Page 25 of The English Duke
The second floor was comprised mostly of bedrooms and newly renovated bathing chambers. Constance had been fulsome in her praise for the new boiler and the special building built for it. Josephine smiled in earnest appreciation, the better to encourage the maid to divulge other secrets of Sedgebrook.
From Constance she learned where the duke’s suite was located. The grand staircase intersected the guest rooms from the family quarters and she made mental notes of the directions.
She would give Constance a little gratuity at the end of their explorations and hint that any information about the duke would be appreciated even more.
Of course, the girl would be one of the first changes she made once she became the Duchess of Roth. It would never do to keep a servant who knew too much.
Chapter 8
Martha made her way back to the house and up the stairs to the second floor. Before she sought out Frederick she’d go and check on Gran and, while she was at it, make sure Josephine hadn’t gotten into any trouble.
Perhaps she should be as concerned with her own behavior. After all, she was going to put herself within working distance of the Duke of Roth. He was too handsome for her, too charming—when it was obvious he didn’t mean to be—and too intriguing.
She wanted to know how he’d been injured, why he felt it so necessary to achieve something of his own, and what he thought about her father’s advancements.
Not one of those questions was commonplace. Nor had she learned the answers from reading his letters. She’d learned how his mind worked when reasoning out the problems inherent with the torpedo ship, but she wanted to know more.
The only way she was going to satisfy her curiosity was by working with the man.
She reached Gran’s room and knocked softly. When her grandmother answered, she pushed in the door, unsurprised to find her sitting up in bed, reading, a pot of tea on the nightstand, and biscuit crumbs on a plate.
Amy was sitting in the chair by the window. At Martha’s entrance, she folded the garment and stood.
“You sit here, Miss Martha,” she said. “I’ll just go and get some more biscuits.”
She smiled at Amy and thanked her.
The windows in the chamber were open to let in the summer breeze. The sunlight formed a large square on the carpet and in the middle of it sprawled a fat orange striped cat.
“That’s Hero,” Gran said.
Martha edged past the sunlight, but Hero didn’t move, merely remained in his position of half on his back and half on his side, allowing the sun to bathe his hairy belly.
“Why Hero?” she asked.
“He’s quite the mouser, I understand, and the father to countless litters. There’s one in the barn right now.”
Evidently, Gran had made friends with the staff.
“You look like you’re feeling better,” she said.
Would her grandmother admit to playing ill? Or should she say something about her suspicions? This journey to Sedgebrook was a perfect opportunity for Josephine. The duke was young, handsome, and unmarried. Josephine was his perfect foil. She was young, beautiful, wealthy, and desirous of marriage.
“I am,” Gran said. “I think there’s something magical in the tonic Dr. Reynolds gave me. I need to make sure my doctor has the same formula.”
She wasn’t going to second-guess the physician, but it didn’t seem as though Gran truly needed to rest for three more days.
“Are you absolutely certain you don’t feel up to going home tomorrow?” she asked.
Her grandmother closed the book she was reading and studied her.
“Why? Is there some reason you want to leave, Martha?”
She shook her head.
In three days a great deal could happen. She could become even more fascinated with the duke. Josephine could make a nuisance of herself exploring Sedgebrook.
“How is Josephine faring?”
