Page 58 of The Unwanted Duchess

“At worst,” she noted, “I shall at least be able to say that it is because of my own choices and not those of someone else.”

“Very well. What were you thinking of changing?”

“It might be easier to ask me what I wish to keep unchanged,” she laughed. “Perhaps we might make a few small changes to start? I would like to make this gray more of a lavender as it will make the room lighter. Oh! I would also like to have the windows opened.”

“That might take a while. The shutters have been closed for years now. The late Duke said that as there was no duchess, there was no need to have any light in the room at all. The vines have grown over the windows now.”

“Then I shall speak with the groundskeeper. I am sure that we can find a way to fix it.”

“It will certainly be a change. Perhaps once the light can enter the room, you might not dislike it as much?”

“It is more than likely that I will, but I appreciate your optimism.”

“And I appreciate your tenacity,” Mary replied. “So, you wish for lilac paint?”

“Yes, please. Oh, and if you happen to know a skilled carpenter, would you mind asking him to come and visit me? I wish to discuss the matter of furniture with him.”

“Certainly, Your Grace. I shall do it now, whilst you find the groundskeeper.”

Samantha nodded, determined. She had not been warned about him in any way, shape, or form, and she could only see that as a good thing. In any case, she would be better off than she would if she had to engage with Mister Smith.

The groundskeeper was taller than Mister Smith at least. He was also older and was tending to some of the flowers when she found him. Samantha recognized them and crouched beside him.

“Cornflowers,” she said absent-mindedly, “or Centaurea cyanus. They are some of my favorites.”

“I beg your pardon?” he asked then he turned to her and seemed to recognize her. “My apologies, Your Grace! I was not expecting to see you.”

“I apologize for startling you, Mister Davis. I was hoping you were not too busy?”

“Then your hopes are in vain. There was a lot to prepare before your arrival, and I am far from finishing.”

“But it all looks lovely.”

“That does not signify. It must look perfect.”

“If the Duchess likes it, then surely it is enough.”

He eyed her carefully.

“Do you think that as duchess, you have the last word on such matters?”

“Of course not, but if the garden is being done in preparation for my arrival, then surely it matters what I think.”

“And are you truly happy with it?”

“I am happy enough that I would rather you used your time to help me for the afternoon, if that is all right.”

“If you tell me to do something, it is my duty to do it. You ought to know that by now.”

Samantha realized, perhaps for the first time, what it meant to run a household. Mister Davis was correct; it was her duty to instruct him on what to do, and regardless of whether or not he had a true desire to do it, he had no choice but to. It was the same as her father had been, and perhaps he enjoyed the power and control, but she did not. She loathed it entirely.

“I prefer to see it as us working together,” she explained. “It may not be the fashionable thing to do, but it is how I was raised.”

It was the nicest way that she could explain that her father had made her do everything around their household as he could never afford staff.

“No lady is raised to do work,” he scoffed. “None of your status, at least. If the late Duke were here…”

His voice trailed off, and Samantha took the opportunity to explain herself further.

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