Owen lost his patience. He couldn’t watch her suffer this pain and do nothing about it. Looking out of the window, he took the advantage of them travelling down a country road, where someone was unlikely to take note of whose carriage was driving by with the curtains closed.
He pulled the curtains closed, aware that the duchess watched him as he did it, then he moved to sit beside her and took both her hands in his, lifting them to his lips and kissing each of them in turn.
“You kiss my hands like you have not kissed me in a long time,” she said with a giggle.
“I feel like I haven’t. It is like a hunger,” he said as he kissed her hand yet another time, indulging in this one, maintaining it for a long time indeed, and closing his eyes. “I yearn to kiss you constantly at the minute.” He felt her move towards him until their sides were touching on the carriage bench. “If I could take away the hurt your husband and Jessie were causing you, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
“You are kind.”
He kissed her hand another time before he lowered it, figuring it was time to tell her another secret.
“There is something you should know about your husband, though I hardy feel capable of speaking of it.”
“What is it?” she asked, tightening her fingers through his.
“Jessie is not the first,” he said gravely. “I have long suspected other maids held the same position she now does. Not that I saw anything myself, but they were clearly spending time above stairs, were deliriously happy, then as other staff members took note of their gowns being loosened, perhaps to hide the swell of a stomach …”
“Oh my goodness!” she gasped and loosened one of her hands from his to cover her lips. “What happened to these young women?”
“I have asked after them. I have never found an answer to my questions. My fear is they are taken somewhere to have the child. I only hope that they are looked after, but naturally, it is never something I could ask of your husband.”
“Of course, I understand.” She looked truly horrified indeed. “Then Jessie … the same could happen to her?”
“Just so. I fear for that.” He grimaced and leaned toward the duchess, eager for her to understand. “I know Jessie to be a good woman. I grant you; she seems changed these last couple of months, probably since the duke has shown an interest in her, but I know she has a good heart.”
“She looks at me with such malice,” the duchess said, shaking her head. “I only hope she does not go the way of the other maids.”
“As do I.”
They descended into silence, with nothing more happening between them than toying with each other’s fingers, holding onto one another.
“We will be in Bath soon,” Owen said, being the first to break the silence. “I must go back to the other side of the carriage, but … I do have an idea.”
“An idea? What for?” she asked.
“After we have been to the modiste, perhaps there is somewhere else we could go today. Give you that escape from the house you have been longing for.”
She smiled; it was the only answer he needed.
***
“What do you think?” Owen asked as he helped the duchess out of the carriage. She stumbled on her right foot, nearly falling over. “Woah!” He reached out and caught her, aware that the coach driver looked to them, his eyebrows shooting so high up they disappeared under his top hat when he saw Owen’s hand on her waist.
“There we are, Your Grace.” He purposefully stepped away from her, putting distance between them. She seemed to take the hint, for she glanced once back at the driver before she nodded at Owen.
“Thank you. What is it I am looking at?”
“It is just around this corner. I will admit, at this moment, it looks like any other street.” He beckoned her to follow, glancing back a few more times, waiting for when the carriage was out of view. Once he was certain they were alone, he reached for her hand.
“Not afraid someone will see?” she said with clear delight. “In the modiste’s shop, you seemed intent to put the entire shop between us!”
“I am a good butler,” he said with a smile.
“A very good butler.” She was clearly being mischievous. “There are many things you do well.”
“I have a feeling from your tone you are thinking about more than just how well I can organize the staff or pour you a port in the evening,” he said, winking at her.
“Ha! Much more in mind. I was thinking more about good kisses.”
