CHAPTER 32 - His Story
THEY LEFT THE LIBRARYarm in arm and ascended the staircase. Livvy found herself grateful for the strength of his hold on her because, after her revelations, she felt drained and a bit weak. The entrance to the picture gallery was through a pair of massive double doors at the top of the grand staircase. It extended in both directions, taking up the whole north side of the center wing of the house.
Dale turned left when they entered the gallery. The sun sat low in the sky, and the rays streaming through the windows painted rhomboidal patterns on the wood floor. It still disoriented her how early the sun set in the fall in England. It looked to be past six in the evening, even though it was not yet four in the afternoon.
Dale stopped and turned in front of a portrait, causing her to turn with him. She was in front of a life-size portrait of a beautiful young lady with golden hair and laughing blue eyes, wearing a dress very similar to what Livvy wore now.
Olivia looked slowly from the painting to her dress to Dale. He stared straight at the painting, his face like granite, revealing nothing. It was obvious he was trying to conceal all emotion behind a wall of impassivity, but that in itself revealed how deep his feelings for his late wife must run.
She read the plaque under the painting:
“Eloise M Collins
Fifth Duchess of Avondale
August 1860”
She had many questions, but felt reluctant to ask. The subject seemed, understandably, a painful one for Dale. So she waited patiently for him to speak first.
Tearing his eyes from the picture, he ran his hands over his face. “That painting was done right before our marriage. My father commissioned it upon our betrothal, to serve as the official painting of the future duchess.”
“It is a splendid portrait. Obviously she was beautiful, but the painting also conveys some... mischievousness?”
He made a half smile. “Yes, she used to be. Long ago, before our marriage. By the time she had been married to me long enough, all the laughter and mischief had left her. She was only a miserable shadow of her former self.”
That surprised Olivia. She had had the impression it had been a happy and loving marriage. It was clear Dale loved his wife. What could have caused the woman to be so unhappy? Again, she waited patiently for him to continue.
“We were childhood friends. She was the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Cavendish. They own the neighboring estate. Our fathers were friends and wanted an alliance between the two families, so from the time we were children, they arranged our marriage.”
“Yours was an arranged marriage? I thought it had been a love match.”
Dale shrugged. “A bit of both, I guess. I grew up knowing someday I would marry Eloise. Some young men may have resented having their right to choose a bride taken from them, but I didn’t mind. I liked her well enough.”
He looked straight at her, endeavoring to explain.
“We were playmates ever since I can remember. I was two years older, but she was an intrepid little girl; always following me around, getting into all sorts of scrapes. Our parents allowed us much more freedom than was traditional because of the understanding that we were practically betrothed.
“I was in no hurry to get married, though. I was too busy sowing my wild oats in London and abroad. After finishing university, I took two years to travel the continent in what’s called ‘The Grand Tour’. I went from Portugal all the way to Constantinople, staying in all the capitals and enjoying what each one offered.
“But eventually I was called back home. My father decreed I had dragged my heels long enough regarding Eloise. Her parents were getting impatient for her to marry since she was getting old waiting for me.”
“Old? Seems to me you both were really young. How old were you?”
