Page 10 of My Blind Duke
Lady Clementina barely waited for Anna to round the corner before turning to Prudence with a smirk. “Intending to curry favor from the little brat will not work you know. Regardless of whatever schemes you might eventually orchestrate, the duke will inevitably throw you out on that pampered little backside of yours!” The wrinkles around her mouth deepened as she laughed.
“Unlike you, Lady Clementina, I simply want the little girl to feel welcome in a strange new home,” Prudence walked past her before looking back over her shoulder. “And I would wait to meet the new duke before you set your heart on me being thrown out. Mrs. Fairfax and Mr. Jefferson have already been scolded this morning for mistreating me!”
The old woman’s face turned a deep shade of red as Prudence made her way down the stairs and into the bustling hall below.
“My apologies for being late, Your Grace, I had not realized that you had all been seated.” Prudence hurried into the dining hall and took a seat a few chairs down where her place had been set opposite that of Lady Clementina and her companion, Henrietta.
Henrietta raised her neat eyebrows at Prudence while offering her a timid smile as a way of greeting. When Clementina turned to her sharply, the smile twisted into a sneer, meeting her mistress’s approval. It had always been like this, Henrietta was forced to take stances that Clementina would prefer, never uttering a word of complaint.
Everything – right down to the clothes Henrietta wore and the way she did her hair – was all done according to Clementina’s preferences. Prudence had often wondered if the solemn look in Henrietta’s eyes was merely an expression of resignation to her fate or a cry for help.
Although she was a timid little thing, Prudence knew very well that Henrietta was observant. Nothing escaped her notice in any situation. It was one of the reasons why Clementina kept her close.
“You are not late. We were simply early since Lady Clementina saw fit to seek me out before dinner,” the duke grumbled before taking a sip of his wine.
Clementina pursed her lips into a thin smile while reaching for her glass of wine.
“You may serve the first course,” the duke commanded the butler with a flick of his wrist.
Jumping into action, the older man with thin grey hair gave the orders to the footmen before returning to his post beside the door.
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but will Lady Melanie not be joining us tonight?” Prudence asked as she looked around the table for the little girl.
Scoffing openly, Clementina rolled her eyes. “How uncultured of you not to know that children are to be seen and not heard, Your Grace. What place would a little girl have at the dining table?”
The duke seemed irritated by the remark, if the way he clenched his jaw was anything to go by but turned his head towardPrudence instead. “I thought it best for Lady Melanie to eat with her governess in the nursery this evening.”
“I do not necessarily agree, but who am I to question your decisions?” Prudence defiantly turned her attention to the plate of soup placed before her on the table.
The hearty smell of freshly cooked parsnips wafted up to her nose as they began to eat.
“How do you find the first course, Your Grace? Our cook is renowned in London. He has apprenticed in France, you see,” Clementina boasted, obviously attempting to get back the duke’s good graces after her misstep.
The sound of his spoon clattering onto his plate echoed through the dining hall as he grunted, grabbing a napkin.
“Ugh. That is disgusting!”
“I beg your pardon? B-But I personally approved of this dish!”
“Is that so? Because that would mean there is something greatly wrong with your palate and you should never be allowed near the kitchens again,” the duke hissed as he pushed his bowl forward with one hand, using the other to wipe at the corners of his mouth with his napkin.
He lifted a hand in the direction of where the footmen were standing. “One of you, look into my bowl and tell me what is wrong.”
Rushing forward, a footman peered into the bowl before turning a sickly shade of green. “Well, Your Grace, this is highly irregular, b-but there seems to be a few f-fish scales floating in your soup.”
The women all quickly looked at their bowls, simultaneously heaving sighs of relief when they did not see anything at all.
Prudence even went as far as swirling her spoon around in the rich orange broth but came up empty-handed.
Clementina was seething and pointed at the butler who had also stepped toward them. “Jefferson, explain yourself this instant!”
“This has never happened before, Your Grace! I-I am not sure how this–” The butler stuttered until the duke raised his hand to stop him.
“Please, Jefferson, I do not think for a moment that any of the staff has tampered with my food. Summon my daughter at once. I think you will find her quite close by instead of in the nursery.” He shook his head angrily while fidgeting with the edge of his napkin.
Lady Clementina pulled her nose up at the bowl of soup in front of her and pushed it away. “This is highly unacceptable. I willnot be content with such uncultured behavior! How is one meant to dwell in one’s home peacefully if such occurrences will be a norm–”
“Then may I remind you, Lady Clementina, that you are under no obligation to reside in this house? You may relocate to one of your other residences whenever you see fit. Perhaps you and your companion would like to have the rest of your meal in your chambers?” The duke barked at her, tightening his grip on the napkin.
