“Oh?” Anna grinned. “We should go!”
“Yes, I agree.” One of the things Anna appreciated most about her lady’s maid was how thoughtful she was. She constantly tried to help or cheer Anna up when she observed a change in her mood.
Anna sprang to her feet and prepared to go to the festival, wishing Colin could attend with her. They rode the carriage to the village and when they arrived, she was immediately drawn into the festivities.
Carts littered the village square with people selling their wares, while performers made displays that attracted both children and adults. Anna and Mason stopped in front of an elderly woman behind a stall, selling beautifully embroidered handkerchiefs, and ribbons.
Mason, nay, Clarissa—she preferred to use her Christian name now because she was coming to regard her as a friend—selected an emerald green ribbon and held it against Anna’s hair. “This looks lovely on you, Your Grace.”
“Your Grace?” the old woman asked, and Anna looked at her. “Are you the new Duchess of Ashden?”
“Yes,” Anna replied quietly. The woman had all of her attention now.
“Oh, we heard the Duke is visiting Edinfield with the Duchess. We are happy to have you here, Your Grace. I am Mrs. Lander.”
“Thank you.”
“I knew the late Duchess. Such a divine soul. She attended every festival and loved to dance.” The woman retrieved something and extended it to Anna. It was a small blue velvet pouch. “Please accept this gift.”
“Oh, I could not possibly…”
“Please, Your Grace. I am very happy to meet you, and honored that you stopped at my stall.” Anna felt the warmth in both the woman’s smile and words.
“I appreciate the gift, Mrs. Lander.” She did not open the pouch to see what was inside, even though she was curious. She purchased several ribbons and handkerchiefs before they moved to another stall where she indulged in sweetmeats and got Colin some.
After three hours in the village, Anna and Clarissa climbed back into the carriage to return to the manor. There, Anna took the opportunity to open the pouch Mrs. Lander had given her. The wide grin on her face faltered when she pulled out a pair of white and pink knitted socks that were meant for an infant.
It was an ideal gift for a duchess, and perhaps Mrs. Lander had a hidden sense that Anna would need a gift like this to encourage her. “They are beautiful,” she said, and Clarissa agreed. She decided that she would show Colin when he returned. It might encourage him, as well. To stay with her and their children, that is.
They arrived at the manor, and Mrs. Blair met them in the foyer.
“I hope you enjoyed the festival, Your Grace.”
“Oh, I did,” Anna replied, her mood still bright. “I might return tomorrow since it is the last day.” If she lived here, she could attend the festival as often as Colin’s mother had. But she did not want to live here, not without him.
“Very good.” Blair smiled. “His Grace has asked me to show you the nursery. It is on the fourth floor. Would you like to see it now or after you have rested?”
“I am full of life this afternoon, Mrs. Blair.” Anna waved toward the stairs. “Please, show me.” She followed the housekeeper, while Clarissa took the items they had bought to Anna’s chambers.
As they went up, the air changed. It was denser and colder. The wallpaper in the hallway was falling, and the carpet was hard and crusted with dust. “Is this place cleaned?” Anna asked, curious.
“It has not seen a broom in years, Your Grace.”
Why did Colin neglect the manor for such a long time?
The housekeeper unlocked the nursery door and stepped to the side to allow Anna to walk in first. The smell of must and rotting wood claimed her nose, and her stomach tightened in reaction. There were only two things in the room, one small bed, and a wooden horse in a corner. Papers littered the floor, and some were glued to the boards because of dampness and age. The floorboards creaked as she walked over them, and she turned around slowly, assessing the room.
“There is a lot of work to be done,” she observed.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Dents in the wooden panels caught her attention. They looked as though someone had struck something blunt against the surface, breaking the wood. “What did this?”
“I cannot say, Your Grace. I only became the housekeeper six years ago. Mrs. Willis was here before me, and there was no housekeeper when she moved to Dawnton Hall for several years.”
“Curious,” Anna murmured.
Someone called Mrs. Blair’s name just outside. “That is one of the maids,” she explained. “I will see what the matter is. Please, excuse me.”
