the pianoforte, but she knew how to read music. Hitting the first note, she laughed at the disharmonious twang that echoed more loudly through the room than she had expected, but the sound still invited her voice.
A gentle hum vibrated in her chest, warming her and filling her until words formed and her voice filled every corner of the room. The music carried her until she could no longer stand still. Lifting her skirt, she stepped and spun, and then–
“Nora!”
She looked up to see the duke rushing toward her, his brow dark, his eyes severe. How had she not heard him enter?He’s upset with me.Her heart gave a strange tremor.
“I’m sorry if I should not have come here without you. I meant no offense. I–”
He seized her arm and pulled her hard against his chest where she was buried in his embrace.
Instinct instantly made her push back. “How dare you?”
