With a lingering glance at the door to the duke’s office, Jane walked over to the housekeeper, hoping to God that she did not come to regret any of the decisions she had made today.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Your Grace! You are up quite early.”
Jane smoothed the skirts of her dress anxiously, trying to ease her nerves as she faced the housekeeper.
She had practically fainted the moment her head hit her pillow the night before, and had awoken before the sun rose, her mind plagued with thoughts from the previous day’s discoveries. Nothing had happened as she had expected it to – not her wedding, nor what followed after.
Although she had expected the duke to be cruel and vile, the interactions they had shared was slowly proving otherwise. It was still too early to tell, so she resolved to keep her guard up.
Her mind eventually went to his son, Reuben and her heart hurt for him. Her own childhood might have not been fraught with the horror of an absent parent, but she understood the pain of neglect. The image of the portrait haunted her mind as shethought of the little boy clinging to his mother’s skirts, saddened that neither of his parents offered to hold him in their arms.
There was something more to the story she had heard, and she planned to find out in due time.
Once she had heard the servants getting ready for day, she slipped out of bed and prepared for what she needed to do as well.
“Yes,” Jane nodded. “I thought it would be ideal to begin with my duties as soon as I could, so I can be of use.”
Mrs Greene smiled kindly at her, gently ushering her down the hall as she said,
“His Grace has informed us that your main focus should be the wellness of Lord Reuben. He is more concern about the little lord’s recovery, more than anything else.”
Jane understood why, given the circumstances, but she feared that she might not be capable of handling such a difficult task. If the doctors could not help, how could they be certain she would be different?
As if the older woman could hear her thoughts, she added,
“Perhaps you should have your breakfast first, as you barely ate last night. While you eat, I shall brief you of Lord Reuben’s daily schedule and afterwards, I shall formally introduce you to him.”
That sounded like a good idea and Jane agreed immediately, realizing moments later that the housekeeper had been leading her to the dining room.
Suddenly nervous, she wondered if the duke would be present as well, her face falling when she noticed that there was only one place at the dining table set.
“Is the duke still asleep?” she wondered out loud, much to her embarrassment.
Mrs Greene shook her head as Jane took her seat.
“No, Your Grace. He is an early riser – much like you – but he spends his mornings by himself. He has his breakfast alone in his room, as does the little lord, when he awakes.”
Jane frowned at the idea of both of them spending their mornings apart, when they were the only family the other had.
“Do they always eat separately?” she asked softly.
“Most of the time. The duke has been rather... patient with Lord Reuben but it is quite clear that the young lord’s silence unnerves him. His Grace is by no means talkative, but he tries to communicate with his son as often as he can, despite the lack of response. His Grace surmised it might be better to leave the child to his devices.” Mrs Greene explained carefully.
Despite the tumultuous relationship between Jane and her parents, they had shared every meal time together. Work meetings and social engagements might take either one of her parents or both away for the night, leaving her by herself, but most of the time, they ate together.
How else could her father keep her up-to-date on every way she had disappointed him that week?
Jane wondered if perhaps she might suggest that the duke spend some more time with his ward, but a moment later, she wondered if she had any right to do so.
“Tell me about Reuben. What sort of child is he like?” Jane asked as the housekeeper poured her a cup of tea.
“He is a lovely boy. Quite curious and smart. His Grace hired tutors to oversee his studies, but they were unsure of how to properly educate the boy, so he dismissed them. But more often than not, the young lord has been found with a book in his hand or working out the solution of arithmetic questions. The duke has considered overseeing Lord Reuben’s studies directly but... he is rather occupied.”
“He likes to read? How lovely. I do, as well. Perhaps I shall share some of my favourite stories with him.” Jane stated in an effort to encourage herself with the possibility of bonding with the child.
The housekeeper nodded.
