But after another deep breath, Dominic pulled himself together. He introduced his household. Introductions went as one might expect with a quiet household and new lady: Verity asked several questions to each servant before realizing she was monopolizing everyone’s time. She sent him a look he couldn’t read before turning back to the line of servants.
After a hasty apology, she mentioned meeting with each of them over the coming days, and then nodded to her maid.
“I should like to retire to my room now,” Verity said, and paused with a pretty blush on her cheeks before adding, “Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” All eyes were on them. He gestured to the two women down the hall they might take, and then he nodded to his servants once she was gone. “Well done, everyone. Have a good evening.”
It was meant to be a night like any other. That was what he told himself. He tended to his evening toilet, sent off his valet for the evening, and then retired. Everything had gone accordingly to plan.
So why can’t I sleep?
“Good morning, Your Grace,” his valet, Riley, was saying much too early the following morning. He strode through the room to open the curtains. “It promises to be a sunny day. Your solicitor has already delivered your latest report. Lastly, your breakfast should be ready in an hour.”
He groaned as he pulled himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. Rubbing his eyes, he was still not ready to rise when Riley brought forth a steaming cup of tea.
“Are you well, Your Grace?”
“Tired is all. Have coffee prepared with the food today. Is the report in my office?”
Riley stepped back and studied him for a moment, his pale blue eyes observant as ever. The older man was paid well to do his job. Most of the time it was easy, as Dominic appreciated routine. It was rare for anything to affect him enough to disturb his day to day.
Marriage, of course, was not part of his routine. Dominic took a sip of his tea as he mused over what other changes he would need to expect.
“Perhaps the blue velvet waist coat today,” Riley proclaimed. “That’s your favorite. The most comfortable. A simple cravat twist, I’d say. Or do you wish to go riding today?”
“What day is it?”
His valet’s eyes widened. “Wednesday, of course.”
“Of course,” Dominic echoed, wondering how he could have slept so poorly. Was it simply because he knew Verity was there on the other side of his wall? His eyes flitted over, wondering if he might hear her. Wondering if she might hear him. He shook his head. This was not helpful. “Right. You said the blue waist coat?”
Eventually, he was shaved and dressed for the day. Dominic thrummed with a nervous energy on his way to the dining room.
Expecting Verity to join him soon, he paused within the entryway where he saw the dining room set. He preferred theseat furthest from the food, the corner seat. But where would she like to sit? Was he supposed to sit with her? Far from her?
The situation left him uncomfortable, for he didn’t care for situations where he didn’t understand what to do or what to say. If he could not control the situation, he found a way out of it.
How am I supposed to free myself from a marriage of discomfort?
His thoughts wandered as he glared at the table. He finally took his usual seat, deciding he had no reason to change his routine or habits at this time.
It was just in time as the cook entered with the first course.
He jerked to attention. One of the footmen trailed over to assist with his cup. The scent didn’t particularly entice him, but he needed something stronger than black tea today.
Nodding his thanks for the drink, he excused them so he wouldn’t have anyone hovering. He liked quiet mealtimes.
Dominic slumped in his seat before he had even had a sip of coffee. He hadn’t been so out of sorts in a very long time. It wasn’t like him to question everything he did. At least, not anymore.
Drumming his hands on the table, Dominic eyed the food and then the open door. It was a reasonable time to break a fast, wasn’t it? He checked his timepiece just to be sure.
He waited a few minutes and then he waited longer.
His head butler, Mr. Timmons, appeared. “Are you well, Your Grace?”
With a jerk of his head, Dominic muttered, “Yes, yes. I’m just fine. What about, that is, have you heard if the duchess has risen?”
“I believe so, Your Grace, yes.”
