Thawing A Duke's Heart (Faces of Love Series #1) (8 page)

* * *

I
fussed
with the wrinkles in my dress as I finally approached Mary’s home. She had been Duchess of Gaffton for the past two years. I had rarely seen her during that time. It was understandable, for not only was she a new wife, but also a new mistress to a home bigger than I think any of us Withington daughters could have expected for ourselves.

I was anxious to see her again. Mary had been my closest sister, and her leaving had been a hard reminder to me that soon we would all go our separate ways. I had convinced my mother to allow me to spend the season with her in the country rather than go to the townhouse with the rest of the family. She wasn’t happy about it. It was a season wasted in her mind.

Mary needed me now, though. She was only weeks away from the birth of her first child. She could use the companionship, and in all honesty, I could use the time away from our mother.

Finally, the coach pulled up to the front of Mary’s vast estate. It was an older home with ivy climbing its gray stone walls. It was beautiful in my eyes. There was all the servants and Mary out to meet me. It was a little harder than expected to get out of the coach. I hadn’t realized that sitting for so long had stiffened my joints.

I had no sooner left the coach before finding myself wrapped in my sister's arms. Tears brimmed in our eyes as we embraced each other. It had been far too long.

“Mary, look at you!” I exclaimed, pulling away from her.

I couldn’t tell what the bigger change was in her appearance, the fine, costly dress or her round belly. Mary had never been one for fine things, but I guess being a Duchess did that to you. I rubbed her belly affectionately.

“Hello, sweet little one. I am hoping you will be a Juliette.”

“Don’t have your heart set on it,” a male voice called from behind Mary. I stood to see the Duke of Gaffton coming down the front steps with Clarisse huffing at his heels.

Mary rolled her eyes. “Gaffton is sure that it’s going to be a boy.”

Gaffton took my hand and kissed it affectionately.

“Pleasure to see you again, Your Grace,” I said with a small curtsey.

“Aw, dash it all. We are all family here.” He put his arm lovingly around his wife. “And it is going to be a boy, I just know it.” He winked down at her.

In the short time I had known Gaffton before their marriage, he had been stiff and formal; he was a different man now. The union had settled well with him.

“Come now, Julia,” Mary waved me into the house. “Let us have a seat in the drawing room and you can tell me all about your trip.”

“There is not much to tell. I sat for a really long time.”

“Are you sure you don't want to lie down and rest?” Gaffton asked of his wife in concern. “You have been fussing about all day to get the house ready and arrange the dinner party tonight. I think a rest would do you good. I am sure Julia wouldn’t mind. She might even want to go straight to her room herself.”

Mary waved him off. “This one has really been getting on my nerves,” she said to me. “He fusses over me nonstop. Thinks I am breakable or something.” She turned back to her husband. “I am not tired in the least, my love.”

He gave a huff of indignation.

“I promise, Your Grace,” I said as he raised an eyebrow at me. “I mean, Gaffton, I promise she will do nothing but sit in the drawing room. I won't even let her pour the tea. I have come to make things easier, not harder. Just think of me as additional helpful hands.”

“Don’t you dare take his side,” Mary accused me.

“I’m not taking sides. I’ll just be a good compromise for the both of you.”

I followed them into the house. Gaffton waved toward several rooms, giving me a basic tour of the place. I watched as servants quietly took my belongings upstairs to my room. Finally, Gaffton excused himself to some work. He left us at the drawing room doors. He gave me a final welcoming bid and his wife a sweet kiss on the head before making his way to his office. Clarisse started to follow him. He stopped her and told her to stay with her mistress. Clarisse complied and came back to sit next to Mary. I was shocked by how well the little dog listened to him. She never listened to any of us at our family home.

Mary and I took our seats in her lush drawing room and tea was immediately served. I was a little taken aback at how smoothly things ran around her.

“How have you settled into your new life?” I asked as I poured the tea.

Mary was reclining on a loveseat. I even noticed she kicked her slippers off for comfort.

“They are swelling terribly,” she said as she rubbed her ankles. “They say it is normal at this point in the pregnancy. Just awfully annoying. I suppose I have settled in well. It has been a big adjustment, though. Luckily, Gaffton isn’t crazy about society. I would be happy to stay in our little country home for the rest of our lives, and I think he would too.”

“And little Juliette? How has she been faring?”

Mary rubbed her swollen belly for a minute. “Very active,” she replied with a smile.

“It suits you well,” I complimented.

“Hopefully, motherhood will too.” I could hear the nervousness in her voice.

“I know you will be superb at it,” I encouraged her.

* * *

A
fter the tea with Mary
, I retired to my room to freshen up for dinner. Mary informed me that we would be having a small celebratory dinner in honor of my visit. It would be just a small group of people, close friends that lived nearby.

I changed into the nicest dress I had brought with me. It was a soft blue muslin dress with pink flowered ribbon adorning the trim. Josie, Mary’s maid that had followed her, came in and helped me with my hair. She had an excellent talent of braiding my blonde ringlets with some pink lace she had on hand. I felt much like a Duchess myself when she finished. It was good to see another familiar face. She was always a talkative girl and was readily able to tell me any information I wanted to know about living at her new residence.

I came downstairs to find that several members of that night’s dinner party already being entertained in the drawing room. Gaffton was there and happily introduced me as we waited for Mary.

First, I met a Mr. and Mrs. Cannington, who were successful merchants in the nearby town. Next, I met Lady Heather Ohern, the widow of a late Earl who held her estate not too far from Mary’s lands. She was also some relation to Gaffton, through marriage, though I didn’t quite follow the genealogy. She was an older woman with no children of her own. She seemed to me to be very cross and always had a scowl on her brow. Lastly, I met Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzwilliam. He was an older gentleman, though young for a colonel. He was wearing his Red Regiment coat with shining brass buttons. He seemed a bit reserved, but very kind.

Finally, Mary came down, but it was easy to see that the excitement of the day had taken a toll on her. We all made our way to sit for dinner. I was happy that I was seated next to the colonel and not Lady Heather, who enjoyed continuously giving me advice about being a lady, though we had just met. She seemed to have an opinion about everything.

The colonel, for his part, made short, polite conversation, kept to himself and allowed the conversation to flow around him.

“Mary tells me that you like horses,” Gaffton asked in my direction.

“I do.”

“We have a very excellent selection in our sheds. You will have to go out for a ride while you are here. I have become far too busy this time of year, and Mary would be unable to in her condition. It would be a great benefit to us if you could stretch their legs on our behalf.”

“I would love to, Your Grace.”

“You like horses then?” I heard the colonel ask me in a low voice.

Gaffton caught it though.

“Yes, Fitzwilliam here is a connoisseur of horse flesh. He did me the liberty of picking out all the ones we have here.”

“You’re too kind, Your Grace. It is a small hobby of mine.”

“I am sure it has served you well, in battle, that is. Have you seen many battles, Colonel?” I asked.

“I suppose as much as any man. I am currently taking leave from my battalion for a short season in order to help get my house in order before returning.”

“By putting it in order, he means attending the horse auction that comes from the east every five years,” Gaffton chimed in with amusement.

“I’ve never missed it,” Colonel said with a boyish grin and wink.

I wondered at his age. He was certainly older than my nineteen years. He had beautiful dark black hair, but the beginning of white was just showing at his temples. That could also be due to the things he had seen as an officer in the Royal Military. His eyes were the most beautiful crystal blue shade, with small wrinkles at the edges. I imagined that they were from smiling and laughter, though he hadn't done much of either tonight.

“What is this auction?” I asked.

“Every five years, men from the east travel across Europe, bringing with them exceptional horses. Of course, they still keep the Arabians to themselves; they are the private breed of the Sultan.”

“I am familiar with Arabians,” I said.

He seemed to take stock of me at this. I really did have a passion for the animal. “Well, they do bring other fine breeds with them. Honestly, I only buy mine from this auction and use them for producing future generations.”

“It seems to be more than a hobby then,” I encouraged.

“I am sure that someday, when I retire or the war is over, it will be more. For now, it is a good distraction.” He looked at me, hesitating a moment. “I would be happy to take you along with me if you would like to see it. It is a spectacular sight; all the horses and exotic men from the east.”

“I would be happy to go with you, as long as it's not too much trouble?”