Page 57 of The Duke's Indecent Match
If the duke had told them that he’d been trapped into the union rather than choosing her for himself.
Thank goodness she had Margaret, but she was also worried that she was dragging her maid into an untenable situation.Margaret would defend her if she felt it necessary, but that would likely make her unwelcome with the rest of the staff if they were loyal to the duke.
She ran through what she knew of Hereford, which was not nearly enough.Not when she was now married to him.
Due to the abrupt nature of their wedding, she’d had no chance to ask him any questions—if he’d even be charitable enough to answer them.She might have done so on the ride to Hereford Hall if he’d joined her in the carriage.On the other hand, considering how icy cold he’d been this morning, she was grateful for the respite from his chilly demeanor before they reached the hall.
“Well, now,” Margaret said, peering out the window as the hall came into view.Her tone was doubtful.“That is… a very large house.”
It was very large, just as Margaret said.Kalina had noticed, as they’d come up the drive, that the grounds were overgrown.The neatly manicured lawns and bushes of Blackstone Manor were long gone.The greenery here was not even as tidy as that of the inn at which they’d stopped for a stretch and a quiet bite.Her husband had ignored her presence, dining in silence, while Kalina picked at her food.Reminded that she had barely eaten today, her stomach grumbled, and she put her hand over it as if she could hush it that way.
Hereford Hall was as overgrown as the drive leading to it.Ivy crawled up the stonework and onto the roof, which appeared old and patched.While the front building appeared nearly as large as Blackstone Manor, it was not at all as welcoming.Most of the windows were shuttered, there was a large crack in one of the downstairs windows that was visible even from the carriage, and overall, the house had a depressive air about it.Though the sun was currently peeking out from the clouds, a miasma of gloom hung about the hall.
It looked as though it was well on its way to tumbling into ruins like the church at Blackstone Manor.
He really does need my money.
Which made Kalina feel just a touch better.She was contributing something substantial to their union and to the betterment of his life and his estate.
Someone must have been watching for the carriage, because the front door opened—just one of the two large doors—and a small trickle of people came out.Far smaller than she would have expected from a ducal household… on the other hand, she was already realizing exactly what dire financial straits Hereford was in.
There were three young women, one of who looked to be about Kalina’s age and two younger.The youngest was still in short skirts, her hair in neat plaits with ribbons hanging from them.She was clutching something small and furry.A dog, perhaps?From the faded fabric of her dress, Kalina guessed it was likely a hand-me-down, as was the second youngest’s.From the style of the eldest’s dress, she had a feeling the gown had belonged to the former duchess.
All three of them were beautiful, despite the shabbiness of their clothing.They had the same coloring as Hereford—lighter brown hair and dark eyes, though the youngest was nearer to blonde than brown.The streaks of it running throughout her hair showed in her plaits.
An older man and woman were beside them, their sturdy garb denoting their servants’ status.Were they the only ones?Or had they been sent out as representatives of the rest of the household?With a new duchess arriving, the entire staff should have come out to greet her.
Unless the duke had not sent word ahead, and they were unprepared to greet the new lady of the house.
Or it was an insult.
Or they were the only staff.
Hereford had already dismounted his horse and was leading it by the reins toward the back of the carriage.No groom had come out to assist him.
Gracious.
The older couple was it.
That was the only conclusion she could come to.Even if the household was incensed by the way she’d come to marry their employer, a groom would have come to attend him and the carriages, if there had been one.
Should she get out on her own?
Her mother had taught her how to run a household, but a fully functioning, fully staffed household.All the manners that had been drilled into her kept her from doing many things for herself… but there was no one else here to do them, it appeared.
Hereford came to the carriage door and opened it.
“Madam.”As before, realizing she was no longer a ‘miss’ sent a little tremor through her.The word as much as the coldness of his voice.Kalina gathered her courage along with her skirts so she could step out of the carriage.
Feet on the ground, she pretended not to be aware of the stares coming from their tiny audience.She shook out her skirts as Hereford assisted Margaret down from the carriage as well.The horse he’d ridden was now tied to the back of the carriage.
Almost no staff, the house in ruins, no stables or feed for the horses… Gods.Kalina could hardly credit that he’d managed to keep exactly how dire his situation was away from the gossip mongers.She certainly had had no idea.Not that it would have changed how she felt about him…
Unfortunately, there was very little she could do about how he now felt about her.Perhaps using the money she brought with her, which he obviously needed even more than she’d realized, would soften his attitude toward her.Eventually.
Coming up to her side, Hereford stiffly held out his arm.
“Let me introduce you, then we’ll get the carriage unloaded.Tomorrow, the rest of our things should arrive.”
