Page 11 of The Brooding Duke's Fateful Letter
She somehow managed to look on the verge of fainting and running away at the same time. It made having to eat the food worth it. The next course had potatoes served with game meat. The recent scarcity of potatoes made them socially acceptable to consume with meals.
Charlotte adored their more simple taste where the guests ate them with less relish. The meat was the freshest cut of the best meat on the animal. The hind quarter had been salted and stored for cooking. The salt and added spice had permeated into the inner layers. The result was a perfectly seasoned and preserved meat that fell apart on the fork.
Lord Wentworth stood up from his place at the table. “Dessert will now be served,” he announced as several servants flood the room. One servant pushed a cart into the room. On top of it, the silver dome concealed their treat. “We have a new delicacy for your pleasure this evening. Fresh cream is poured on ice along with sugar. Watch as the cream transforms into something wonderful.”
The guests all craned their necks to get a better look. The whole process of freezing the cream instantly on ice had them all gasping in awe.
It seemed almost an afterthought that the desert had been planned as a special way to bid farewell to Charlotte. Lord Wentworth spent more of the evening ensuring his guests were duly impressed rather than celebrating a new chapter in his daughter’s life.
No matter how important of a title one had, one was always at the mercy of social opinion. The dinner had ended all too soon and Charlotte could only prepare herself for what was to come. The night was spent getting her things into suitcases and ensuring she would have everything she needed at hand.
The servants had prepared the carriage. A task that would take hours and could by no means be achieved any sooner than a minimum of three hours. Charlotte had barely slept the nightbefore. Every worry she had tucked away now tormented her in her sleep.
By the time she awoke from bothered sleep, it was as though she had never slept. She had little recollection of how she had gotten dressed. When she said her goodbyes to her stepsister and stepmother, she felt bewildered—everything around her felt surreal.
Charlotte took a deep breath and let go of her father’s shoulders. It could no longer be helped. It was time to go.
“I’ve got my best driver looking after you. Don’t stop until you get to your destination. Charlotte, be happy,” Lord Wentworth said, his voice unstable from the deep emotions closing his throat.
“I shall be right behind you and stay with you for the first week or so, as what is proper. Unfortunately, then I am needed in Halifax, they managed to flood the bottom bed on the mine. Dirty business coal, the coal itself and those who flood competitors shafts. I would be surprised if it was an accident.”
“Thank you, Papa.” Charlotte choked out. She used the name she called him as a little girl. She could see it’s impact on him, his expressions softening… perhaps transported back to s simpler time. A time they both now regretted not having enjoyed more. She looked back as he watched her being helped into the carriage, stepping closer to wave goodbye.
It may have only been a two-day trip, but it was extremely dangerous to travel by carriage. Between carriages coming from opposite sides and causing accidents, wild animals such as wolves made any stop for repairs nearly impossible.
Then if travelers made it through most of the journey they had to contend with robbers. Charlotte was helped into her carriage. She looked outside the window as they pulled away and hoped she would not have to see Bethany or her stepmother again.
The duke had invited both of them to his estate. It was proper that she should have a suitable chaperone. The Wentworth family had taken on the habits of other families by traveling in more than one carriage.
By going so it would limit harm to passengers by only carrying one at a time. Furthermore, if one carriage took on damages then standing still for repairs could be avoided. As carriages were not an inexpensive item, it soon became a symbol of status.
Charlotte tried to find a comfortable way to settle in for the long journey. Her heartbeat seemed to pound so that her entire body felt every beat.
This might be a two day journey. It would help if my heart knew it too. I’ve not so much as held a man’s hand. What am I going to do when I meet the duke? Charlotte felt fear grip her. If theduke was a cruel man, she would be trapped and at his mercy, she thought with despair.
Charlotte tried to stand up. She needed to pace around to calm down. The moment she almost got to her feet, she hit her head on the carriage roof with a loud thump.
To make matters worse, the carriage had halted abruptly throwing Charlotte down onto her knees.
“Driver. Why have we stopped? You have direct orders not to stop.” Charlotte yelled so that he could hear her. She waited for an answer to no avail. Charlotte leaned out of the carriage window to speak to the man. “Driver why are we…” Charlotte did not speak another word when she saw what laid before them.
Chapter 4
By the time the duke decided to get up the next morning, a letter had been sent to him in response. The duke ensured that he could not be seen by anyone. He entered through the servants entrance and took his horse to the stables.
He usually liked to tend to the horses he rode, yet found his enthusiasm wavering. The duke handed the leather straps to a man servant and accepted a letter presented to him on a silver tray. He read the letter sent from Wentworth Manor with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
He made his way into the main house in search of food and a chance to read the letter properly, he spotted Cecil enjoying a morning tea and hastily went to get his wheelchair. He made his way back to Cecil to join him once he had. “They are actually coming here. I had expected him to go back on his word. She’s on her way now.” He told Cecil after an explanation of the situation.
“That should keep Tristan’s mouth quiet.” Cecil remarked with a smirk.
“Are you still on about that?” the duke asked with a smile.
“I’m afraid so. Nasty sort really you know, new money,” Cecil replied.
“I’ve met a few families with newly acquired wealth. Quite pleasant, educated people. No Tristan is just the way he is, and we are thankful he is an only child,” the duke said with an unfailing joy he hadn’t felt since his accident.
“You are too kind Henry.” Cecil said. “Oh, did you hear what has happened on the trail?
