He turned away and dropped into his chair. Picking up the book on his bedside table, he began to read.
The Duchess’s quarters were much larger than the bedchamber she had been staying in.
The space consisted of three different rooms: a small sitting room, a dressing room and a bedchamber. A few of her new gowns were already delivered, and new shoes as well.
Patricia walked in, carrying a box. She opened it to show Helena a cache of jewelry with rubies, diamonds, emeralds, gold, and silver.
She gasped. “What…?” She began to shake her head. “Surely you are mistaken. These cannot be mine.”
“They belong to the Duchess.” Patricia said with a smile. “You are the Duchess now, Your Grace.”
Helena could hardly get her mouth to close. “Did… His… His Grace tell you to give me these?”
“Exactly, Your Grace.” Patricia smiled as if Helena was being very silly.
Helena could feel her heart pounding. Somehow, seeing the shining array of expensive jewels really brought home to her how much of a change of status she had undergone.
She was no longer just a girl with no one to protect her. She was a duchess, with all that it entailed.
The nuns could not touch her now.
She waited to feel a sense of relief at that, but all she felt was anxious and tense, waiting for the next thing to happen. She might be safe from the nuns, but her uncle would not be deterred by a title or a marriage certificate.
If he could dispose of his own brother, what would he do to me?
She didn’t even want to think about Charlie. Silas had promised that her brother would be all right and she had to take his word for it otherwise she would lose her mind.
The door opened, and several serving girls walked in carrying pails of water, some of which they poured into the cauldron over the fireplace before stoking the fire. They dragged the wooden tub out of the dressing room, setting it before the fire and arranging a variety of soaps, perfumes and lavender petals at the ready.
Patricia helped her to undress, slipping Helena’s robe over her shoulders. It didn’t take long for the cauldron to be steaming. The serving girls poured the hot water into the tub, added cold water, and then the lavender petals. Patricia took Helena’s robe off and led her to the tub, helping her inside.
It had been a long time since Helena had had any help bathing herself and she wanted to protest, but the serving girls’ actions had something of a ritual to them.
Perhaps this is how all duchesses are bathed on their first night.
So, she succumbed submissively to the careful washing of every part of her body including her hair, which was then gently brushed until it shone.
Patricia massaged her skin with oils that made her feel soft and supple before dressing her in a soft white muslin shift, her shining black hair hanging halfway down her back.
“Will I not have to dress for dinner?” she asked tentatively.
“His Grace and Lady Amelia are taking their meals in their chambers.” Patricia told her, “Would you like to do the same or dine downstairs, Your Grace?”
Helena certainly had no intention of eating alone in that vast hall. She shook her head, “I shall just eat here, thank you.”
Patricia nodded. “Very well, Your Grace. Do you have any particular requests for your meal?”
Helena’s brow furrowed as she thought about it. “Perhaps… some chocolate for dessert? Anything Cook has on hand. I do not wish to trouble her,” she requested.
Patricia smiled. “Of course, Your Grace.”
She stood up to leave, but then Helena remembered something else. “Oh, and would you kindly bring me something to read?”
Patricia nodded and left, leaving Helena alone with her thoughts.
She’d never felt so soft and pampered in her life, but she was still tense with anticipation. She had no idea what to expect.
Will Silas come to my chambers later? Am I to go to his?
