His friend sighed. “I think you will have to find a way if you want to hear him speak again.”
“Percy, honey, can you come out from under the bed, please?” his nanny pleaded softly. “Her Grace wants to see you.”
“There’s no need to call me that,” Selina said. “My name, Selina, works just fine.”
“Begging your pardon, Your Grace.”
Inwardly, Selina sighed. She wondered if she would ever get used to being addressed so formally in her own home. “Let me talk to him, please.”
The nanny moved out of the way so Selina could kneel on the floor, next to Percy’s bed. The little boy was lying on the ground, peering up at her. The lower half of his face was covered with his arm, so she could not discern what he was feeling or thinking.
“Good morning, Percy,” she said softly. “I know you do not wish to talk to me, right now, and that is all right. I do not expect you to be happy about your father remarrying. I just want you to know that whatever you’re feeling right now is all right. You can be angry or sad, or confused—or all three. I hope that we can eventually become friends. Whenever you are ready, I will be here for you.”
Percy did not move from under the bed. But his brow furrowed slightly before he ducked his head, covering his face completely with his arm.
Selina felt dejected, but she did her best not to let it show.He needs time. I can give that to him.She stood up and looked at the nanny. “Thank you,” she said simply before leaving Percy’s bedroom.
The nanny curtsied as she left, and Selina grimaced. It was surreal to be treated so formally by anyone after years of being treated like an unwanted menace by Lady Gillray.
Selina had decided to leave Percy alone for an entire day, so yesterday, she had not bothered him. Instead, she had spent that day learning more about what duties were expected of a duchess outside of motherhood. She also found a book about recovering from grief in the library. She had opened it up, hoping it would help with Percy, but it only made her think of her brother, so she ended up putting it back.
Today, she had hoped she would be able to coax Percy into playing with her, or at least spending time with her, but one day was clearly not enough for him to want anything to do with her. She knew she needed to give him time, but it was a difficult task. She did not like seeing the boy upset any more than his family did.
Besides, I fear that if I do not make progress with him soon, Dominic will only grow more irate with me.
Selina felt frustrated, and she knew there was only one thing that would really help her clear her mind. She stopped a maid in the hallway. “Where is the kitchen?” she asked.
The maid looked at her as if she had asked where they kept the three-headed dragons. “I—it is downstairs, Your Grace,” she said. “The stairwell at the end of the hallway will lead you there.”
“Thank you,” she said.
Selina strode quickly down the hallway and into the kitchen, where one scullery maid was busy peeling potatoes, and another one was washing dishes from breakfast. “I would like to cook,” Selina said. “I require privacy, please. You two may take some time to rest if you wish. And if you see the cook, then tell her the same.”
“The cook is out, Your Grace,” said one of the maids, who quickly dropped into a curtsy. “She needed to go into town. However, we will be happy to prepare anything that you wish.”
“You misunderstand,” Selina said patiently. “I am not looking to eat. I am looking to cook. Please, take the morning off. I will be using the kitchen.”
The maids looked at each other, unsure, but Selina arched her eyebrows.
“I am the duchess, am I not?” she said patiently. “That means I can do what I please in my own home, and I want to cooksomething. Do not worry, I will be able to find everything I need, and I will not leave the kitchen in a mess. Now, enjoy your morning off.”
The maids scurried off, and Selina breathed a sigh of relief. Cooking and baking always made her feel better. She found an abandoned apron hanging on a hook in the corner and tied it over her morning dress before she got to work.
It did not take her long to find everything she needed to make lemon cake, one of her favorite desserts. She already felt herself relax marginally as she arranged her workspace. Cooking had always brought comfort to her in finishing school, and now it brought a sense of familiarity in this strange world called Greystone Manor.
A lemon aroma filled the air, and she breathed it in with a small sigh of contentment. As she mixed ingredients together, she heard the soft sounds of small footsteps on the stone floor. She looked up to see Percy watching her cautiously from the doorway of the kitchen, curiosity plain on his face.
She smiled at him. Perhaps the boy had followed her in here. At least he looked curious instead of angry. “Have you ever seen someone bake anything before?” she asked. “Perhaps you have sneaked into the kitchens once or twice to watch people? It is all right if you have. I will not tell.”
He shook his head no.
“It is a pity,” she said. “It is fun to watch. Cooking is almost like magic. Do you want to help me?” she asked. “I would greatly appreciate it if you passed me a wooden spoon.” She pointed to the tool in question, which was currently lying a little ways from her on the table. “It issofar away. It would be a huge help if you grabbed it for me.”
He did not move from his place, but a small furrow entered his brow as he looked at the spoon.
After a moment, she sighed theatrically. “Oh well. I was planning on making lemon cake for everyone to share, but since no one wants to cook with me, or eat food with me, I think I will make onion pie instead.”
He gave her a look of horror before coming closer to her and grabbing the wooden spoon. He looked at it as if it were a strange instrument before handing it to her. Selina smiled but was careful to keep her delight hidden as she took the wooden spoon. If she made too big a deal of this, then she might end up scaring him off accidentally.
