Chapter Twelve
Daphne found no sign of Arthur when she went downstairs the following morning.
She hadn’t intended to sleep so long, but her body disagreed.
Finding her way to the smaller breakfast room, she told the footman what she wanted.
As she waited, another poured her a glass of orange juice and a cup of tea.
Spotting the newspapers Arthur left behind, she sat where he’d sat earlier. She picked up one but quickly put it back on top of the pile. Perhaps after she ate, she’d have the stomach to read what was going on in the world.
As she sat waiting on her food, a middle-aged woman dressed in dark gray entered the room. “Milady, I don’t mean to disturb you but I thought to introduce myself. I’m Miss Smith, His Grace’s housekeeper.”
“Yes, of course. Please come in,” she replied. “His Grace seems to have left rather early.”
“He mentioned he had a couple appointments first thing this morning.”
She watched the woman with curiosity. “Yes, I know. I was simply surprised he left so early.”
“He mentioned I should check with him once he returns. Something about flowers.”
“Yes.”
The housekeeper went straight into the reason for her coming to Daphne. “His Grace mentioned you will be staying a fortnight. I thought you’d like to approve a menu Cook has come up with.”
“I’d love to, though I’m not sure I should.”
“His Grace told me to work with you on meals during your stay.”
Smiling, Daphne nodded. “Sounds just like the duke,” she said.
“If I may be so bold, milady. His Grace is one of the nicest and kindest men I know. He always puts others before himself. And you’ll never hear him complain.”
As the housekeeper was talking, a footman brought in two steaming hot plates, setting each one in front of her. Everything smelled heavenly and she couldn’t wait to dig in. “Thank you for your candid words. You’ve just described him as I might. I love that.”
“Thank you, milady. I’ll let you get back to your breakfast. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“I shall. Has His Grace let you know the reason we’re here?”
“Yes, but like I told His Grace, I won’t tell anyone until I know differently.”
She was happy to know someone knew or had figured out what was going on.
It had been hard to keep it inside. Hopefully everything would work out as Arthur planned and they’d be married today.
Her life would forever change. No longer would she be a single young lady looking for a proper husband.
She would be married to a duke, and she would be a duchess.
How far she and Arthur had come since their first encounter.
Digging into her eggs, she closed her eyes as she savored the bite.
It was heavenly. The longer Arthur stayed away, the more nervous she would become.
Not for any reason. She simply wanted to know what to expect.
Nothing more. She continued to savor her breakfast until she realized her plate was almost empty.
Whoever the cook was, they were skilled.
Most wouldn’t try anything out of the ordinary when it came to something as simple as eggs.
She couldn’t wait to review the menus for the time they’d be in York.
After finishing a second cup of tea, Daphne wrapped her shawl around her tighter and decided to familiarize herself with the house.
She had a notebook in her dress pocket, and she could begin making notes of what she saw needing to be done in various rooms. Then, when she spoke to the decorator Arthur had in mind, she would know what she wanted done.
Deciding to begin in the drawing room, she found it easier than she thought it would be.
She would look at draperies, wallcoverings, and what shape the upholstery was all in.
No telling when anything had been replaced.
If they intended to spend any length of time here, the house needed to come out of the past. A good deep cleaning of the entire house was also on her list. The staff kept it ready for the residents, but she’d already noticed dust on a side table that was more than a couple of weeks’ worth.
Daphne had moved on to the library when she heard Arthur’s deep, rich baritone resonate through the house.
She thought he was looking for her, so she continued to finish her notes on the library.
Moments later, he appeared at the doorway.
By the look on his face, she knew the morning had been successful.
Arthur was at her side in two strides. He bent down and kissed boldly and passionately. “Come, there is someone I want you to meet.”
She placed her notebook and pencil back into her pocket and he took her hand and began leading her out of the library.
“I gather you were successful in your endeavors this morning?”
“Very. Are you ready?” he asked.
“For what?” she asked him back innocently.
“To become my wife,” he replied without looking at her. Daphne got enough of a glimpse to tell he was smiling.
“Yes.”
He led her to the drawing room where a man and woman were seated near the blazing fire. The pair, upon seeing Arthur and Daphne enter, stood from the green upholstered chairs. They waited as they approached.
“May I present my soon to be wife, Lady Daphne Waterton.” He turned to Daphne and continued the introduction. “May I present my cousin Henry Stone and his wife, Jane. Henry is going to marry us.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Daphne said.
“Lady Daphne, it is an honor to meet the woman who’s captured my cousin’s heart.”
Smiling, she glanced at Arthur to see him watching what transpired. This was the first member of Arthur’s family outside of Roxanne she had met. “I can’t take all the credit.”
“She’s going to be an extraordinary duchess, Arthur,” Henry said.
“I have no doubt,” Arthur replied.
Arthur motioned for everyone to take a seat. He turned to Daphne. “Henry’s graciously agreed to marry us today. Jane is going to serve as one of our witnesses.”
Daphne nodded. “Thank you.”
“Are you ready?” Arthur asked. He was gazing at her as though he were trying to make sure she was real.
“I am, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to tidy up my hair.”
“Of course,” Arthur replied.
She rose from her chair, turning and hurrying to the door. In her chambers, she looked at herself in the full-length glass. The dress was one of Roxanne’s. It was the nicest and best made of the few she had with her. Her hair was the only thing needing to be fixed.
“Polly,” she called out.
The maid came out of the dressing room. “I need to have my hair redone into something for a wedding. My wedding.”
“Now?”
“Yes. Now,” she replied. The maid looked stunned at what she had just been told.
Daphne sat down at the dressing table and began to pull the pins out of her hair. She’d swept it up herself, but in a more casual style, but this needed something that showed she was becoming a duchess.
She observed how Polly was doing her hair. It was always best to have another person help with doing one’s hair, and Polly seemed to make it look easy.
“How’s this, milady? I can work some small flowers throughout if you’d like.”
“That would be lovely. Let me change out of this dress before you do them.”
In no time, Daphne was transformed. The next time she looked in a mirror, she would be a married woman and a duchess. Life was about to change forever.
“You look beautiful, milady.”
“Thanks to you, Polly.”
The young girl blushed at the compliment. “You best go downstairs and marry your duke.”
“Yes,” she replied and walked through the door and to Arthur.
Everyone stood as she entered the room. Arthur walked over to his bride. “You look stunning. Are you ready?”
“Yes, let’s do this.”
“Henry needs a minimum of two witnesses, so I asked Carter and Miss Smith. If that is agreeable with you.”
She smiled at him. “Perfectly agreeable.”
Arthur couldn’t keep his eyes off Daphne as the ceremony began.
He couldn’t believe how, after spending years of halfhearted searching, his duchess had been right under his nose.
She was more than he ever dared hope for.
Not a meek, shy debutante, but a woman who knew what she wanted from life.
He only wished his mother and father could have been here to meet her.
They would have liked her and been welcoming.
Her voice was strong as she repeated her vows, looking Arthur straight in the eye.
When it came to his, he found himself becoming emotional, which was completely unlike him.
Emotions were kept to oneself, and for the most part, he did just that, but right now, at this moment, he couldn’t help himself.
The moment they were pronounced man and wife, Arthur didn’t wait. He leaned down and planted a kiss firmly on the lips. He wanted more, but this wasn’t the place and there would be plenty of time to savor her lips.
Miss Smith and Carter came up and wished their congratulations before the group found their way to a sideboard which had been cleared for Daphne and Arthur to sign the registry Henry had brought. Once official business was finished, Carter and Miss Smith disappeared.
While they’d been busy, a footman had placed a champagne bucket near the hearth with four glasses and a just-opened bottle of champagne. Arthur poured four glasses and handed one to each, before he toasted his wife, cousin and his wife.
“You cannot know how much I appreciate this,” Arthur said. “You are staying for a wedding luncheon Cook’s prepared?”
“We would love to, Arthur. It’s been far too long since Henry’s gotten to spend time with extended family,” Jane said.
They made small talk, at least to Daphne it was, but she soon realized how Arthur was using it to update his cousin.
Henry was a third son and his options few, given the best went to the older siblings.
Daphne felt he was comfortable in his decision to serve the church.
Where he and his family lived was always wherever the church assigned him.