“How much has Farring told you about the dowager duchess?” he asked.
“He hasn’t said much.” Farring had suggested she would like the duchess when they met—but she couldn’t tell Rayne without giving away Farring’s role in his abduction. “Horatia mentioned that the dowager likes animals. In fact, now that I think about it, that’s all she’s ever said.”
“Well, the dowager does like animals. So does her staff. In fact,likes animalsis a bit of an understatement. And don’t blame Horatia for secrecy. I’m not sure any of the Maxwell-Hughes ladies know quite what to say about the dowager. They are forbidden from visiting Periwinkle Gate. It’s not part of the Shepthorpe estate, it belongs to the duchess alone.”
Forbidden?“But why?”
“You’ll see.”
She had the distinct feeling she was going to find out more about the Duke of Shepthorpe’s extended family than she had the entire year of living with them—and perhaps more about Rayne, too.
He adjusted his cravat. “Whatever happens, just nod. After you get over the oddity, I’m certain you, of all people, will love this place.”
She liked the way his voice had gone soft when he’d saidyou…as if he understood her in a special way, as if he truly valued her insight.
The carriage pulled up beside a semicircular, turreted mansion she couldn’t describe as any particular architectural style. In fact, the parts of the building had been less constructed than layered like a tiered confection.
Not that it was small. Not at all.Hundredsof windows sparkled down onto the pebbled drive. And, if they’d come in the summer, the mansion would have been pillowed in clouds of green. Instead, empty tree branches crowded the building like the magical brambles that sprang to protect Briar Rose, the sleeping beauty.
“What do you think?” Rayne asked.
“I don’t know what to think,” Julia replied. “But I like it.”
He chuckled under his breath. “I thought you might.”
“I feel like we’ve ridden into a fairy story!”
“In a sense, you have…the Dowager Duchess of Shepthorpe is better known to the world as Mother Hatchard.”
Julia clasped a hand to her throat. “The nursery rhyme author?”
“One and the same, though the present duke would be obliged if you never mentioned the fact aloud.”
“Scandalous!”
Rayne lifted his brows. “You don’t yet know the half.”
“Is this place quite respectable?”
“Depends on your definition,” Rayne replied.
A footman wearing the uniform of the 95thRifles opened the carriage door. He and Rayne exchanged an oddly familiar greeting before Rayne helped her down.
“You’ve arrived.” A woman dressed as if she were headed to Almack’s waved her handkerchief from the doorway. “Just a moment, please.”
She swept down the stairs with great majesty. Well, Rayne had said the duchess was eccentric, hadn’t he?
Julia curtsied. “Your Grace.”
“Gracious me!” The woman tittered. “I’m the housekeeper, Mrs. Shillingham. I assume you’d prefer your usual room, Lord Rayne?”
“You’re too kind.” He bowed. “And a room for the lady, if you please.”
Mrs. Shillingham glanced between them. “We have prepared the one adjoining yours, of course.” She made a grand turn and swept back up the stairs in the same manner she’d come down.
Julia’s incredulous gaze slipped to Rayne.
“And now for your second lesson,” he said under his breath. “Don’t ask questions.”
