Page 30 of A Spinster to Heal the Duke
Anne looked at the flower. It did match the blue fabric of her morning dress. It was a true bright blue and not the purple shades of some otherblueflowers.
I wonder if I have anything this shade for dinner?she thought.
She smelled the small petals and leaves. It was a fragrant plant that would fill each room with a floral arrangement with a pleasant but not overwhelming smell.
Without outright knowing much about either, His Grace seems to have good taste in food and flowers, she thought.
Then, she set her basket down and cut several varied lengths of the blossoms. After a walk around to see the other florals of the garden, she decided to pair the blue color with toadflax and Hawthorne for a blue, yellow, and white set.
"I think this will be nice without seeming overdone," she considered. "Then again, I might add a few Blackthorns. Only a few."
Anne took her time filling her basket. Anything she decided not to use could be added to the compost for fertilizer later. She cutplenty to make a setting for the dining table, one for the side table in the parlor, another for the study, and one for her own room upstairs.
This is far more than necessary, Anne thought. All this thinking about the Duke has distracted me. I've gotten lost in my thoughts and carried away with the task. I have no need for so many flowers or to make four arrangements. They will be quite full if I were to use every cutting here.
Then, she decided to leave her basket near the rear door and search for the Duke. When she found him, he was walking in her family's orchard.
"Are you enjoying your walk?" she asked, disturbing his thoughts.
"Hmm?" he asked before seeming to return to the present. "Yes, greatly. Did you collect your flowers?"
"Yes, I've already arranged them in vases around the house in my mind," she replied.
"Excellent. Then, they should be as much a marvel as your food," he complimented.
Anne blushed and said, "Thank you, Your Grace."
"You're welcome," replied the Duke.
"So, where have you ventured today?" she asked.
"I decided to view the trees around the property," he replied. "I have visited plums, tree nuts, and these apples so far. One would not imagine so few people could care for so many growing things."
Anne made a small face reflexively but reminded herself that the Duke likely meant a compliment despite slighting her by bringing up her family's circumstances once more.
"Well, the trees were planted years ago as you can tell. At this age, we just let them live and collect the harvest to sell, store, and eat," she explained modestly.
"I honestly have no idea what goes on in the upkeep of the gardens at home," he said. "Strange, when I consider myself on top of things. But I suppose if the staff is doing what they should, there are not issues to draw my attention."
"Has an issue drawn your attention today, Your Grace?" Anne asked, feeling herself on the edge of being offended.
"No, no." replied Noah. "I was merely observing. Comparing."
He wasn't sure what to say or what he had said, but he could see, somehow, he had already said something he shouldn't have.
Rather than make things worse, he asked, "Shall we return to Reedley Manor? I think I have walked my limit today."
Anne could tell by the change in his tone the Duke was as irritated as she was, even if only because she was angered first. Although she felt, somehow in their moment together, she had been struck.
"Yes, we'd better," Anne replied. "I'd hate for you to suffer another wounded ankle or a splinter."
"Do you think I am so fragile?" asked the Duke with offense.
"I think thestrangething is that you know nothing of hard work. I think the impolite thing is you feeling that things must not be being done here since you havenoticed,"Anne said pointedly, turning his words against him.
"I meant nothing against you or your grounds, and I would have you know that while I may not do the landscaping, I do plenty of other tasks that are demanding work," the Duke argued, his voice rising.
"Do not take that tone with me," Anne snapped.
