CHAPTER11
“It’s like a museum,” Valaria mused the next day as the she sat with Bernadette and Flora in the fine parlor of the Duchess of Amberleigh.“Gracious, that vase must be worth a small fortune.”
“I cannot imagine,” Flora whispered back.“And nothing is ever out of place here.Not even a book on a side table or a slightly turned miniature on the mantel.”
“Nothing should be out of place,” came a crisp voice from the door behind them.
All three stood and pivoted to face the Duchess of Amberleigh as she entered the room more like a queen.Valaria gave a curtsey and as she did so, she stared.She’d seen the duchess before, of course, but never so close.After all, there was a hierarchy even with the ranks of the titled, and this woman was at the very top.
And she knew it.
“Your Grace,” Bernadette said, moving toward their hostess.“How kind of you to have us today.Your home is, as always, beautiful.”
“Yes, it’s such a pleasure to be here, Your Grace,” Flora agreed with a wide smile for the duchess.
Her Grace glanced over them both, not quite dismissive, but certainly making her judgments.And then her gaze fell on Valaria.
“May I present the newest addition to the Row,” Bernadette hastened to say.“The Duchess of Gooding.”
“Your Grace,” Valaria said, curtseying again even though she now felt like a bobbin in the water.
All of the Duchess of Amberleigh’s attention swung to her and the woman looked down that long patrician nose at her, one eyebrow arched.“And there you are.You are quite pretty, aren’t you?”
Valaria blinked and glanced at Bernadette and Flora briefly for some advice on how to respond to such a strange statement.“Er, thank you.I appreciate your kindness.”
“Though the black does your pale features no favors, does it?”the duchess continued.“And you’ve circles under your eyes.”
Valaria flinched.Those circles had come from tossing and turning all night, thinking about the afternoon with Callum and his statement that they could have more of that same passion.Thinking about the fact that she had invited him to her home later that very day, so they could discuss his offer further.
Though she still had no idea what she was going to do about it.
“How long do you have left in your mourning?”the duchess snapped, dragging Valaria from those very inappropriate thoughts that seemed to haunt her constantly now.
“Er, my husband died two and a half months ago,” she said.
“Well, even half-black will help,” the duchess said with a sigh as she moved to sit in the large, high-backed chair before the fire.She motioned the others to sit on the settee across from her and they managed to wedge in together.“Tunbridge, why don’t you pour the tea?”she snapped, addressing the women the same way one might do a servant.
Bernadette rose up and nodded.“Of course, Your Grace.You take it with milk, no sugar, yes?”
“Indeed,” the duchess said with a sharp look that she swung back to Valaria almost instantly.“It seems that youth is taking over Kent’s Row.”
Valaria hesitated.The duchess appeared to be waiting for her to respond, so she nodded.“Er, yes, I suppose so.”
“There seem to be an alarming number of dead younger dukes,” the duchess said, and then flitted her gaze to Flora.“Except for your husband, of course, Sidmouth.He was almost my age, wasn’t he?”
Valaria cast a quick glance at Flora, who had always spoken kindly and warmly of her husband.Would this direct statement hurt her friend?
But Flora had an amused expression.“He was, indeed, Your Grace.I was his second wife, and very lucky to have had the time I did with him.”
“Hmph,” the duchess said, and glanced up at Bernadette as she handed over a cup of tea.“Well, I encourage you to marry a younger one next time.”
Flora’s smile became sadder.“I…I do not think another husband is on the horizon for me, Your Grace.My financial situation does not require it, and so I think I shall stay an independent dowager and take a page from your expansive book.”
Bernadette gave Valaria tea next, and just as she took a sip, the dowager continued, “Take a lover, then, at least.”
Valaria nearly spit her tea across the room and gulped the hot liquid instead to keep from doing so.
The duchess arched a brow at her.“Have I offended you, Gooding?”
