Page 65 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
Recalling her conversation with Mrs Black, Juliana hastily stopped him. “Might I have a brief word with you?” she asked.
The valet turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “Concerning?”
“I would like to speak to the duke about arranging his parents’ room according to date, artefact, and country. Grouping them into the adventures they went on would be wonderful, but I do not know enough about those. When do you think I could talk to him?”
“Why do you wish to fiddle with things that do not concern you?”
Isabella frowned slightly at the man’s tone. She could see no wrong in what she had requested.
“I only want to improve upon what is already there, Mr Johnson. The duke and duchess were a loved and respected couple who spent much of their life going on adventures.
I would have loved to meet two people who knew what it meant to live life to its fullest. What better way to honour their memory than to organise their life’s collection into something that will tell the story of their lives?”
The valet tilted his head slightly, regarding her with an unreadable look in his pale eyes. Mr Johnson had known the duke’s parents well and would have heard many of the stories the couple returned with from their adventures. It should be natural for him to agree to her request.
“What do you stand to gain from doing all this?” the valet asked.
“Satisfaction and pleasure. I have spent countless hours in that room, and I’m enthralled by the details of the stories that each item tells.
I have never met anyone who has been to five continents, Mr Johnson, but the duke and duchess did it in their lifetime. I can only imagine how exciting it must have been for them.”
“You sound as though you have a love for adventure,” Mr Johnson commented.
“I do not know enough of my life to make such a statement, but I certainly hope my life is not a boring one. It would sadden me to discover that I am merely a meek mouse who has done nothing worth celebrating.”
One side of the valet’s mouth lifted ever so slightly, but it was enough to show that he was smiling.
“I would consider the life you are living now something of an adventure,” he said.
Juliana hadn’t thought about it that way, but he was right. “I suppose I will have a grand story to tell my loved ones once I am reunited with them. Provided that I have any loved ones.”
It had occurred to her that she might not have anyone in her life and was entirely alone. That would explain why no one had come looking for her. Juliana’s shoulders sunk with the thought that she could indeed be alone.
“I’m certain you have family somewhere, Isabella,” Mr Johnson assured. “It’s no use thinking so negatively about it. I’m confident the duke will locate them soon enough.”
“If anyone is capable of doing it, the duke is,” Juliana agreed. “Will you speak to him about my request?”
Juliana held her breath to hear what the man would say. He had given a faint smile earlier, so perhaps he would be kind and relay her message.
“I suppose I could talk to him about it,” the man replied. “There is no harm in telling him your idea. Perhaps he’ll like it.”
Juliana released her breath with a grin. “Thank you, sir.”
Mr Johnson nodded. “You are welcome. Now, I must return to the duke before he wonders where I am.”
Juliana waited for the valet to turn away before entering the library. She could tell the duke had been awhile in the room after dinner because his brandy glass sat on a side table, and several books were laid out on the table.
Using the secret doorway from the library to the cleaning supplies room, Juliana took what she felt she would need and returned to start on the carpet. Secret passageways connected the entire house that the servants used regularly and were Juliana’s favourite way to get around the house.
Kitty disliked them due to their darkness and narrow passages, preferring to take the stairs whenever she could. Lady Stratford favoured the servants to be invisible whenever guests were around unless summoned to do something, but the duke was not as strict.
Juliana eventually moved on to the duke’s study, hoping she would have an answer about the former duke and duchess’ room by the time she went to clean it. She soon realised her hope was in vain when she left the study, and neither the duke nor the valet had called her.
Disappointed, Juliana considered finding the duke and asking him, but Mr Johnson might think her an impudent woman and undo all the progress she had made with him. She would simply have to tackle the room another day.
“One would think that you know how to read minds,” said Lady Stratford.
Juliana reluctantly turned to the duke’s sister. She did not wish to deal with the woman today and still felt rather upset about the dinner party held several days ago. There was some consolation in knowing that her three friends did not stay as Lady Stratford had wished but went home after the dinner.
