“Do you see the state of the gardens?” Claire scoffed, “Disgraceful. It is not as if the Duke would need to tend them himself. He must have a gardener. It is all overgrown!”
As they disembarked from the carriage, they were greeted by Seth and a butler with dark hair and sloping shoulders. He stood with hands clasped before him as though eager to be about his job. Upon being given the nod from his master, he hurried forward to begin unloading the lady's luggage and carrying it inside.
To Charlotte’s surprise, Seth also took a hand. Aunt Phyllis was open-mouthed as he walked around the carriage bearing a heavy case in each arm.
“You carry baggage?” Claire gaped, then added, “Your Grace.”
“We are a traditional house here. Very few servants. My father insisted that we tend ourselves wherever possible. Take note, my dear,” he said to Charlotte with a grin, “you will be expected to take on a good amount of the house when you are Duchess, as is tradition for the Redmaine family.”
Charlotte smiled brightly and deftly snatched her own case from the ground where the butler had placed it.
“That sounds refreshingly new, Your Grace. I look forward to it. I shall carry this one.”
She began walking towards the house, having caught a glimpse of chagrin on Seth’s face.
So, you are trying to push me away. I will not fall for it.
She carried the case into a large hall with a wooden floor and paneled walls. Dusty portraits hung on those walls.
“This way, my lady,” the butler announced, bustling by her and leading the way up the stairs. Charlotte glanced over her shoulder as she ascended and saw Seth following close behind. She realized that he would be able to watch her behind as she walked, and flushed at the thought. She resisted the urge to wiggle for him.
Like the Baroness of Eastwick. She took the chance to escape the card table quickly enough and was making eyes at Seth all afternoon.
She stopped herself as she recognized the beginnings of jealous thoughts.
I am not jealous. Merely protecting my sister’s interests.
The butler led the way to the guest wing of the house. Then showed each of the ladies to a separate room along a hallway that smelled musty and had a row of wide open windows, as though recently aired.
“I will show you to your rooms,” Seth gestured, indicating the end of the hallway.
“Very well. Am I not to take rooms near my Aunt and cousins, then?” Charlotte asked as they turned a corner.
“While you are my guests for the weekend, no. I have a special suite set aside for you. It adjoins my own rooms,” Seth whispered, tapping his nose.
“How convenient,” Charlotte replied faintly.
He opened a door and allowed Charlotte to enter the room ahead of him. It led to a sitting room, well-appointed, though with old furniture and a faded rug that had seen better days—many of them. He led her through another door into a small dressing room with mirrors on three walls, then into the bedroom.
It was dominated by a bed with four posts and lace curtains around it. Tall arched windows let in daylight, and a stone fireplace held a crackling fire.
The room smelled of woodsmoke. The chimney probably needed a good sweeping. Any clothes left out while the fire burned would soon smell of smoke, too.
“How quaint,” Charlotte said with a smile, “a definite old-world charm about it. Like stepping back in time.”
She was determined not to be put off by anything Seth did or said—quite resolute, in fact. Part of her suspected that he was doing all of this deliberately.
Trying to make Amelia break off their engagement by behaving in an unacceptable manner. I wonder...
“It is a charming house,” Charlotte beamed, “you must have been very happy here as a child.”
In reality, it seemed a dim and brooding house. She felt sorry for the few servants who still worked here.
“I spend little time here. As little as possible,” Seth commented, “I prefer to live in town.”
“And where do you stay in London?” she asked.
“I have a residence on Fleet Street. The top floor of a house. A garret, really,” he went on, going over to the fire to stir it with a poker. He glanced at her as though to gauge her reaction.
