Each room that Anita entered seemed to be larger, more elegant, than the last one, and that included Myles’s library. The bedroom upstairs had been stunning, the kitchen sparkling clean, well stocked and hosting all off the most modern appliances, and the dining room, with its sparkling candlelit chandelier and cream-coloured wallpaper had been quite beautiful, but this room... The library went beyond appealing. It was alluring. There was no other word for it.
The books lining the shelves on one wall, with their spines standing straight and dust free, called to her. Made her want to hunt through them, to find fantasies, truths and mysteries that would take her away to other worlds. Reading was the only escape she’d ever known and was the one thing she allowed herself to indulge in. It would be so easy to do that here. The chairs next to the fireplace said, Sit here, be warm and toasty while becoming lost between the pages of a book.
Large windows with tan-coloured drapes promised expansive views that even made the still falling snow she’d considered a traitor earlier to appear lovely.
There was also a large desk that was somewhat cluttered with papers and whatnots, and a sofa facing the fireplace, along with other chairs, small tables and pieces of furniture that she barely got a glimpse of before she’d sat in one of the chairs near the fireplace, which was indeed warm and toasty.
‘Would you care for a stool to rest your foot upon?’ Myles asked.
‘No, thank you. I’m fine.’
‘How about a drink? A glass of sherry?’
‘No, I couldn’t eat or drink anything more, thank you.’
‘Very well.’ He hitched up his pantlegs slightly by pinching the material over his thighs as he sat on the brown sofa that face the fireplace and her chair. ‘We have some important matters to discuss.’
Anita was in full agreement but had already laid out her case while they’d been walking to the kitchen. However, that had been before he’d made the comment about her agreeing, and she truly needed to know what he’d meant by that. Before she had the opportunity to ask, a knock sounded on the door.
Without rising, Myles said, ‘My apologies,’ to her, then granted entrance.
‘Forgive me, Your Grace, but the lady’s driver is insisting that he and her maid leave post-haste,’ the grey-haired butler said. ‘I presumed you would want to discuss that with him.’
‘You presumed correctly, Charles,’ Myles replied. ‘Send him in.’
‘I will directly, Your Grace.’ With a slight bow, as he backed out of the door, the butler nodded at her. ‘Again, my deepest apologies for the interruption.’
The door closed and Myles said, ‘My apologies for the interruption, Anita. Our discussions will need to wait momentarily.’
‘Joshua was instructed to depart immediately upon delivering me here,’ Anita explained. ‘Before you had a chance to change your mind.’
Myles’s response was a slight smile and nod, and Anita wasn’t sure what that meant. She’d been sitting in the coach when Uncle Jerome had made the statement, speaking loudly enough for all to hear. There was no reason for anyone to be upset with Joshua for following the orders he’d been given.
‘Is the maid not your lady’s maid?’ Myles asked.
He was frowning, and she understood why. He was beginning to see that he’d been duped. That she would not make him a suitable wife. ‘No. Olive is a kitchen maid, but Aunt Tilda said that it would be unseemly for me to travel without a lady’s maid, and Olive was the only servant they could spare. I have never had a lady’s maid, though I believe my uncle has done his best to make you believe I am someone that I am not.’
He nodded slightly. ‘Do you want her to remain in your employ?’
Anita was surprised that he remained on the subject of Olive. Then again, he was probably relieved that they all would be leaving soon. ‘She’s never been in my employ. I have no say in the matter.’
He cleared his throat slightly, and his gaze never left hers. ‘I have not, nor will I, change my mind, nor can I send anyone out in weather like this, with horses that need ample time to rest before embarking on another long journey, despite what someone may have been ordered to do. Furthermore, you do have a say. As my wife, you will have the final say pertaining those in your employ. If you wish to have Olive remain here with you, all you need to do is say so, and I will see that it happens.’
Anita didn’t have time to try and once again explain that she couldn’t be his wife, that he shouldn’t want that, when another knock sounded on the door.
This time Myles stood as he bade entrance, and walked around the sofa as the door opened and was held wide by the butler.
Joshua, with his hat in his hand, entered the room, followed closely by Olive. They were both wearing their own clothes again, and Anita doubted they’d had time to dry completely.
‘You wished to speak with me, Your Grace,’ Joshua said, giving a slight bow.
‘I do,’ Myles replied. ‘With both of you.’ He gave the butler a single nod.
Charles stepped into the corridor and closed the door behind him.
‘First allow me to thank both of you,’ Myles continued, ‘for escorting Miss Crawford to Redford. It was a long and trying journey, and I would like to extend an invitation for both of you to stay until you have fully recovered and the horses have had the time they need to recuperate.’
‘Thank you, Your Grace,’ Joshua said, ‘but we are unable to accept your invitation.’
Olive’s eyes were on her, and Anita felt great empathy. They’d become close while working together in the kitchen back at Brunswick, and more so during their travels the past three days, but she had no power or say here any more than she’d had at Brunswick.
‘I understand that you have instructions from your employer to return post-haste,’ Myles said. ‘However, I am responsible for all persons on one of my properties, and I am not in agreement with your instructions due to the weather and the accident that occurred during your journey here. As soon as the weather permits, I will have a messenger sent to Brunswick informing the Earl as to my decision for you to remain at Redford until I see fit.’ His stance was formidable, his words spoken in a considerate tone yet delivered in a powerful way that everyone in the room knew his request would be followed.
Anita’s shoulders slumped and she had to swallow a moan. Uncle Jerome would not be pleased. The second thought that crossed her mind was that if Joshua and Olive did stay, at least through the night, she would have a lift back home. By then, Myles would be sure to have realised that she could never be what he expected from a wife.
The third thought that struck her was that she wouldn’t be welcomed back at Brunswick. Then again, she’d never been welcome there, so it wouldn’t be any different.
‘If you are worried that my decision may cost either of you your jobs,’ Myles continued, ‘be assured that there are jobs here at Redford that each of you could fill, if that would be of interest to you.’
Both Joshua’s and Olive’s eyes turned to her, and Anita forced herself to smile at them. They were in this situation because of her, and though she could make no promises, she had to offer them whatever support she could. ‘I agree with His Grace,’ she said. ‘This weather is not fit for travel.’ If Uncle Jerome did fire them, which was most likely, they would be far better off being employed here, and she would be happy for them, even though she would miss them once she returned to Brunswick.
‘If either of you would like to discuss this matter further, I welcome you to meet with me tomorrow morning,’ he said.
Joshua was the first to speak. ‘Yes, Your Grace.’
Followed by Olive, ‘Yes, Your Grace.’
They both nodded at her before they turned about and exited the room.
She was used to issues that her uncle caused, but this was reaching new levels. ‘I wish we were not causing you so many problems.’
‘You’re not,’ Myles said, returning to his seat. ‘How long have they worked for the Earl?’
She could argue the point that she was causing problems, but chose to answer his question instead. ‘Joshua worked for my father and I’m not sure why he stayed. None of the others did. Olive has been there for less than a year. Her previous employer passed away, and my aunt’s sister, who knew her previous employer, sent her to Brunswick, knowing the estate was short-handed.’
‘Why was the estate short-handed?’
She didn’t like talking about others yet had to be honest. ‘Staff tend to not stay at a job where they are not fairly treated.’
With another slight nod, he said, ‘I don’t make false promises, Anita. When I stated that there were jobs here that they could fill, I meant it, and I guarantee that they will be treated fairly.’ He placed his hands on his thighs and leaned forward. ‘I won’t make false promises to you, either. And I’m hoping you won’t make them to me. That is all I want out of our marriage. Trust. I want to be able to trust you fully, and I want you to know that you can trust me fully.’
‘You can’t marry me, Myles.’ It was the first time she’d used his name, and she was surprised by how easily it rolled off her tongue. She should also be surprised by how easy it had become to converse with him, for he was a duke. A duke who she couldn’t let make the biggest mistake of his life by marrying her. ‘I told you that I have very little formal education, that my skills are more towards those of a servant. I’m simply not what a nobleman would look for in a wife.’
‘Who told you that?’
‘No one had to tell me.’ She waved a hand from her head to her toes. ‘Look at me. A marriage to me would never work.’
‘I am looking at you, and I believe it will work.’ He leaned back. ‘Unless you’re saying that our marriage wouldn’t work because I won’t be able to trust you?’
‘I would never dishonour you or anyone else. I’m saying it won’t work because you should marry a nobleman’s daughter, one with no incompetencies.’
‘I do not see any incompetencies in you, and you are a nobleman’s daughter. Your father was the Earl of Brunswick.’
‘Was. He died. If he hadn’t...’ She shook her head. That was something she’d thought about many times. How different her life would have been if her parents hadn’t died. If that hadn’t happened, she would have been honoured to be sitting where she was right now. But her parents had died, and she’d spent the last twenty years being a burden, an embarrassment.
‘His death didn’t change your birthright,’ Myles said. ‘You are still the daughter of an earl. Despite what your uncle has attempted to make you believe, you are still Lady Anita Crawford. Still a member of the nobility and should be treated as such, should have been treated so your entire life.’
That might be true, but she didn’t feel like a lady, and that couldn’t just change. ‘Why me?’ she asked, flustered that he wasn’t seeing her reasons. ‘I don’t understand.’
Myles wasn’t sure he understood, either. He’d had it all worked out, had been convinced she would be all he needed, but now that he’d met her, there was more to it. He hadn’t expected any dealing with Brunswick to be easy, the man was too dishonest for that. Now, he fully understood what the Dowager Countess of Wheyfield had meant when she’d said that Anita had been treated as a servant rather than family. He also believed that had nothing to do with her injuries. Injuries that surely pained her, yet she didn’t complain. She had pride and strength and courage, and he liked all of that about her.
He also liked that she had a backbone, had the will and conviction to state her concerns, but that also bothered him. She was only concerned about him. How she would embarrass him. How she wasn’t competent to be his wife.
She was wrong, and he didn’t know how to convince her of that. Or if he should, because he wasn’t certain she was here of her own free will, which is what he had requested. He certainly didn’t want a wife who was being forced to marry him. There was only one way to know for sure. ‘Did you agree to come here? To marry me?’
She pinched her lips together for a moment, then lifted her chin. ‘I didn’t disagree.’
Reading between the lines, because despite all she’d been through, all the ways she’d been mistreated, she still had compassion for others and didn’t want to hurt anyone, he asked, ‘Because you weren’t asked if you agreed to the arrangement?’
She nodded slightly. ‘Uncle Jerome never asks, he simply demands.’
After giving himself a moment to let all of that settle in his mind, he declared, ‘I won’t force you to do something you don’t want to do, Anita. If after we discuss this thoroughly, you still don’t want to marry me, I won’t hold you to the bargain.’
She looked at him for a long, quiet moment before she nodded.
He took that as a signal, an agreement to hear more. ‘Why you? you asked.’ He shook his head. ‘Before I can tell you that, I have to explain, why me?’
She frowned slightly. ‘All right.’
If he expected trust, he had to be willing to give it in return. ‘I don’t want a wife. I need a wife. There is vast difference. It’s no secret that I’ve been looking for a wife since my father died. Along with the responsibilities of the title comes the responsibility to family. To the next generation. I need a wife to provide me with children. Preferably, at least one son.’
Anita didn’t appear shocked by that, most likely because it was a common reason for marriage. Love, or the illusion of love, was rarely a reason two people wed.
‘I pursued several women whom I thought were likely choices,’ he continued, ‘and offered marriage to two of them. Prior to the weddings, I discovered that I could not trust them to behave in a way that I would expect from my wife.’
‘You broke off the engagements?’
It was no surprise that she would have heard about his broken engagements, or who had broken them. ‘Yes, however, I would never purposefully tarnish someone’s reputation, therefore, I requested that they break the engagements and would prefer if you kept that between us.’
She nodded. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘I mentioned our stables earlier today, our English thoroughbreds,’ he said. ‘That was a dream that Wesley and I shared, and our father encouraged us to pursue it. We’ve been successful, very successful. I want that to continue, and it will. Wesley is leaving for America in the new year to expand our field of buyers. While he’s away, I will take over his duties, gladly, but with them added to my other responsibilities, there won’t be time for me to continue to search for a wife.’
‘That’s why you accepted my uncle’s offer?’ she asked.
‘No, I didn’t accept your uncle’s offer. He had heard, for it was no secret, that I was looking for a wife and approached me with an offer to marry one of his daughters. I declined. I was, and am, aware of your uncle’s reputation, and I had no wish to become involved with him. However, then I heard about you. My father knew your father, and your father had a stellar reputation. As did your mother. They were good people, and you have every right to be proud of being their daughter.’
Her smile was soft, as was her whisper. ‘Thank you.’
He gave her a nod before continuing, ‘I then approached your uncle with an offer to clear a debt he owed me by giving me your hand in marriage, if you agreed to the arrangement. Prior to that, I’d spoken to several people, including your driver, Joshua, who told me about the accident. How your parents died and how you were injured. How your foot never healed properly. I also spoke to the doctor who examined you a year later, and I spoke with others who knew your family, including Dowager Countess of Wheyfield. Through those conversations, I discovered that you enjoy country life, which fits my needs. I don’t spend a lot of time in London. Merely travel there when needed, and return here to Redford as soon as possible. I need a wife who understands that and doesn’t need my constant attention.’
She lifted a brow, and gave a nod, but didn’t comment.
‘I was informed that you were kind and gracious, which I have already witnessed today. That is something else that I need. I have to trust that my staff and family will be treated with respect by my wife. I guarantee she will be by them.’
She nodded.
‘I also learned that you were dedicated and competent, and again, I witnessed that already today by the way you took control of the situation at the bridge. The way you saved not only Joshua’s life, but perhaps yours and your maid’s as well.’
Again, she nodded, but made no effort to explain things further, which wasn’t needed, he’d learned everything he’d needed to know about the accident from her driver earlier.
‘Additionally, I appreciate your age. Though twenty-four is still young, you are a few years older than my previous...’ he almost said mistakes ‘...choices. I welcome your maturity.’
He was only guessing, but her grimace suggested she’d already been told she was too old for marriage. For a fraction of a moment, he wondered just how many lies she’d been told by her uncle. Things that were completely untrue about her, yet having been told them so many times, she believed them to be gospel.
‘Why you?’ he asked, bringing his mind back on the focus of their conversation. ‘It’s simple. You are exactly what I need.’
She shook her head.
He nodded. ‘I believe that with you as my wife, I will be able to complete my duties unhindered. But my decision was also based upon what you need.’ He paused for a moment, not sure how much she knew about her uncle’s actions. ‘I don’t wish to upset you, but do feel the need to be honest. I first heard about you because your uncle had been attempting to wager you in a game of cards.’
She sighed slightly. ‘He’d spent my dowry some time ago, and without one...’ She shrugged, then frowned. ‘You won me?’
‘No. No, I didn’t. I wasn’t at the gaming house, I just heard about it and was appalled.’ When he’d heard that the card game hadn’t been the first time Brunswick had offered her, he’d been more than appalled. Any sort of unscrupulous man could have won her, and there were plenty in London who could have put her to work doing Lord knows what, for he highly doubted they were interested in winning a wife. Instinct to help her had kicked in and was still there, stronger than ever. ‘Then I thought about you. An innocent woman who was being egregiously mistreated. I couldn’t let that happen. I knew that in exchange for, or along with marriage, I could provide you with a home where you would be safe, cared for and, hopefully, happy. I also knew I could provide you with one more thing. Freedom. Something I’d felt you hadn’t had in a long time.’
She rubbed both of her arms as if chilled.
He rose and added a log on the fire, carefully, so no sparks flew out, then turned, looked at her. ‘If those are not things you need, or want, forgive me for my assumptions. For believing that a marriage could be beneficial for both of us. I won’t force you to marry me, I won’t force you to do anything against your will.’
She made no comment, merely looked down at her leg. The left one.
He walked back to the sofa, sat. ‘What you claim are incompetencies are not to me. Your skills are exactly what I would expect from the Duchess of this house. The ability to oversee that the cooking, cleaning and other household tasks are completed. You are an intelligent woman, that is clear to me. My mother will be here to assist you, teach you anything you may not already know.’
Anita was still looking at her leg but slowly lifted her gaze and met his. ‘Thank you. I appreciate you telling me all that, for your honesty, but what I do not need is your pity.’
His stomach sank. ‘That is not what I’m offering.’
‘Isn’t it? You pitied me for what my uncle was doing. For what my life was like.’
‘No. I didn’t pity you. If that had been the case, I’d have gone to the authorities, seen what could be done for you. Instead, I chose to learn more about you. I admired your courage, your bravery for all you’ve been through. That is why I then offered marriage between us to your uncle. I felt it would benefit both of us.’
She stared at him, silently, thoughtfully.
‘I would like us to be friends,’ he said, ‘companionable. I won’t ask for your undying love or other such declarations, but I will ask for your honesty. I’ve already seen it in your concerns and beliefs as to why I can’t marry you, and I would like to hear it as to why you can’t marry me.’
Both of Anita’s hands were on her opposite arms, and she rubbed them up and down again, still trying to chase away the chill that had arisen when he’d spoken about freedom. He could provide her with the freedom from a life in which she’d envisioned herself growing old and cracked like the walls that had surrounded her.
The other things he’d mentioned were all things she’d once hoped for, as well as other things. In many ways, she was no different than any other woman. She’d longed for a family of her own, children she could love, a home that she would manage much differently than how Brunswick was being left to fall to ruin, a husband to grow old alongside her.
She also would like to help him.
Would like to be the reason he could pursue his goals, dreams and duties unhindered. What he was asking were small things, things she could easily complete. What he didn’t understand was that she could never be free. Not completely. Her foot would always be exactly like it was.
Letting out a sigh, she asked, ‘What did my uncle say when you approached him about marrying me?’
‘He refused,’ Myles answered. ‘He once again offered me a choice of his daughters.’
Even though she could not imagine that either of her cousins were mature enough for marriage, to him or anyone else, she nodded. ‘Because he knew that I couldn’t marry you.’
‘Why can’t you?’
‘Because you deserve a wife who isn’t maimed.’
His entire body went stiff, and he stared at her for the longest moment that time ever created. ‘I do not believe that you are maimed, and neither do you.’
‘It doesn’t matter what we believe, it’s what others believe. And they will believe it. They will say it. They will talk about it.’ She’d seen it, heard it, lived with it her entire life.
‘Not in my presence or yours,’ he said. ‘You will have my protection, and that of my entire family.’
She shook her head. ‘People will still believe it and look at you, thinking, “What a foolish man for marrying someone so unsuitable.”’ She sighed heavily. ‘And you aren’t a fool.’
‘No, I’m not,’ he said as a slow smile formed on his face. ‘Nor are you. I believe they will say, “What a lucky man for marrying such a brave and amazing woman.”’
Another shiver rippled over her. She’d never been called brave or amazing, and though she was fully aware that she never would be, the way he said it was almost convincing. Or maybe it simply sparked a tiny bit of hope inside her that people could see her differently. ‘I am neither of those things.’
‘What would you call learning to walk, not once but twice? Saving a man’s life? Driving a team of horses through a snowstorm? Living through twenty years of injustice, yet still caring more about others than yourself?’
‘That’s not bravery. That’s just will.’ The will to survive, that’s what made her so determined to walk and to save Joshua and many other things over the years. She’d wanted people to believe that she was more than a distorted ankle, but if it hadn’t happened within twenty years, no amount of will was going to make it happen now.
‘I would be in your debt, and honoured, if you were to bring that will, that determination, into my home, my life.’
She closed her eyes against the pounding of her heart. ‘I’ve been a burden to my family—’
‘I can understand why you might feel that way,’ he interrupted, ‘but I see it differently. I see that your family has burdened you. Never valued you or given you the chance, or the choice, to have something different. That is what I want to offer you.’
What he offered far surpassed all she’d ever known, but she couldn’t get past how that wouldn’t be fair to him.
‘I also understand how this must be overwhelming to you,’ he said. ‘I should have expected Brunswick to not give you a choice. I apologise for that and accept that you need some time to consider your options.’
Time? She eyed him directly. ‘The wedding is tomorrow.’
He nodded, then shrugged. ‘It could be postponed.’
She didn’t like the idea of being blamed for that. Not by anyone, even herself. All of her reasonings hadn’t changed his mind, but he was making her rethink things. She was still fearful that he might someday regret it, but that flicker of hope inside her that she could have a different life kept getting brighter. A part of her wanted to grab hold of this opportunity with both hands. What he offered was more than she’d ever dared hope for. This was also the first time she’d been given a choice, a real choice about her life, and despite all that she’d been told, been forced to believe, she knew what she wanted. What she’d always wanted.
Her heart started pounding, and she took a deep breath before saying, ‘No.’
‘No?’ he asked, with a look of uncertainty.
‘No, I don’t believe we should postpone the wedding.’ That statement made her more breathless than climbing two flights of stairs.
‘You don’t?’
She would be a fool to let that happen, to let this chance of a lifetime slip away simply because of her own fears. What she had to do was put all her will and determination into his life. Make sure that he never regretted marrying her.
She felt herself nodding at her own thoughts. Trying to convince herself that she could do it. He was offering her a life she’d never expected, he was far more than she’d ever have expected. He was handsome, kind, considerate, sincere and honest. The fluttering in her stomach happened again, stronger than ever as she looked up, saw him smiling at her. She had to close her eyes because suddenly she was thinking about what would happen after the wedding. Specifically, the wedding night, and how the flutter was now a tiny curl of heat and lower in her belly at the idea of sleeping with him.
‘Does that mean you are in agreement with the marriage?’ Myles asked.
At that moment, she felt as if she were about to trip, fall, but not just to the ground as she’d done numerous times. This time, it felt as if she’d stumbled off a high rocky cliff and had no idea where she would land, but couldn’t stop herself because she was already in motion, falling hard and fast. Yet, she couldn’t stop the smile that formed on her face. Opening her eyes, she nodded. ‘Yes, I agree.’
If the rest of Myles’s family didn’t agree with his decision, they certainly didn’t let it show. Nor did the staff. Within minutes of her agreeing, there wasn’t an idle hand to be found.
A quaint parlour on the backside of the house that was decorated in the same shade of pale purple as lilacs in full bloom was turned into a sewing room, complete with a folding screen for her to step behind while changing into an ivory silk dress that would be altered to fit her. Stunningly lovely, with a fitted waist and tufted four-panel skirt and cuffs that went from her elbows to her wrists, Anita had almost protested when Mary had presented the gown for her to wear at the wedding.
Almost protested because she’d concluded that making sure Myles didn’t regret his decision meant no objections from her, not on any subject. Making his life easier so he could fulfil his duties was now her job. That was the least she could do for him. He’d already made her life easier. Changed it. For the first time ever, thinking about the future made her smile. Made her heart beat a bit faster. The impossible now seemed possible.
Mary, who was explaining the preparations taking place throughout the house, as well as Christina and Maria, who were measuring out lengths of netting and tying them into fluffy bows for decorating the house, were in the room, along with two maids, both very skilled at sewing. That was obvious by the way they were expertly marking the alterations to the dress with pins and small pieces of chalk.
Olive was in the room, too, and Anita knew the kitchen maid felt out of place with a needle and thread in her hands. ‘Olive,’ Anita said while standing on a short stool, with a maid on each side marking seams to be adjusted. ‘I have all the assistance I need at the moment. Perhaps you’d like to see if there is any help you can provide in the kitchen for tomorrow?’
Olive’s eyes widened with excitement. ‘Of course, my lady.’
Only then did it occur to Anita that she may have overstepped her boundaries. Back home, being practically a servant herself, Aunt Tilda had regularly given her the duty of assigning staff to duties or positions. Though it had also been on her shoulders when things had gone wrong. When all had been in order, Aunt Tilda took the credit. Looking at Mary, which was what Myles’s mother insisted that she call her, Anita asked, ‘If that’s all right?’
‘Of course, dear,’ Mary replied. ‘This is your home now, and it is my greatest wish that you come to cherish it as much as all the Duchesses before you.’
Will and determination had allowed her to do a lot of things, including to never give up, which she wouldn’t do this time, either, yet she had to question if will and determination had ever turned someone into a duchess before. If not, she might be the first, because she wouldn’t give up.
The alterations, bow tying, ribbon cutting and more bow tying continued throughout the afternoon. The bows would be used to decorate the front parlour for a small reception that would include a few neighbours, after the wedding. The service would take place in the chapel at the nearby village. Myles had arranged the licence and chapel a few days ago, but had suggested it could be changed to a larger affair if she wished. She didn’t wish that but had suggested they ask his mother and sisters for their input, which had thrilled Mary and the girls. Myles had been happy, too, and thanked her for thinking to include them.
During all the work being done, Mary shared a great deal of information about the area and the family, including a long history. Anita held on to every word, making it stick in her brain, hoping it would help her ease into the roll she had agreed to accept.
It would be a transformation, one that she was a bit petrified about, but she was determined to rise to every challenge that came along with the decision she’d made.
When it was announced that the evening meal would soon be served, others left the room; however, Mary suggested that because Anita had been in and out of her dress so many times, there was no reason for her to go upstairs and change.
Anita was grateful for that. Not because her foot ached, but because none of the three dresses she’d left Brunswick with could compare to the green-blue one she was wearing or to those that Mary and her daughters wore.
With the room to herself, Anita sank down in one of the cushioned arm chairs. She had changed in and out of the wedding dress several times, because the maids wanted to make sure that every seam was perfect, which they were.
The gown had been Mary’s wedding dress, and though that meant it had to be nearly thirty years old, it didn’t look old. There were ivory slippers to go with it, and Anita closed her eyes, trying to chase away the thought that had formed of her slipping while walking down the aisle at the church.
‘Excuse me, my lady, would you care for me to fashion your hair for dinner?’
The door had been left open, and Anita looked down at the hair hanging past her elbows. It still hadn’t fuzzed. The ringlets were just as they had been after her bath, even with all her clothing changes. ‘Yes, Claire,’ she answered. ‘That would be nice. Thank you.’
Claire set a basket on the table beside the chair. ‘You can sit right there. I have everything I need.’ While removing the hair combs, Claire said, ‘You have such beautiful hair. There is so much we can do with it.’
For years, she’d been told her hair was like a rag mop, and that nothing could be done with it. Even as a child, others had grown tired of attempting to brush it and tie it back. As she’d grown older, there had never been a reason to do more than wash it, brush it and pin it in bun, where it never stayed. It was always coming loose and hanging around her face like a fuzzy lion’s mane.
Claire worked swiftly, without so much as a tug of her scalp, and when presented with a small hand mirror, Anita was once again shocked by the image. Her hair was pinned in a fashionable bun, but ringlets had been left to hang from her temples, in front of her ears and the nape of her neck. Her hair couldn’t have changed colour, the strands of grey that she’d inherited from her mother were still there, but they weren’t as prominent, didn’t make her look like she was three times her age.
‘Do you approve, my lady?’ Claire asked.
‘Yes, Claire.’ She handed back the mirror. ‘I believe you are a miracle-worker.’
‘No, my lady, but I am happy that you like it.’
‘What was the oil you put in it during my bath?’
‘Just sweet oil. My mother is the Dowager’s maid and has taught me all she knows. It is my hope to become a lady’s maid one day.’
Anita twisted in her chair, watching as Claire slid the mirror into the basket containing the brush and comb that she’d also used. ‘Olive is a dear but is more comfortable in the kitchen. If possible, I would appreciate having your assistance.’
Pressing a hand to her chest, Claire said, ‘I’d be so honoured, my lady.’
‘Very well.’ Then, wondering if that was something she could decide, Anita said, ‘I will enquire about the change and let you know.’
‘Thank you, my lady.’ Claire curtsied, and then whispered, ‘The Duke is outside in the corridor. Shall I tell him he can come in now?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Anita rose and turned towards the door.
The moment he appeared in the doorway, her insides started doing somersaults. She understood why. Because he was so attractive. And he was the man she would marry tomorrow. It was as if she’d been dropped into a storybook. A true fantasy. If only she could read the last chapter to see how it ended.
‘I hope my mother hasn’t worn you out this afternoon,’ he said with that Wadsworth smile, because it was always there, on all of the faces of his family members.
‘No.’ Though the fitting had been tedious, she couldn’t remember a day when she’d done so little. Not even when it came to driving the horses this morning. She’d done that numerous times to pick up household supplies when Joshua had been in London with her uncle. Just not with the urgency of this morning. ‘Not at all.’
‘I am happy to hear that.’ Stopping in front of her, he asked, ‘May I escort you to dinner?’
‘Yes.’ She had to pivot enough to step around the leg of the table next to her chair, and though it was an easy enough movement, she hadn’t been concentrating sufficiently, and the velvet slipper slipped on the wooden floor. She had been conscious of that happening all day and had been extra careful. Why hadn’t she now?