Page 52 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
“You likely did, but I merely put your thoughts into words.”
“Perhaps I did. Was there something you needed? A message from Mrs Black, perhaps? I hope it isn’t a change to the menu. That is a frightful business, you know. Things do not keep so well once the warmer months come, and the icehouse can only hold so much.”
“Nothing like that,” Juliana assured the woman. “Mrs Black has given me permission to have a cup of tea and a biscuit or two. May I do so?”
“Of course, my dear,” said Cook. “Mrs Black’s biscuits are kept in the red box in the first pantry, and there is some tea prepared already. Simply get a cup.”
Juliana thanked her, feeling rather privileged to be going into the pantry for biscuits and having a cup of tea at this time of the day. It was unheard of, but no one would argue it if the housekeeper had deemed it so.
Perhaps Mr Stevens might have something to say about it because he loathed anything that did not follow an orderly manner, but the butler was likely overlooking the polishing of the silver and would not know about Juliana’s little moment of rest.
“Did you hear about Lady Spencer?” Molly said, carrying a bowl of carrots to where Juliana sat.
“I do not know who Lady Spencer is,” Juliana replied and bit into a heavenly, buttery biscuit.
“She is Lady Stratford’s rival and has been for several years now,” Molly informed her.
“I see.”
Juliana wasn’t surprised to learn the duke’s sister had a rival. The woman seemed the sort to step on the toes of others.
“Well, it seems Lady Spencer has set her sights on His Grace.”
Juliana carefully put her cup down to take in the news. “What do you mean? She wishes to be courted by our duke?”
“Precisely!” Molly exclaimed. “I just heard it from her lady’s maid. The woman doesn’t like her mistress at all and often gossips about her.”
Juliana wasn’t bothered about the lady’s maid and her relationship with her mistress, only that Lady Spencer was interested in the duke.
“What does this lady look like?” she asked.
“I have only seen her once, but I recall a pretty woman with pale golden hair, delicate features, and lovely green eyes. She and the duke would suit if he ever decided to marry her, but Lady Stratford would put up a mighty fight to prevent that.”
Juliana didn’t like hearing about this other woman, but there was some consolation that the duke’s sister did not like her. She hoped never to meet Lady Spencer, but if the woman was determined to get married to the duke, she might work around the feud she had with Lady Stratford and use it to her advantage.
Why does life feel like a chessboard at times? Someone keeps moving the pieces, and my situation steadily worsens. I do not fancy a queen taking over the castle.
Thomas came in moments later, his eyes briefly straying to Kitty. The woman blushed and excused herself, missing the disappointment in the footman’s eyes.
“What news do you have for us today, young Thomas?” Cook asked. “You always tell us such elaborate stories.”
“Well, I was just talking to Marcus, and he mentioned a commotion in town involving a beautiful servant and several men.”
Juliana immediately hid her face and prayed Marcus had not said too much. The footman worked for Mr Eden and often brought messages from his master.
“Did Marcus say who the woman was?” Molly asked.
“No, but he says it’s the talk of the town. The duke had to step in and save the woman.”
“Our duke?” Cook questioned.
“Yes,” Thomas replied. “I feel proud to work for a man like him. He doesn’t mind helping those lower than him, unlike so many others of his class. The Duke of Kensington is certainly one of a kind.”
No one knew that better than Juliana. The man had saved her three times and had promised to protect her.
Is it any wonder that Lady Spencer is willing to suffer Lady Stratford’s ire to draw closer to the duke? I would do the same in her position.
Juliana drained her tea to the dredges and excused herself from the gossip flowing freely around her. It was easy to get caught up in it, but she had chores to complete and an out-of-reach duke to think about.
