It wasn’t long before the door into the courtyard opened and the young ladies bounced through, grinning from ear to ear.
“Hello, Dietrich,” Colette, the older one, said.
“Hello, Lady Colette,” he replied, offering her a hand to help her into the carriage. “And Lady Celeste,” he added, helping her younger sister.
The courtyard door opened again, and there was a flurry of skirts as Duchess Vaughn hurried out.
“I want to come too,” the duchess said as she approached the carriage. “Let’s hurry before someone comes to tell me I have something else I ought to be doing instead.”
Her daughters squealed in joy as their mother approached, even as Dietrich’s eyes widened. He had not intended for everyone but the duke to meet Eliana.
“Of course, Your Grace,” he said, offering his hand to help her in. “How wonderful that you could join us.”
He didn’t particularly feel wonderful about it, but he would never dare tell Duchess Vaughn that.
“Is everyone in?” he asked, making sure that each of the ladies had a blanket over their laps and the picnic basket was stowed in the storage compartment on the back.
“Yes, I believe we’re ready to go,” the duchess said.
While he had only planned on two grooms to accompany him and the girls, with the duchess in tow, he signaled for a guard to join them. If the captain wanted to take issue with it, he would have that conversation later.
The guard and a groom stepped up on the back as Dietrich climbed up to the driver’s bench next to John and they drove through the gate.
It was hard not to think about a time when another of the duke’s daughters had gone through the gate—but she had done it alone.
This time, Dietrich was with them, and he would do everything it took to ensure that the duke’s family made it home to him, even if it came to laying down his life.
What if meeting her sisters convinced Ella that it was time to meet her father? Would he come back through the gate with all the duke’s daughters?
He could only hope so.
His mind brought him back to riding in a carriage just like this, with Lady Eliana and her mother, all those years ago. Going on picnics had been one of his greatest memories with the duchess and her daughter.
What he wouldn’t give to have those moments back.
Though if he did, he would not have his memories with these girls at all. If Eliana had never disappeared and the late duchess had never died, the duke and duchess would not have met. The duke would not have a second family.
But hopefully, he would have a piece of his first family back soon, because Ella was going to meet her family today, whether she knew it or not. Had Beatrice warned her, or was she going to be blindsided by this turn of events? He wasn’t sure which option he would prefer. If she were blindsided, she could not run away or refuse to come. But if she were blindsided…she might hate him forever.
He grimaced at the thought, but it was too late to change anything now. Ella was probably already on her way. Hopefully.
It wasn’t long before they reached the picnic clearing. Dietrich and his men dismounted, unhooked the picnic basket, and began to place blankets out. Then Dietrich opened the door and held out a hand.
“Who’s ready for a picnic?” he asked.
The girls bounced in excitement as they dismounted, and Dietrich couldn’t help smiling at the look on their faces.
“Thank you,” the duchess said quietly as she descended last, taking his hand and squeezing it before she let go. “This is something we all needed very much.”
Dietrich smiled. “I am glad to be of service, my lady,” he said.
“I don’t know if Alaric told you anything, but he said that you used to picnic with his daughter, and I am glad that the girls will get the opportunity to grow up here.”
She said it quietly, and Dietrich nodded. “I am also glad that the girls will get the opportunity to experience it here.”
Dietrich turned and saw Beatrice and Ella approaching, a groom following behind them. He was glad the girls were here, for more reasons than the duchess knew. “Did the duke tell you that we were meeting Lady Beatrice Montgomery here as well?”
Her eyes brightened. “He did not! He probably wanted to surprise me.”
