Page 50 of The Duke and the Scarred Bride

“How is your husband?” she asked, in an attempt to change the topic.

“He is getting a much-needed rest. He didn’t sleep a wink last night because of Georgie’s wailing. I was about to go to sleep myself before you arrived.”

“Do not let me keep you from your sleep. You need all the rest you can get,” Louisa said, standing up. “I am so grateful you took the time to listen to me complain about my woes.”

“Nonsense,” Isabella scoffed, pulling her into a hug. “You are my sister. I would do anything for you.” Releasing her, she took her hands in her own and gave them a gentle squeeze. “Do have a safe trip back and keep in touch. I promise to visit you soon.”

“Perhaps we might see each other soon. Are you attending the Ritkins’ ball this weekend?”

“Yes, I believe I am”

“Excellent!” Louisa beamed. “We’ll see each other then. Please extend my regards to your husband.”

“Of course,” Isabella said, leading her to the front door.

She hugged her once again and stood at the door while Louisa boarded the carriage, and she waved at the carriage when it pulled out of the driveway.

Louisa already missed her sister’s company. At least she would see her in two days. She now had something to look forward to as she faced the long, dreary days ahead.

When Louisa arrived back at the manor, Tobias opened the door with a bright smile on his face.

“Good day, Your Grace. I hope you had a good visit.”

“It was splendid, Tobias.” Then, unable to resist, she asked, ‘‘Is the Duke inside?”

“Yes. In his study, Your Grace.”

“All right,” she said blandly, handing him her coat and then hurrying up the stairs to her room.

She just wanted to be sure where Percival was, so she could avoid him as much as she could. Nothing more, nothing less.

She undressed with Anne’s help and soon went back to the drawing room wearing one of her new day dresses, which clung to her upper body, accentuating her large breasts. The bodicewas a little daring, but that was the state of the clothes that made up her wedding trousseau.

Once she stepped into the hall, she found Mrs. Owens, and together they curated a list of urgent repairs. She agreed that carpenters would be needed to fix most of the ceiling and the collapsing staircase. The same was true for the blacksmith because so much of the cookware was rusted, affecting the productiveness of the cook.

The cook barely complained, but then Mrs. Owens was quite perceptive and had seen how hard the woman struggled to make good meals for them. She had made a mental note of what was needed.

After over an hour of wandering around the house and writing down what was needed, they decided that the carpenters’ and blacksmith’s services were the most pressing of all.

“Thank you for your insight, Mrs. Owens. It was truly helpful,” Louisa said when they concluded their tour.

“I should be the one to thank you. I am so excited to give this manor a new look and bring it back to its glory days. It was magnificent, back in the day. I cannot wait to see that again.”

“I truly hope we will be successful. I will show the list to my husband. We will have the labourers working here tomorrow morning if everything goes as planned.”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Mrs. Owens said, bouncing on her heels in excitement, her face wreathed in smiles. Her infectious joy brought a smile to Louisa’s lips.

With how excited the housekeeper was, one might think it was her family home. But then the servants here were more or less like family to Percival, even though the dratted man did not know nor acknowledge it.

Now that she had the list, Louisa had to speak with him to secure the funding she needed. She might have sworn off seeing him, but this was a very urgent matter that affected the entire household. She was willing to swallow her shame and embarrassment to get the work done.

Marching to his study, she could hear hushed voices. She knocked once, then twice, before she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Percival looked up, his eyes flashing when they landed on her. That look, in combination with the glasses that perched on the tip of his nose and the hair that fell over his eyes, made desire coil deep in her belly, discomfiting her.

He was poring over some ledgers with his butler, but when he saw her, he stood up.

“Good day, wife. I trust you had a great visit with your sister?”

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