But it was a place he had always connected with misery.
She noticed more shadows marring his handsome features.“Alex, I know there will be a lot of work ahead for us.But we are in this together, are we not?”
“Sure,” he said without conviction.
It was her turn to take his hand because she wanted to reassure him as their carriage drew up in the courtyard.
He stepped down first and assisted her to alight.
The massive front doors to Thornwycke Hall groaned open.
Alex glanced at their still clasped hands and arched an eyebrow in question.
She cast him a determined look.“I am not letting go of you.Is this not what a supportive wife should do?”
He grinned.“I thought it was you who needed my support.”
“It works both ways,” she said, watching as several servants scampered down the steps toward them.
The head butler, a tall, thin and rather dour-looking man, introduced himself.“I am Ernfield, Your Grace.”
“Are you related to Samuel Ernfield?”Tulip asked, for Samuel was the local Burnham blacksmith, a jovial and gregarious fellow.
“He is my cousin,” Ernfield intoned with all the gaiety of an undertaker.
Tulip choked back a laugh.“How lovely.”
And how different these two Ernfield men were.
Could this fellow look any more morose without actually being dead himself?
A pretty woman who appeared to be in her early thirties stepped forward and introduced herself as their housekeeper.“I am Mrs.Granger,” she said with far more cheer than Ernfield had exhibited.“Mrs.Eleanor Granger.”
Tulip did not know any family in Burnham by that name, but this did not mean Mrs.Granger was a newcomer to these parts.Since the woman appeared friendly enough, Tulip knew she would have the chance to talk to her and find out more about her and her family in the coming days.“It is good to meet you, Mrs.Granger.I think we shall be relying on you considerably over these next few months.”
“I look forward to it, Your Grace.It is good to have a Davenport duke once again in residence at Thornwycke Hall.”
“And his charming duchess,” Mr.Carver, the estate manager, called out gleefully to Tulip as he hurried out of the house toward them, all smiles.“Bless my soul!It is good to see you, Tulip…I mean, Your Grace.”
“Mr.Carver!”Despite the gesture being completely outside of proper protocol, she gave him a hug.“It is so good to see you, too.”
“Imagine my surprise when I learned you are the new Duchess of Davenport.Blow me over with a feather, said I to your aunt and uncle.But I could not be happier for you.”
However, his voice sounded a little hollow.
No doubt, he was more worried than happy because he did not know Alex yet and had only the prior dukes and their horrible behavior to guide him.
Tulip knew everyone would come to admire Alex in time.
How could they not?
Tulip introduced Mr.Carver to Alex.
“We’ve corresponded a time or two,” Alex said with cordiality.“It is good to finally meet you.”
“In truth, we’ve met before.I don’t expect you would recall, for I had not been working here long when you were a little boy.But I remember you well, though.Clever child you were.A pleasure to serve you now, Your Grace,” Mr.Carver replied with apparent sincerity and a dollop of caution, no doubt because all the other dukes had turned out so poorly.
Then Ernfield and Mrs.Granger introduced them to the rest of the staff, most of whom appeared to be dutiful and friendly.
