His Saving Grace (Regency Refuge 1) (7 page)

****

It was close to midnight when they arrived at Castle Felton. Mr. and Mrs. Pembroke greeted the duke, fatigue in their eyes. Thomas sent them both back to bed and told them he'd see them first thing in the morning. He instructed the footmen to unload Grace's trunks and bring them upstairs to her chambers. To Rupert, he gave orders to see to everything else, including the servants.

Thomas then stepped back over to the carriage and opened the door through which he'd recently exited. Grace was sound asleep in what looked to be an uncomfortable position on one of the benches. He called her name, but she didn't move. Climbing into the carriage, he gathered her into his arms. Getting back out of the carriage was awkward, but he managed. Then he carried his Gracie into her new home, up the grand staircase, and into her bedchamber. He laid her down on her bed and smoothed the jet-black hair back from her face.

Withdrawing through the door to his adjoining chamber, he removed his jacket, waistcoat, and cravat before returning to Grace's side to get her settled in for the night. Removing her slippers first, he thought to remove her dress, but wasn't sure how to accomplish the task while she was lying down in it.

"Are we there yet?" came her sleepy voice.

"Indeed we are. I was trying to get you comfortable so you could sleep."

"Will you stay with me tonight?"

"You need your sleep, Gracie."

She leaned up on one elbow and inspected her husband. Her eyes perused every part of him before lingering on his face. "I can't do anything about the fact you're leaving tomorrow. The only thing I have control over is how I spend my remaining time before you go, and I want to spend that time with you. Please give me that gift before you're gone from here."

Feeling he was more blessed than any man should have a right to be, Thomas leaned in and tenderly kissed his wife. Then, standing, he said, "Come here. Let me play lady's maid for you once again."

****

The sun was barely creeping into the bedroom when Grace awoke the next morning. Finding herself alone in her chamber, she called, "Thomas?" When she got no answer, she jumped out of bed, frantically searched through one of her trunks until she found a dressing gown, then raced out the door and down the stairs.
If he left without bidding me farewell, I will…

She was met at the bottom of the stairs by Rupert. "Did he leave?" she demanded.

Before Rupert could even answer, Thomas's voice came from her left. "I would never leave without saying goodbye, Gracie. I wanted to let you sleep a bit longer while I took care of some items pertaining to the estate here."

She pivoted toward him, relief coursing through her veins. "How much longer?" she asked, her voice raw with emotion.

"About an hour," he said. "Go back up and get dressed. There's a second dress hanging in your wardrobe. I'll be up in a few minutes to help you. You want to look your best. Later today you and Rupert will be interviewing lady's maids."

I don't care about getting a lady's maid, you toad!

Trying to calm her racing heart and knowing she should be more refined than to race down the stairs in her sleep attire, Grace turned toward the steps that led back to her chamber and put her hand on the banister.

Thomas's voice stopped her. "And, Gracie?" She circled to look at him. He winked and said, "I'm glad to know I'll be missed."

Trying to smile past her sadness, she nodded before making her way back to her chamber.
I can't let him see how upset I am. It will serve no good purpose if he leaves here fretting over me.

The dress she found in her wardrobe was a cross between purple and red, but with an earthier hue. It was bold, not the sort of color one normally found in a day dress. She dug through her trunk until she found a clean chemise. After quickly donning it, she washed her face and hands at the basin in her room. She brushed out her hair and pinned it up into place, detached from the action as though witnessing it from afar. That task complete, she began to climb into the new dress.

She heard the door behind her open and glanced over to see Thomas approaching. He gave her a broad smile and said, "I knew that color would suit you. Let's get you buttoned in, then I want to have a proper look at you."

Grace obliged by turning her back to him. "You're getting quite good at this," she said as his fingers deftly took care of the row of buttons.

Putting his hands on her shoulders, he lightly spun her until she faced him. He took a couple steps back and gave her an appraising look. "The color is called puce, you know."

"I wondered," she said. "Being I was unmarried, I've never been allowed to wear such bright colors before."
I've always thought that was a senseless rule.

"It's beautiful on you." His loving words were a boon. She wished she could freeze this moment in time and lock it away in her heart for safekeeping.

There were so many things Grace wanted to say, but the ability to pull her chaotic emotions together into cohesive thoughts was beyond her. The pain of Thomas's leaving was already upon her. Instead, she asked, "Why do you keep staring?"

"I want to store up this memory to add to the others I have. I want to carry a picture of you vibrant and colorful and beautiful and mine."

This might be easier if he were still angry. Why'd he have to go and get over his problem and make this parting so painful?

She fought back the tears so close to the surface.

"Ah, Gracie, come here," he said, opening his arms in invitation. She flew into them. "You are a strong, brave, and wonderful woman. You will do fine in your own right. I am honored to call you wife and look forward to when I can return. Don't let my absence take your sparkle away. I shall continue picturing you as feisty, argumentative, and opinionated. I will believe you are here reading the newspaper and getting involved in things other women wouldn't dare. Promise me you will continue being you while I am gone. Don't sit around and pine for me. That will do neither of us any good."

Sniffling, she said, "I shall pine for you until the first newspaper arrives. Then I will put you firmly out of my mind and go about with my life."
Liar!

Thomas pulled back and used his finger to tilt her chin up until their eyes met. "We have many years of marriage left ahead of us, Gracie. This separation is for a season, then it will be over." He gave her a lingering kiss before taking his leave.

She watched from her room as he mounted Hero and rode away. Before leaving the courtyard, he sought her out where she stood in the window and waved. Grace returned the wave, her hand remaining on the glass pane long after he was gone from sight.

Lord, please keep him safe. It feels that we've only just found each other.

****

She was exhausted by the emotion of the day and interviewing the girls, the youngest of which was barely twelve. Later that evening, Grace sat at the kitchen table with Rupert and the Pembrokes. "I can't abide Edith. Don't ask me why, but something about her personality grated. Seeing her in my home on a daily basis would be worse than living downwind from the stable." Rupert, who held a list of the girls, drew a line through Edith's name.

"Elsie is so young. It seems she should be in school."

Mrs. Pembroke spoke up and said, "We don't have one of those fancy schools in the parish, Your Grace."

Intent on her duty to select the household staff, Grace said, "I liked Margaret. She struck me as quite friendly."

Mr. Pembroke muttered something, and Grace watched husband and wife inquiringly. Mrs. Pembroke glared at her husband and said, "What Mr. Pembroke means to say is that Margaret is quite friendly, but sometimes she's friendly to the wrong people. She might be a distraction for the male servants."

Grace glanced back and forth between the Pembrokes before telling Rupert to cross her name off the list.

It's a shame. I liked her, but it wouldn't do to alienate the existing staff.

Suddenly realizing what Mrs. Pembroke had said a short time ago, Grace asked, "There's no school?"

"I didn't mean any harm, Your Grace. There's nowhere for the children to learn their letters and numbers and the like. Most of them will grow up to be farmers or will follow in their parents' trade, or maybe get an apprenticeship, so it's never mattered."

Grace took a moment to process Mrs. Pembroke's words. It was true, schooling for commoners was rare, but there were shires that provided it. She would need to find out whether schooling was the responsibility of the landowner or the shire church. In the meantime, while she sorted that out, she could still take some action.

Glancing over the names on Rupert's list, she said, "Very well. That settles it. Elsie shall be my lady's maid. She's young and will have a lot to learn, but I believe we'll get on famously. Hire Anna to take care of laundry and dishes. I'd like you to hire Sarah and Dorothea as housemaids, but not for every day. Rupert, you'll have to arrange the schedule so they each work part of the week. If someone doesn’t work out, then we'll let that person go, and whoever remains can have the additional work."

"You want me to split the one housemaid job between the two women? Are you sure that will be enough for them?" Rupert questioned.

"I conversed with each at length. Sarah and Dorothea are unmarried and living at home with their parents. Their income will greatly help their families, but neither family is in a desperate situation. Anna lost her parents when she was young and has been moved from family to family within the parish as a charity case. She has no real home. Elsie's father was badly injured and can't walk anymore, and her mother isn't skilled enough to do any work other than caring for her family. She would take in laundry for people, but nobody around these parts can afford to pay. Sarah and Dorothea may want jobs, but both Anna and Elsie need one."

Grace stood to exit the room. As she was leaving, though, she recalled another of her current dilemmas. Turning to the Pembrokes, she said, "I understand there's no seamstress in town. Do you know of anyone handy enough with a needle to make me some dresses? I'm afraid I have but three, including the one I was wed in, until my things arrive from Stafford."

Husband and wife exchanged a look before Mrs. Pembroke said, "Margaret is the best there is around these parts. She doesn't have a shop or material to offer you, but she can sew almost anything and make it look fancier than you'd ever imagine."

That's an interesting turn of events.

Grace mulled that over for a moment before saying, "I aim for this estate to do what it can to help the people of this village for as long as I'm in residence. I appreciate your honesty," she said, nodding to Mr. Pembroke, "and hope you will continue to be honest with me. You know the people here much better than I do." Then, turning to Rupert, she said "Please inform the girls of my decision and work out a schedule. The housemaid can start tomorrow, but I'll need Elsie tonight. Anna can start tonight or tomorrow, whatever is best for her. Give Elsie a chance to let her parents know, but then she needs to return with her belongings and plan to stay on here until further notice."

"In the meantime," she added, "do some checking around town for me, Rupert. Find out if the families would be interested in sending their children up here two days per week. I am most assuredly not a teacher, but I'd like to do what I can to help anyone interested in learning their letters and numbers." She paused momentarily, thinking about how best to handle her next order. When she did finally speak, it was to say, "Inform Margaret I will be employing her services with a needle. One of my trunks upstairs has some material in it. Make sure she understands it is to be temporary. There is no reason to get her hopes up needlessly."

I hope she works out. Perhaps I should speak to her about relations with other staff.