Page 39 of Denying the Duke (Lords and Ladies in Love 3)

She nodded and poured her tea as Alex took a sip of coffee and placed his cup in the saucer. “What are your plans for today?”

“I believe your mother was going to introduce me to the housekeeper, who I will spend some time with.” Patience reached for a slice of buttered toast. “Do you know when we will be returning to London? I do not want to work out menus with Cook if we are not going to be here for long.”

“I had thought to stay here for a couple of weeks, but something has arisen that requires me to return to London shortly. Will that be acceptable to you?”

Although she had hoped to have Alex all to herself without the distractions of Town, it would be nice to attend some events as a duchess. “Yes. I think I would enjoy experiencing the rest of the Season. Will your mother be returning with us?”

Alex shrugged. “I have no idea. It is my understanding she prefers Town life, so I assume she will be. You may check with her. Shall we say we will return to London the day after next?”

“Yes. I will have Polly prepare to pack.”

He stood and kissed her on the head. “I would like to take you for a ride this afternoon. Perhaps you can have Cook prepare a basket for us to share a meal. There is a nice pond only a few miles from the house.” He was gone before she could say anything.

But she grinned and her feet did a little jig under the table.

Later, the dowager presented her to Mrs. Donovan, the housekeeper, and then left them alone, much to Patience’s relief. She didn’t think she would be comfortable meeting with the various staff members with the dowager duchess watching over her shoulder. When Patience told her of Alex’s plans to return to London, the dowager indicated she hoped to return to London, too, but not for another week. Then she asked Patience if she would be more comfortable if she retired to the dowager house at the Abbey.

That stunned her, but then when she considered the relationship between Alex and his mother, perhaps it was not so odd that the woman preferred to move. She assured her mother-in-law that she was more than welcome to stay at the Abbey or retire to the dowager house, wherever she felt more comfortable. She never did tell Patience what she had decided, but left her in the capable hands of Mrs. Donovan.

The hours passed as they took a tour of the Abbey. She introduced her to Cook, the moniker for all women who held that position. When Patience requested the picnic basket, the woman smiled brightly and said she would pack all His Grace’s favorite foods. She also shared a story with her about all the trouble Alex had caused as a young boy.

It seemed her husband had a penchant for Cook’s apple tarts. She laughed as she related how whenever she made them she had to hide a few because Alex would eat them all before she could serve them at dinner.

Patience retired to her bedchamber to change clothes and put on something more appropriate for a picnic near a pond. Was this Alex’s way of courting her? It certainly seemed so it. Could she have won that battle so easily?

Then she pulled herself up short. No. She would make sure he hadn’t won so easily. A picnic, a stroll in the village, a bouquet of flowers, these were lovely things, but certainly not enough for her to capitulate and allow him his husbandly rights. If he thought this one little thing was going to open up her arms—and bedchamber door—he was in for a disappointment.

…

Alex was glad he’d decided to take Patience on a picnic. Once he’d overcome his annoyance and frustration at being left alone on his wedding night, he realized Patience had a point. He knew Cyrus well enough to believe he never would have given Patience a proper courting. The man had been obsessed with opera dancers and the women of the demimonde. They did not require the special attention a bride-to-be would expect.

With everything that had happened since his return to England, he’d not had time to even consider what Patience’s life must have been like since he’d last seen her. She’d been denied all the things young girls look forward to when they leave childhood behind. By the time she’d left the schoolroom, her life had been already planned for her. With his bastard of a brother.

He looked up when the study door opened. With a grin on his face, he leaned back and studied Patience. “Beautiful” was a word that would certainly fit, but more than that was her smile and the not-quite-hidden excitement in her eyes. He pushed aside the guilt he felt at how he’d run roughshod over her, pushing her into marriage and discounting her feelings. Today, and going forward, he would make up for it.

“Ah, it appears my duchess is ready for our picnic.”

She wore a yellow-and-white striped muslin gown, with tiny flowers embroidered around the neckline and edges of the cap sleeves. Similar flowers embellished her straw bonnet’s brim, and two wide yellow ribbons formed a large bow under her chin. She moved forward, giving him a curtsy. “Yes, Your Grace. I am ready for our picnic. We only have to pick up our basket from Cook.”

He shoved his chair back and stood. “Then let us be off.” He walked around the desk and extended his arm. When they reached the front door, he instructed a footman to fetch the basket from the kitchen.

It was a perfect day for a picnic. They had suffered through three days of gloomy weather, on-and-off showers and drizzle, but today’s bright sunlight and cloudless sky made up for it. He helped Patience into the well-used gig which seemed spot-on for their outing. The footman handed the basket to Patience who settled it on her lap. Checking to make sure the woolen blanket was in the back of the gig, and with a quick kiss to his wife’s lips, Alex picked up the reins, and they were off.

“You look lovely this afternoon, sweeting.” He steered the vehicle down the long pathway and then made a right turn toward the expanse of open acreage.

“Thank you. I think the sun has done wonders for my temperament.” She fingered her skirt. “I believe that is why I chose this gown.”

“Whatever reason, it suits you well.”

Despite the lovely day and balmy weather, Alex remained tense, glancing from side to side, and reaching under his seat to make sure his pistol was handy. It might not have been the best of ideas to bring Patience on a picnic, since Loverly could be lurking on the grounds. But it had been all he could think of to begin her “courting.”

He’d yet to figure out why the man showed up at his wedding.

They rode in companionable silence until Alex took a narrow pathway through an array of trees. Dappled sunlight cast them into light and shadows. “I love the smell of the forest after rain.”

Patience nodded. “Yes, I do as well. It is almost worth putting up with the gloom.”

The gig burst out of the trees and his favorite pond came into view. “In my youth