Page 23 of Her Tiger of a Duke
“Do you mean to say they were not perfect?”
Beatrice thought back to the flavor, considering them carefully.
“They could be improved,” she replied. “I used too much almond, and the flowers were slightly thicker than I would have liked. Once I have adjusted those, I will be closer.”
“Can I help you?” he asked suddenly.
Beatrice smiled, narrowing her eyes at him in disbelief. It was a pleasure of hers that always led to judgment, or happiness at the free sweets, but she had never been asked for assistance.
“I suppose you could,” she agreed, “but you must do exactly as I say. I am meticulous, and so if you cannot follow my instruction then you would be better not joining me.”
“I can certainly try, though I will remind you that I never follow instructions. I give them.”
“Then we will both be trying something new,” she giggled. “Would you like to make these, or something simpler to start?”
She watched as he tried to decide, clearly not certain as to what he would prefer. He had never done anything of the sort, and so it made sense that they would begin with simple biscuits, but it was evident that he enjoyed the flower treats and wanted more of them.
“I have an idea,” she said when he could not decide. “I shall make more of those, and you can stand by my side and make something easier. That way, you can say you made them by yourself, and I can adjust my recipe.”
“That would be acceptable,” he beamed. “When do you make them? In the mornings?”
Beatrice shook her head, smiling.
“Actually, I make them at night, when the staff have gone to bed. I find that it is quieter, and I am not in anyone’s way.”
“Tonight, then,” he nodded. “At midnight?”
“Precisely. I shall see you then.”
Owen turned to leave, but suddenly she remembered something and called out his name.
“I wanted to thank you,” she said sheepishly, “for the gowns. They are beautiful, from what I have seen.”
“You need not thank me. Consider it a wedding present, as well as a way of making you feel more like a duchess.”
And for the rest of the day, she continued with her routine with a spring in her step. She finished her duties, and then raced to her room, admiring her new gowns. She had to choose just the right one for dinner, but there were so many that she was at a loss.
“What do you think of this one?” she asked Ella, pulling out an emerald green one. “It is not too plain, but not one befitting a ball, either.”
“It is beautiful. Come, let us get you dressed.”
It was strange to have someone dress her again, but Beatrice found that she did not hate it. The attention made her feel special, yet like all the other ladies she knew. There was still an inkling in the back of her mind that she was not useless, and could easily have dressed herself, but it was a pleasant experience all in all.
For the first time, she felt like a true duchess. She ate her dinner with her husband, wearing a beautiful gown with her hair pinned precisely. They discussed their plans for the next day, and it was a temptation to ask about the household, and whether she could make changes to it, but she did not. She wished to settle first and be completely comfortable with her role before she altered her surroundings.
“I know you spoke of Lady Helena’s situation this morning when my mother called but have you received any new correspondence from her?” she asked. “I wrote to Helena myself, but have not yet received a response.”
“I have not, for it will take longer for letters to be received now that she is further away. I would not be too concerned for her, though. She is with the man she loves now, and so she will be happy.”
“I know, but I worry for her all the same. She must be so frightened after leaving her life behind. Do you suppose her family knows the truth?”
“No, and they never will.”
“Well, where do they believe she has gone? They will know that she is not with an aunt, after all.”
“They know she has run away, and they know she is being taken care of. They will not bring scandal upon their own family, and so everything is as it should be.”
Beatrice knew that everything had been planned for, and so there was nothing to be too concerned about, but she was all the same. Part of that worry, she reasoned, was because she had nothing to do with finding a solution to the problem that she had caused, and therefore she felt she did not know everything. She wished that she had been given the opportunity to help, but it was perfectly reasonable that she had excluded.
