Page 60 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
They made their way downstairs, where they learned that two letters had come from Lady Sophia and Lady Margaret expressing their regret for not arriving as planned. Despite the disappointment, Lady Stratford maintained her smile and continued to speak about the duke’s possible matches.
Juliana was relieved she would not have to serve any of the guests, or so she thought. With just minutes before the dinner party guests were due to arrive, Lady Stratford summoned her to the drawing room where the duke sat beside her.
Juliana had not seen him since this morning before he broke his fast as he had gone off on an errand soon after breakfast and only returned this afternoon.
“Everything looks lovely, Isabella,” the woman said. “Would you not say so, Nash?”
“Isabella has done a wonderful job with the arrangements,” the duke agreed.
Juliana beamed at the compliment. “Thank you, My Lady. Your Grace,” she said with a curtsy.
“You still look quite energetic for someone who has been on her feet for much of the day,” Lady Stratford commented. “However, you will have to freshen up before our guests arrive. You cannot serve them in the same uniform you have worn all day.”
The woman was well aware that Juliana was not on the list for serving the guests tonight. Five servants had been given the task of seeing to the guests’ needs, not including the footman, housekeeper, and butler.
“Why not let Juliana rest this evening, Ellie?” the duke asked. “She has worked hard enough and deserves a little rest. I’m sure we have enough servants to attend to our guests.”
“Servants do not need as much rest as we do, brother dear,” Lady Stratford argued. “You would not deny my request to have such a gifted servant serve our guests, would you?”
There was no need for Juliana to be present, and in fact, she had intended to hide away in her room so she wouldn’t have to see the eligible women covertly flirt with the duke. Juliana had briefly considered if she felt jealous, but the notion had been so absurd that she had dismissed it.
However, standing before the duke at this moment and hearing that she might have to serve the guests, after all, left Juliana with a slightly bitter taste in her mouth.
“The servants stationed to attend to your needs are all more than capable of pleasing your guests, My Lady,” Juliana said, interrupting the conversation between the siblings.
“Are you refusing my request?” Lady Stratford asked, her voice suddenly a decibel lower.
“That is not what she said, Ellie,” the duke protested. “Stating facts is not refusing you.”
“I do not care what has been organised, Nash, only what I wish for this dinner party. Isabella will serve our guests, or is there a special reason why you will not allow her to do so?”
The woman’s eyebrows had nearly disappeared into her hairline as she looked at her brother, as though she were stunned that her brother had come to a servant’s defence again.
“I will happily serve your guests, My Lady,” Juliana said, pulling the woman’s attention away from the duke. “I did not wish my words to indicate that I was arguing with your request. May I go so I can get ready for the evening?”
A slow, satisfied smile spread across Lady Stratford’s face. “I appreciate your humility, Isabella. Yes, you may go.”
Juliana did not dare look at the duke as she left, silently closing the door behind her before moving down the hall to take the servants’ stairwell. She washed her face with cold water and placed her hands in the basin for a minute or two.
The cool liquid touching her wrists helped calm her racing thoughts enough that she could change her attire and head to the kitchen, where she remained until dinner was announced. Knowing that she couldn’t put off seeing the guests any longer, Juliana picked up a soup tureen and followed the other servants into the dining room, keeping her head down.
She was familiar with the room enough to know when to look up and place the tureen on the table. Thankfully, she had to move further away from the duke to place the tureen between four chattering guests who ignored her presence.
Juliana took the opportunity to quickly look up and observe the other guests, but she soon wished she hadn’t. A stunning fair-haired woman sat beside the duke and intently stared at him as he spoke to her.
“It is nothing to praise, Lady Spencer,” he said. “After all, I did not physically renovate the house.”
The woman had to be Lady Catherine Spencer, the one who wished to marry the duke. The servants had mentioned that she was a beautiful woman, but they had not done her justice.
“Oh, but it was your idea, Your Grace,” the woman insisted. “I am pleased that I finally get to see the inside of Stratford Manor because I have heard so many great things about it. Perhaps you can give Papa advice about the renovations he wishes to do on our townhouse in London.”
“I would be glad to,” the duke replied.
Juliana didn’t listen to any more words as she hurried out of the room. The duke would be a fool not to be interested in such a beautiful, highborn woman like Lady Spencer or any of the other women in the room. While none of them compared to the woman’s beauty, they were also lovely in their own way.
Juliana was still surprised that Lady Stratford had invited Lady Spencer after all, especially with their ongoing feud, but perhaps bridges could be mended with a marriage.
The other eligible ladies would likely not give up their opportunity to marry a wealthy and handsome duke like Nash, which meant that the night would be filled with women doing all they could to get close to him.
