Page 61 of The Viscount's Unwanted Bride
Her mother had long since prepared her to take over a household. First, she needed to see what she was working with. Then, she needed to make sure the key staff were amenable to her management. Only after she had secured their respect and come to grips with the situation she found herself in should she try to implement any changes.
As it was, she suspected she’d need to tread more carefully than usual because she wasn’t the only mistress this house had seen during Theodore’s tenure as viscount. They might be used to doing things in a particular way, or, despite how favorably the London staff had reacted to her, these people might view her as an interloper.
Kate had no desire to erase Elizabeth’s impact or replace her. That said, she wasn’t about to be uncomfortable in her own home either. If something needed to change in order for her to feel like part of the household, it would have to happen.
They made their way up the stone stairs and into a foyer that was smaller than she would have expected from the outside. It had a white marble floor that looked like it had been recently cleaned.
“How much has Master Theodore told you about Blackwell Hall?” Mrs. Tubbs asked.
“He described the basic layout,” Kate said. “He didn’t go into a lot of detail as to the individual rooms or the grounds.”
Mrs. Tubbs nodded. “The grounds are extensive. I’d recommend looking around the house today and keeping the grounds for tomorrow or later in the week. It would be a lot to take in all at once.”
Kate inclined her head. “I’ll take your advice. I trust you to know best in this.”
Mrs. Tubbs looked pleased. “Excellent. Let’s begin with the formal receiving rooms, since they’ll be where you’ll receive any guests or callers who come to wish you well.”
The tour lasted long enough that Kate’s feet ached by the time they were done and her stomach was hollow. Fortunately, they detoured to the dining room, where a meal had been served. She and Theodore ate silently, both of them hungry from the journey. Once they’d had their fill, he showed her to her bedchamber.
As soon as she entered, a sense of heaviness descended over her.It was obvious that the bed had recently been changed and the lack of dust on the dresser indicated that the room had been cleaned as well. She wondered whether the space had remained undisturbed after Elizabeth’s death until now.
A door near the bed connected the room with Theodore’s, and all of a sudden, this whole thing just felt too awkward.The meal she’d just eaten sat like a lump in her gut.
Theodore had loved Elizabeth. If he’d kept her room as it was all this time, she doubted that he’d grieved her as fully as he should have. It didn’t feel right for Kate to move in when she knew she wasn’t the one he would have wanted to be there.
“Would you like me to take another room?” she asked softly, turning to look up into his eyes.
He stared at her, askance. “Why would you do that?”
“This was Elizabeth’s room.”
“Is it not to your liking?” Mrs. Tubbs’s tone was laced with concern. “We can make any changes you want.”
She shook her head. “It’s not that. It’s just… won’t it be strange for you to have me in here instead of her?”
The corner of Blackwell’s mouth twitched. “No. You’re the viscountess now. It would be stranger for you not to take this room.”
She tilted her head back. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Well, that was that.
Somehow, the firm answer helped, although it didn’t ease the awkward feeling of having put her nose where she shouldn’t. She grimaced to herself. If she retired to her room now, the tension between them would linger, and she couldn’t allow that.
“I know you advised me to leave the grounds until tomorrow, Mrs. Tubbs, but I couldn’t help noticing through the rear windows that there seems to be a garden out the back. Could we walk through that? The fresh air would be nice after being cooped up in the carriage.”
Mrs. Tubbs deferred to Theodore. “His lordship is likely better situated to show you the gardens than I am. I don’t venture outside much. The late viscountess had a real knackfor growing roses. His lordship would often spend time in the gardens with her.”
Theodore stiffened, and she wondered why. Did he not want the staff telling her about Elizabeth?
Perhaps she should find out because she wanted to cause as little distress as possible. Now wasn’t the time to ask, though.
“I can walk you through the gardens, but there isn’t much to see at this time of year,” he said.
“Then you can describe it for me as it appears in summer.”
He nodded briskly, dismissed Mrs. Tubbs, and led Kate down the stairs and out through a back exit. Immediately behind the house, there were several rows of rose bushes, their bare limbs jutting from the snow, in a holding pattern until spring arrived.
