Page 26 of The Heartless Duke's Bride
“But what am I supposed to do?” Lydia asked. “You don’t understand, Violet. This is one thing that will never happen to you because your role as my lady’s maid makes you very important. You know that I will always see you, always notice the things you do for me.”
“My role is certainly not more important than the role of a duchess!” Violet proclaimed. “Nor is it more visible.”
“Not broadly, but you can feel assured that I’m going to see the things you do for me each day and feel grateful for them.”
“That’s because I’m lucky in my employment,” Violet said. “Not every lady’s maid can claim the same. But you’re right, Your Grace. I do feel as though the things I do matter. I know that my actions have meaning. I imagine it must be very difficult to feel as if you’re constantly trying to prove that fact.”
“I know what I’m going to do,” Lydia said.
“What do you mean?”
“To get Edward’s attention. One more idea. And I’m sure this one will work. If it doesn’t, nothing will.”
Violet eyed her warily. “You aren’treallythinking about burning the house down, are you?”
“Oh, goodness, Violet! Of course, I’d never do that. You know that. I was only speaking dramatically when I said that. I wouldn’t destroy Westfrey Manor! I’m not a criminal. No, it’s something I was thinking of building, not destroying.”
“What are you planning to build?”
“I think Westfrey would be enhanced by having an orangery,” Lydia explained. “I always wished we had one back at my father’s house. Well, now I’m a duchess, and I can do whatever I like, so I’m going to create an orangery. And as an added benefit, Edward will be unable to ignore a project of such scope. He’ll have to say something about it this time.”
Violet nodded. “I must admit,” she agreed, “I think you’re probably right.”
Lydia beamed. Finally, it seemed, she had the answer she had been looking for.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
“How good to see you again, Your Grace.”
Edward smiled up at Lord Hartford. “Thank you for making the time to sit down with me today,” he said. “It’s a pleasure, as always.”
“We haven’t seen one another since your wedding,” Lord Hartford observed. “How has the marriage been going? Are you and your bride still as enamored of one another as you were on that happy occasion?”
It was probably a test, Edward thought. He maintained his smile. “I’ve never been happier,” he assured Lord Hartford. “I’d have married much sooner if I had known what joy it would bring me to have a lady about the place.”
“I can only imagine how her influence must be softening you.”
“Maybe in some regards,” Edward agreed. “But I can assure you, Lord Hartford, that when it comes to business, I am the man I always was. You will find me just as easy and reliable to conduct business with.”
“In fact, I feel as if I can rely on you even more now that I see you able to embrace a serious commitment like marriage,” Lord Hartford said. “But I don’t think it was any secret that there were those of us who had concerns about your ability to be serious.”
“I hope those concerns have now been put to rest.”
“For my part, they certainly have,” Lord Hartford assured.
“Have you had a chance to look over the contracts I drew up and had sent to you?”
“I have, and everything looks good to me,” Lord Hartford said. “I’m ready to sign now.”
“Wonderful. In that case, why don’t we get the business out of the way and order some drinks?”
In truth, Edward had no interest in staying for drinks and socializing with a business associate. Once the papers were signed, he felt the only sensible thing was to wrap matters up and return home. They weren’t friends. But he had begun to gain an understanding of the sort of man Lord Hartford was, and he knew that some socialization was called for here. The important thing was that Lord Hartford was even now affixing his name to those documents. The business deal was going to go through. If they needed to put on a show of being friends for a little while afterward, then so be it.
He waited until Lord Hartford was finished signing and then put the papers away. “What are you in the mood for?” he asked.
“Scotch,” Lord Hartford said promptly. “A moment like this calls for scotch.”
“I’ll visit the bar.”
