Page 59 of The Duke's Indecent Match
“This way, Your Grace,” Miss Milford said, going up the stairs with alacrity.Was she hurrying in order to return to help with the rest of the luggage?In which case, Kalina would not dally.“We did not have time to get everything fully in order, but your room has been prepared.There are also a morning room and a small study attached to your bedroom, which are not ready for you yet.”
There was a hint of trepidation in her voice—worry that Kalina would hold her responsible for not having the suite fully prepared?She certainly did not blame Miss Milford.The lack of time and other staff to help her would have made such a task nearly impossible.
“Thank you for having the bedroom ready on such short notice,” she said, infusing her voice with gratitude.Indeed, having a room she could retreat to that was her very own would be a boon.Of course, Hereford would be able to come in as well.At night.Tonight.Which was their wedding night.
A small shiver of anticipation went down her spine.Despite everything, she was very curious about what the things her mother had told her would actually feel like.Especially with him.Supposedly, such things put men in a good mood.Kalina would use any small advantage she could scrounge to improve her standing with her new husband.
“Of course, Your Grace.It’s just down here.”
As expected, the house was huge.The upstairs hall rug was even shabbier than the one downstairs.She had become familiar enough with Englishtonhouses to realize the absence of furniture and décor in the hallway was unusual.There were squares of discoloration on the faded wallpaper where frames and tapestries had once hung.
The hallway had a very dark and gloomy air about it.
Kalina was more than a little relieved when Miss Milford finally stopped before a door and, hitching the trunk she was carrying onto one hip, opened it.Stepping back, the worthy lady bowed her head as she waited for Kalina to go through.Steeling herself, Kalina took a deep breath and entered her new domain.
The room was very pretty, though very out of fashion.The rug was not as threadbare as some of the others, and the curtains appeared to be a little ragged but perfectly serviceable.The furniture was feminine, dainty, made out of a light shade of wood that contrasted nicely with the rosier hues of the curtains and bed linens.
“It’s pink,” Kalina exclaimed appreciatively, wondering if Hereford had sent her color preferences ahead of him.
“It used to be red,” Miss Milford admitted, sheepishly.
Kalina’s heart sank a little, but no matter.She had not really expected Hereford to have made such a gesture, not considering the circumstances.Perhaps she should take the faded red to pink as a sign that the house was welcoming her, even if none of the people in it were.
“I cleaned everything thoroughly, but there was little else I could do.”
The embarrassment that was clear in her voice had Kalina setting her hat boxes down and going over to the other woman, reaching out her hands.Surprise showed in Miss Milford’s eyes and uncertainty, but she held out her hands to meet Kalina’s.Looking her directly in her blue eyes, Kalina held the older woman’s callused hands gently.
“You have worked a miracle on very little notice,” Kalina said firmly.“I appreciate all of your efforts, and the room looks lovely.Thank you so much for ensuring it was ready for me.”
Miss Milford’s lips made a little ‘o’ as relief suffused her features.Then she released Kalina’s hands and bobbed another curtsy.The former neutrality of her expression had shifted slightly to something warmer.
“Thank you, Your Grace.Is there anything you need?Something to drink or eat?”Miss Milford appeared rather earnest.
Kalina glanced at the window, gauging the light in the sky, which was still bright but slowly beginning to dim as the afternoon wore on.She was hungry, but did not want to ask for something when she was unsure of how bare the cupboard might be.
“What time do you normally serve dinner?”she asked.
“Six o’clock, Your Grace, about two hours from now.”
She could wait two hours.
“That will be fine then, I do not need anything else at the moment.Thank you, Miss Milford.”
“Happy to assist, Your Grace.”Bobbing another curtsy, Miss Milford left the room.
Exchanging a glance with Margaret, Kalina let out a long sigh.
“I think his grace owes your father a greater debt than we realized,” Margaret murmured, setting Kalina’s jewelry box down on the vanity beside the wardrobe.“This is… well.We’ll get it up to scratch soon enough.”
“Soon enough,” Kalina echoed, walking over to look out the window.She noted the small crack in the far most upper right pane.The flower garden below her window looked to be overgrown, a riot of greenery and colors from the jungle of plants.
One way or another, she was determined to make her new life work.There was no going back from here.
22
Nathanial
“What really happened?”Julianna demanded to know as soon as his wife had disappeared into the house with her maid and Miss Milford.
