Page 38 of His Accidental Duchess

“Mrs. Haunt has promised me a proper tour today,” Anna answered, watching Esther expertly twirl her hair into a knot atop her head, pinning it in place with jeweled hairpins that she had taken out from an enameled box. “Esther, those aren’t mine.”

“No, they’re gifts from His Grace,” Esther responded absently. “There are jewels and hair-things, and he said I was just to put them on your dresser and begin using them.”

Anna didn’t answer for a moment. Even one of those hairpins would have paid off her family’s butcher’s bill, or the grocery perhaps. A handful of them together would pay all the back wages they owed to their long-suffering servants.

And here she was, wearing jewels enough to buy food for six months. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“I can give you a tour,” Kitty suggested eagerly, oblivious to Anna’s distress.

Anna forced a smile. Kitty was only a little girl, and she didn’t want her to believe that she was upset because of her.

“I think it would be lovely if you joined me and Mrs. Haunt,” she said, at last. “But not right now. At the moment, I want to go and find Theodore. Where can I find His Grace, Esther?”

There was a brief pause. Through the mirror, Esther met Martha’s eyes quickly, only for a moment.

“His Grace doesn’t like to be disturbed in his study,” Esther said, her voice light but unconvincing. “He always says we aren’t to disturb him unless he rings.”

“I’m the Duchess, though,” Anna said, her scalp prickling. “Did he say that his Duchess would not be admitted, too? Specifically?”

There was a taut silence, and neither Martha nor Esther answered. The silence was enough of a reply, and Anna felt the color rush to her cheeks.

It is his house,she tried to tell herself.It’s not the end of the world if he forbids me from entering a couple of rooms.

“I see,” she said neutrally, and the atmosphere in the room grew more uncomfortable.

Kitty, glancing from face to face, looked rather confused.

“Papa won’t be in his study now, though,” she piped up. “He always takes a walk through the grounds after breakfast.”

Anna bit back a smile. “Thank you, Kitty. That’s very helpful.”

It took half an hour for Anna to find her new husband. The grounds were more extensive than she could have imagined, and some places were almost as wild as the gardens at St. Maur Manor. Of course, that wildness was probably due to a deliberate choice, rather than a lack of funds.

When she finally saw a familiar figure at an old Grecian folly at the top of a nearby slope, she was red-faced, out of breath, and feeling remarkably silly.

Theodore was silhouetted against the top of the hill, but she knew he was watching her as she climbed up. Her gown was a brown and gold brocade, produced from the wardrobe by Esther. Another wedding present, the maid said.

It seemed that the Duke had provided an entire change of clothes for his new wife. Anna knew she should be grateful, but really, it was rather… overwhelming.

“There you are,” Anna said peevishly, once she got to the top.

“You have certainly put in a great deal of effort to find me, my dear,” he drawled, looking cool and unruffled as always.

“I am not your dear. Am I to understand that I am forbidden from entering your study?”

“I didn’t think you’d particularly wish to see my study.”

“But I would not be admitted to your study without your express permission?”

He inspected his nails. “I like my privacy. It is an unusual request, but my servants are obedient, no matter how odd my orders seem to them. If it is an emergency, you can send a message through Timmins.”

Anna let out a long, slow breath. “And are there any other rooms I am forbidden from entering?”

“You are not to enter my bedroom, study, or parlor without permission. And…” He hesitated for an instant. “And there is a bedroom you are never to enter. The Hyacinth Room. I doubt you’ll chance upon it, and the door is always locked.”

“Well, this is very unorthodox. Do you think I’m a snoop?”

“No, I do not. I also think you’ll be entirely satisfied with the dozens, if not hundreds, of other rooms in my home. Now, is there any particular reason you interrupted my morning walk?”

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