“Mrs. Johnson,” she called that morning, “might you and I make some changes before my friends arrive?”
She watched as the housekeeper’s face lit up. They set about it in an instant, making a list of what they would need, and servants were sent out in search of it all.
Adelaide thought that either her husband or her mother-in-law would notice what she was doing and ask about it, but they never appeared. It was strange, but welcome.
If they did not know what she was doing, they would not be able to stop her, for it would be too late.
“Are they happy for you to do this?” Mrs. Johnson asked. “I know that I am, but they might not be so pleased about it.”
“In all honesty, I never know what either of them wants, but the Dowager Duchess told me that she wanted this, so I am going to do it. If it turns out that she did not mean it, she is welcome to change it back. But if I have to stare at the plain white walls any longer, I shall go mad.”
Mrs. Johnson chuckled.
Adelaide knew that was how they all felt. It felt like they were living in a hospital, and regardless of how they would both feel about it, she knew that she could not take it any longer. Changes had to be made, and if she was the one who had to make them, then so be it.
“So,” Mrs. Johnson asked, “what are your plans?”
“Color. I want color everywhere. I want this house to be utterly unrecognizable. If it resembles how it looks now, then not enough has been done.”
By the end of the day, the drawing room was pale blue, with floral wallpaper on one wall. The settee was replaced by a pale blue one, and the wooden furniture was replaced by a darker oak for contrast. When Adelaide sat down, she felt like she was in a different house entirely, just as she wanted.
“Will you come to dinner?” Mrs. Johnson asked. “His Grace should be home soon.”
“I will. Is it ready?”
“Indeed, and you will like it. It is my new favorite room.”
Adelaide practically leaped from her seat. She followed the housekeeper, and when she entered the room, her breath caught in her throat. It was light green, filled with candles to create soft light.
Suddenly, she wasravenous. She took her seat at the table and tried to ignore the gnawing feeling in her chest. At last, she would be joined by Cassian and Iris, and they would tell her how they felt about what she had done.
It had been her choice alone, but she did want them to like it. It was vital to her that they were appreciative, for they had alreadytold her it was what they wanted, but she knew that they could easily change their minds.
Iris arrived first, looking around the room in wonder. She took her seat tentatively, studying it all.
“Do you like it?” Adelaide asked.
“It is perfect. When did you do all of this?”
She sighed at the compliment, relieved that the one more difficult to please was satisfied. “It was all done today. I did wonder if you or Cassian might notice, but you were absent.”
“Yes, I… I went to the village today. Since the ball, I thought it might be nice to spend more time away. I have not done it in so long.”
“That is brilliant. You are doing so well.”
The compliment was genuine, but before anything more could be said, Cassian entered the room. Unlike his mother, the look on his face was one of utter displeasure.
“Adelaide, what is all of this?”
“Excuse me?”
“All of this,” he repeated. “What have you done?”
“Cassian, you told me that I could make changes. I thought it might be good to have it done before my friends arrived. If you changed your mind, you should have told me.”
“That is beside the point. I told you you could make changes, but I still expected you to tell me when you planned to do it.”
“And when could I have discussed it with you? I do not even know where you were today.”
