‘I will see to it then, Your Grace,’ Simmons replied. He gathered up the piles of opened correspondence and headed off, leaving William to enjoy his tea. He walked over to the windowand stared out, watching the brilliant green edges and soft pastels of the early spring morning yawn in the soft golden glow of dawn.
How many mornings would he have alone like this? The thought dropped his stomach. As much as he hated to admit it to anyone, especially himself, he was dreadfully lonely. Even thinking it made him feel like a weak cad. He was a duke. He had a lovely daughter. He had family, small as it might be, with his servants and a cousin nearby. But his friends had slipped away after his parents and Cecily had died, as if perhaps they felt such losses were contagious. He also had been rather dreary to be around. He tucked his hands in his trouser pockets and frowned.
He couldn’t remember why they had all lost touch. There was no specific moment they fell out. It was as if they had no more stories to tell or drinks to share. He rumpled his hair and shook his head. It was an odd thing to even wonder over.
He cast such ridiculousness aside. He would worry about his loneliness another time. He simply didn’t have the time to mull over such things. A walk and food would do him good.
Perhaps today would be the first day of a new start for them all.
Heaven knew he couldn’t bear another disappointment.
Chapter Five
Hattie woke feeling rested, joyful and eager to start her first day of real employ as governess at Blithe Manor. She squealed with glee and almost jumped out of the most comfortable bed she’d ever slept in, keen to embrace the possibilities of the day. The sun rested above the horizon, preparing for its daily climb, which was exactly how Hattie felt.Thiswas her favourite part of the day, when the world and her life were full of possibilities.
While she knew she wassupposedto ring the bell for assistance with getting dressed and fashioning her hair if she needed it, she resisted the extravagance of it, wanting to simply enjoy and explore the beauty of her chamber alone. The opulence of the fine details of the carved inlay front of the wardrobe that held her meagre clothes and even the small feminine brass pulls on her nightstand captivated her. It was no wonder His Grace’s late mother loved the room so. It was simply gorgeous in every detail and Hattie decided to openly revel in it for as long as she was allowed to stay here.
She completed her ablutions and stared out the large expansive window. Morning fog and mist hovered over the serene lake at the back of the estate and the green grass glimmered as the first rays of light caught the fresh dew. For a moment, she believed she was either back in Stow or in abeautiful daydream, living like a princess. Or in this case like a governess with the chance of a lifetime. A chance she would seize and make the most of.
She smiled and slipped on her now-glistening boots that she’d arrived wearing yesterday, covered in mud. When had the maid returned them to her? She didn’t even know they had come and gone from her room. She would have to ask Mrs Chisholm to thank them for restoring her shoes to such a state. She’d never expected such care and kindness from the other servants and was grateful for it.
Hattie gathered a light shawl and wrapped it around her second-best gown as she was saving her best one for later and cracked open her chamber door slowly. While she could hear the faint murmurings of servants working in other areas of the house, she knew it was still early enough for her to slip out of the room sight unseen and explore the lake and the beautiful grounds all on her own. She smiled and felt giddy with excitement.
The first breath of cool fresh air filled her with joy and relaxation. Finally, she was alone and able to collect her thoughts in one of her favourite places in the world: the outdoors. The birds sang sweetly as if welcoming her and she began a soft hum in reply. She plucked a sweet sprig of wild violet and twirled its light lavender petals against her fingertips.
Hearing a soft desperate quack in the distance, she stilled and listened. Carefully she followed its plaintive cry and soon came across the smallest little duckling she had ever seen. She bent down and the tiny yellow-tufted creature eyed her suspiciously, so Hattie stilled her advance and they stared at each other, sizing up one another’s intentions.
Hattie was relieved to see the young duckling unharmed, but it was still distressed. No doubt it wanted its mother andsiblings. Hattie scanned the area around the lake, but didn’t immediately see either.
She smiled down at the little duckling. ‘Do not fret, sweet girl, I will find your mother.’ And she would. She stood slowly so as not to startle the tiny creature and began her search for the mother duckling in earnest in the opposite direction. The sunrise was cresting slowly and she lifted her skirts, taking great care with each step to ensure she didn’t crush some other fragile creature hidden in the lush brush and foliage surrounding the lake. After reaching halfway around the pond, she finally spied a mother duck sitting upon a nest surrounded by her ducklings.
Excited by her find, she had not heard the approach of the Duke and his daughter until they were but a short distance away. She stilled and set her features to appear as calm and confident as she could despite the quaking she felt in her legs. She wasn’t sure if she was even allowed to be out here or if she should have sought out little Millie before she went outside for her own exercise.
‘Good morning, Miss Potts,’ His Grace began as they approached. His daughter Millie edged closer to him, clasping his hand tightly and eventually pressing her entire body against his leg when they stopped before her.
‘Good morning, Your Grace. It is a beautiful day, is it not? The grounds are quite impressive.’ She smiled and scanned the area, still entranced by the beauty of it. She would act as if what she was doing was acceptable and perhaps it would be.
His gaze set out around the lake, examining it as if for the first time. ‘Yes. It is.’ He smiled. ‘Millie and I come out every morning for a walk to see the ducklings,’ he said, gesturing behind Hattie. ‘I see you have found them as well.’
‘They are adorable,’ she agreed.
‘Millie, this is Miss Potts whom you met last night. Do you remember?’
Millie’s eyes widened, but she nodded before pressing her lips together and wrapping her arm protectively around her father’s knee.
Hattie stooped down to speak with her. ‘So nice to meet you again this morning, Lady Millie. I am so happy to spend some time with you. Perhaps you can teach me all there is to know about your home and the grounds? I love the outdoors. Do you as well?’
Millie studied her for a moment, then nodded with the hint of a smile.
Hattie smiled fully, encouraged by the simple acceptance. ‘Perhaps you and your father could also help me this morning. When I came out, I heard a little duckling quacking. She is all alone on the other side of the pond, which is why I was in search of her mother on this side. I need to reunite them, but I do not wish to scare her. Perhaps she knows you both well enough to allow you to move her without injury and bring her back over here with her mother and siblings?’
The little girl’s eyes widened with excitement and she tugged on her father’s hand, urging him to follow. His Grace smiled. ‘Of course, Miss Potts. Show us where the tiny creature is.’
Hattie nodded. ‘Follow me, then.’ She rose and began the trek back to the other side of the pond.
Soon they had reached the site where the small duckling continued to quack and shiver, cold and scared from being alone for so long in the cool, wet grass. ‘I do not know how to move her,’ Hattie said.
‘When I was a boy, we used to scoop them up in our coats and hold them close to our chest, which of course made our mother livid. They are not the cleanest of creatures.’
