Chapter 11
When Caroline first woke up, she wondered where on earth she was. She lay in bed, trying to figure out what was going on. Then she remembered.
She was in David’s house, sleeping in her new room. And the noise coming from next door was more than likely Gwen playing with her toys in the nursery.
Somebody should have warned her that the walls were thin. Either that or Gwen was playing really loudly.
Rolling onto her belly, her blankets twisting around her body, Caroline rubbed her eyes and got her bearings back. The bed was very comfortable, far more comfortable than her own bed. Whatever the mattress was stuffed with ensured that she was asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.
It made her feel a little guilty for sleeping so well in a bed that wasn’t hers.
The noise next door was still going on, and Caroline could hear Gwen’s voice. She sounded like she was talking to herself and creating a story. Caroline blearily looked at the clock. Seven-fifteen. Not too bad; she was normally getting up at seven-thirty. Losing a few extra minutes wouldn’t hurt.
Rolling out of bed, Caroline washed herself and dressed, brushing her hair before using the mirror to pin it away from her face while leaving it loose down her back. As far as she knew, they weren’t leaving the estate today, so it wouldn’t matter if she had her hair styled this way.
Caroline left her room and went into the nursery, finding Gwen sitting beside the doll house. She had two dolls in her hand, and it looked like she had been making them talk to each other. She looked up and smiled at Caroline’s entrance.
“Morning, Caroline.”
“Good morning. You’re up early.”
“I wanted to play with my dolls.”
“I guessed that. I could hear you.”
Gwen giggled.
“Oh, dear.”
Shaking her head with a smile, Caroline beckoned Gwen to follow her.
“Come along, you. Let’s go and see if breakfast is ready yet. We’re going to need to eat a lot to get us going with our lessons later on.”
“We’re going to have lessons?” Gwen’s smile fell. “But I thought we weren’t going to start for a while.”
“The sooner we get started, the sooner we can get things going.” Caroline winked at her. “Also, it’s just for the morning. You can do whatever you want in the afternoon. I asked Nanny Drew if she wanted to take you into town to buy a new doll.”
Gwen brightened up almost immediately.
“Really?”
“Yes. Or whatever toy you like. But you’d better work hard this morning and not complain; otherwise, you’re going to end up doing it all this afternoon as well.”
Gwen was up and practically charged out of the door, almost knocking Caroline over. Caroline had to laugh as she caught her balance and followed the girl. She had had a word with David about getting Gwen back into her schoolwork while they were sorting out the timetable.
She felt that giving the girl an incentive would help when she was reluctant to do anything. David had agreed to Caroline’s technique on the condition that she didn’t get carried away.
Caroline didn’t know what it meant to be carried away with anything.
The door across the room from hers opened, and Jennifer Drew came out, still pinning up her hair. She gave Caroline a smile.
“Morning.”
“Good morning. What are you going to do with yourself this morning?”
“I’ve got the morning off now that you’re teaching the girls, so I’m going to help with some cleaning.” Jennifer made a face. “I’m not too keen on it, but I can’t really argue with the housekeeper when she gives me my duties.”
“I can imagine.” Caroline was glad that she didn’t have to answer to the housekeeper; she didn’t think she could cope. “I told Gwen about my suggestion of getting her a toy in town if she behaves herself during lessons. Did Lord Bayntree tell you about it?”
“He did. I’m more than happy to do it.” Jennifer fell into step beside Caroline as they headed towards the stairs.
“It’s going to feel odd when I finish my duties as nanny.
Gwen’s ten now, and Henrietta pretty much doesn’t need me anymore.
I’m going to miss looking after them, but part of me is also relieved. Does that sound awful to say?”
“No, of course not. I understand. What will you do when your duties as a nanny end?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll still be in the household, so I’ll probably be helping in the kitchen. MrsLazenby said she could do with an assistant soon.”
Caroline bit back a comment about spending more time flirting with David’s valet. It didn’t take much to know that George was very sweet on Jennifer, and the feeling was mutual. Caroline wondered if they had gone further than simple flirtations.
They were a sweet-looking couple. If they made a move to courtship, that was. Caroline had a feeling that neither person would be comfortable about progressing further.
They reached the bottom of the stairs, and Jennifer headed down the hall towards the kitchens while Caroline entered the dining room.
Gwen was already there, being served by one of the footmen.
And David was at the head of the table, reading through some letters as he munched a piece of toast. He looked up, and his expression warmed when he saw her.
“Caroline.”
“Good morning, David.” Caroline drew out a chair before a footman got to it and sat down. “Anything of interest in your morning letters?”
“Just the usual things.And a few invitations to balls.” David sighed. “I wish I didn’t have to attend these.”
“You could always decline them,” Caroline reminded him. “You’re a duke now, aren’t you? You can say you’re not going to be there.”
“Well, I’m going to be heading to Brighton tomorrow, so I can decline one dinner party this week, thankfully.” David put that invitation to one side, looking slightly relieved. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to get away with doing that with all of them.”
“You won’t have much of an option, David,” Gwen reminded him, her mouth full of food.
David frowned at her.
“Gwen, how old are you? How many times have you been told not to talk with your mouth full?”
Gwen stuck her tongue out at him. Then she picked up her glass of water and took a healthy gulp.
“You do have to find a wife, David,” she went on, cutting into her eggs. “After all, you need a duchess if you’re a duke.”
Caroline felt her throat close up, which left her momentarily stunned. David sighed.
“I’m not going to jump into Society and search for a wife, Gwen. I have other things I need to focus on before I even consider that.”
“What about Lady Mary Chadwick? Didn’t Joseph say you danced with her at that ball you went to?”
David glanced at Caroline, his cheeks a little red before he focused on his sister again.
“We’ll discuss that later, Gwen. But it was just the first meeting, that’s all.”
“Oh. I see.”
From Gwen’s smirk, she was thinking something. Caroline didn’t know what she was doing, but she wasn’t sure she liked it. She smiled at the footman as he placed a plate of food in front of her, and she picked up her knife and fork.
“So you met Lady Mary, then, did you?”
“I did. And her father. Northampton seemed like a decent person.”
“That he is,” Caroline murmured. She had nothing against the earl, who had shown her a lot of kindness.
David picked up his glass of juice and regarded her thoughtfully.
“You know Lady Mary, I presume, Caroline? What is she like?”
“You think she and I move in the same social circles?”
“Well, you must have interacted with her at some point.”
Caroline had, and they hadn’t been very pleasant. She didn’t look at anyone as she cut into one of the tomatoes.
“She’s beautiful, and she’s wealthy.” She chose her words carefully. “And she does have a lot of charisma.”
“But?”
“What?”
David was giving her a knowing look.
“You’re holding back, Caroline. I know you’re not telling me everything. So, tell me what you think about Lady Mary Chadwick?”
“Is there a reason you’re asking about her?”
“Because he thinks that she’s pretty,” Gwen answered for David, grinning around yet another mouthful of food. “She could make a good duchess.”
Caroline felt her stomach clench. God, was David actually considering Lady Mary as a potential wife for himself?
The thought of him being with that woman left her with a nasty taste in her mouth.
Forcing herself to push that away, she concentrated on eating her food, chewing slowly to get it down her throat.
“Caroline.” David was now peering at her. “Why are you quiet all of a sudden? You always give me your opinion about anything and anyone. What’s so different here?”
“We’re not children anymore, David. And I shouldn’t speak in such a manner about another person. You won’t like what I have to say, either.”
David smiled.
“That’s not the Caroline I know. And it’s not going to go beyond these four walls. So, tell me. If I’m going to be in this woman’s company more, then I need to be aware of whatever is wrong with her. If there is anything wrong with her.”
He wasn’t going to let this go. Sighing, Caroline put her cutlery down.
“It’s just her personality. She’s a very conceited woman, David. Growing up, she’s had wealth all around her, and she’s been given pretty much everything. She doesn’t like someone telling her the word ‘no,’ and she believes she should get whatever she wants, even if it’s impossible.”
David arched an eyebrow.
“You make her sound like a child and not a grown woman.”
“That’s what I’ve noticed since she was introduced into Society. Of course, she could be different around others, but that’s how she came across to me. She’s not very nice to the ladies she doesn’t think are worthy of her attention, so I’m probably coming across as biased.”
David didn’t say anything for a moment. Then he sipped his juice and put the glass down.
“Well. That was … enlightening. I’ll bear that in mind.”
“I did warn you that you wouldn’t like it.”