Page 13 of His Forsaken Duchess
Audrey nodded, though the news did little to ease her restlessness. She returned to the drawing room, sinking onto a settee with a sigh.
What am I to do with myself in this dreary castle, trapped with such a horrid man?
A burst of laughter echoed from the foyer, light and unreserved. Her curiosity piqued, she rose and peered out to see what was causing the commotion.
A short, plump woman stood near the door, her cheeks flushed from the cold. Her voice was bright and cheerful as she spoke to Potts. “Adorable little boys, John and Steven! They send their love, Mr. Potts, truly. Such darling children!”
Potts nodded politely, his expression unchanged. “Indeed,” he said simply.
Audrey tilted her head, observing the contrast between the woman’s effervescence and Potts’s unflappable demeanor.
The woman turned and caught sight of Audrey. Her eyes widened, and she quickly dropped into a curtsy. “Oh, Your Grace!” she exclaimed. “You must be the Duchess! What an honor to finally meet you.”
Audrey blinked, taken aback by the woman’s enthusiasm. “And you are?”
The woman stepped forward with a beaming smile. “Mrs. Pippa Potts, Your Grace. I run the household. It’s so lovely to have you here. Truly, this castle has been waiting far too long for its Duchess to take her rightful place.”
Audrey offered a polite nod, though the expectation in the woman’s words pressed uncomfortably against her chest. “I see. A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Potts.”
Mrs. Potts clasped her hands together eagerly. “Would you allow me the honor of showing you around the castle, Your Grace? I’d be delighted to give you a tour and introduce you to the staff.”
Audrey hesitated briefly but then nodded. “Very well,” she said.
Mrs. Potts led the way, her energy filling the long hallways as she pointed out various rooms. Audrey followed, with Marie trailing quietly behind her. They passed two additional drawing rooms, each with distinct furnishings, before entering the library. Audrey paused, taking in the domed glass ceiling and the telescope positioned near the tall windows.
“This is one of the most magnificent rooms in the castle,” Mrs. Potts remarked, her tone reverent. “His Grace spends little time here, but it is a treasure.”
They continued to the conservatory, where verdant plants filled every space. Marble statues stood amidst the greenery, and a central fountain bubbled softly.
“How lush everything looks,” Mrs. Potts said with delight. “Your Grace’s presence gives us all new hope. Truly, it feels as though the castle has come alive again.”
Audrey felt a pang of guilt, the expectations growing heavier.
They think I’ve come to mend my relationship with him.But I won’t stay longer than necessary.
In the kitchens, she met the cook, a middle-aged man with a thick French accent.
“Ah, Your Grace,” he said warmly. “It is a delight to cook for you and His Grace. Such an occasion inspires me to craft my finest dishes.”
Audrey nodded politely, the suffocating atmosphere pressing down on her chest further. She smiled faintly and allowed herself to be led to the gallery. The dim light and grand portraits lent the room an air of somber elegance.
“This room holds the history of Haremore, Your Grace. Each generation is represented here, their likenesses captured for eternity,” Mrs. Potts said, her tone reverent. “And of course, the parties once held in this castle were nothing short of legendary.”
“Parties?” Audrey repeated, her interest piqued. She swept her gaze across the room. “This castle hardly seems a place for gaiety, I must confess.”
Mrs. Potts gave her a wistful smile. “It was not always so somber. The ballroom, for instance, would have been alight with splendor. The chandeliers glittering, the ladies adorned in their finest silks, the music filling every corner.” She gestured lightly toward one of the grander portraits. “The late Duke and Duchess of Haremore were known for hosting lavish parties. It is said that their midsummer ball was an event the ton would speak of for years.”
Audrey tilted her head, her gaze lingering on the painting. The couple depicted there was striking. Cedric’s father had a commanding presence with sharp features and a piercing gaze. But it was the late Duchess who held Audrey’s attention. Her beauty was undeniable, her figure regal, but her smile…
Audrey frowned slightly. There was something hollow about it, as though the cheerfulness was a mask hiding deeper sorrow.
“She was beautiful,” she remarked.
Mrs. Potts nodded, her expression softening. “She was. But beauty is not always a balm to other troubles.”
Audrey glanced at her. “What sort of troubles?”
Mrs. Potts’s eyes widened, and she stammered when she spoke. “Oh, the late Duchess also hosted delightful parties in the gardens. If everything was not covered with snow, you would have seen the hedges that form a maze.”
