Chapter 12
David stood on the balcony and looked out towards the sea.
The sun was setting, and the sea was actually calm, although he could hear the faint roar of the waves crashing onto the rocks.
When he stood on the cliff’s top, the roar was loud in his ears to the point David thought he was deaf.
It was remarkable what a bit of distance could do.
The Cornwall house was actually in pretty decent condition.
A small household staff kept it going despite not having had anyone live there in ten years, so the servants were very surprised to have the new duke turn up.
They had done their best to welcome David, although it did feel like they had forgotten a lot of their manners after not having interacted with many members of the nobility for so long.
Given how far out in the Cornwall countryside they were with no neighbours in sight, it wasn’t really a surprise.
David wished he had brought his sisters and Caroline along with him.
They would love the scenery, and neither of the girls had ever seen the sea.
He was sure Caroline had never been to the beach, either.
They would love this, although David was sure Gwen would give everyone heart failure if she ran too close to the cliff’s edge.
They would still find this house fascinating. It was like a giant cottage, although the roof wasn’t completely thatched. Part of it had been replaced by roof tiles after an apparent fire twenty years before. The inside was rustic, with wood pretty much everywhere.
The housekeeper had said it had been built during the time of Elizabeth the first, so the fact it was standing at all was impressive.
David had spent the first couple of hours exploring all the rooms. It felt like there were little rooms and priest holes in every other room.
Apparently, his great-grandfather had been involved with smuggling tea into the country when they put tax on it.
David could see anyone in his family doing that.
“Are you having dinner downstairs or in your room, Your Grace?”
David turned. George was coming out onto the balcony, the wind rippling his hair.
“I’ll have it in the dining room, George. There’s a big window with a sea view, isn’t there?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
George was looking a little green. David knew that the sea air didn’t agree with George; his valet had been suffering in Brighton, choosing to stay inside with the windows closed when they were at the Brighton residence.
The fact he was coming out onto the balcony was saying that he was getting better, but it was not enough for him to be comfortable.
Taking his servant’s arm, David steered George back into his bedchamber.
“Why don’t you retire early, George? You need to rest if you’re not well, and I don’t want you being sick again.”
George grimaced.
“I can only apologise for doing that while I was dressing you. I didn’t mean …”
“I know it was an accident, but I don’t fancy smelling the contents of your stomach when I go to bed.”
George looked like David had kicked him. Laughing, David patted his shoulder.
“I’m not going to be cross for you being nauseous due to the sea air. It’s not for everyone. But I do appreciate you coming with me.”
“I am your valet, Your Grace. I should be coming along with you when you go travelling.” George pressed a hand to his stomach. “I just didn’t expect to be feeling sick at the smell of sea air.”
“You’ve done well and thank you for that.” David shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to George. “The house in the Lake District is on a lake. Do you think you can manage that?”
“I grew up in a lakeside house, Your Grace. I think I can handle that.” George paused. “Just don’t ask me to go on a boat.”
“I’ll remember that.”
As his valet helped David to get ready, David found his thoughts wandering back to Caroline.
He had barely settled into his Brighton residence, wondering how he would maintain such a luxury house before he realized that he missed her.
He missed Caroline more than his sisters, and that made David feel a little guilty.
Hopefully, Henrietta and Gwen were behaving themselves.
Henrietta was mature when she wanted to be, but with Gwen’s emotions still all over the place, David worried if Caroline would be able to cope.
She could be patient, but she could be pushed a little too much.
But he couldn’t see Caroline losing her temper with his sisters.
She might lose her mind, but not her temper.
David was glad that he had asked Joseph to go and check on his family every few days to ensure things were going well. He could trust his friend to look after everything if something happened. There was a chance that nothing happened, and he was worrying for nothing.
But at the same time, he didn’t want things to go wrong and for everyone not to want to talk to each other when he returned.
“Your Grace?”
“Hmm?”
George was holding out David’s dinner jacket. David had been so engrossed with his thoughts that he had forgotten that he was meant to be doing something. He turned around and allowed George to put his jacket on.
“Thank you, George.”
“You don’t need to worry about your sisters, Your Grace. I’m sure Lady Caroline and Nanny Drew can look after them.”
David smiled. It would be just like George to mention Nanny Drew.
“I’m sure they can. Nanny Drew has been really good with the girls since she started.”
“That she has.”
David turned to his valet. George realised that he was being watched and shook himself, his dreamy smile disappearing.
“Forgive me, Your Grace …”
“I’m sure Nanny Drew will be happy to see you return as well, George.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’m just making an observation.” David adjusted his sleeves. “After all, I see her face light up whenever you two are in the same room. And I see how eager you are to be around her.”
David wondered if George’s face could get any redder. His servant shuffled from foot to foot.
“Well, I …”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do. I’m not that cruel.” David winked. “Just make sure you don’t shirk your duties in the meantime. And don’t mess Nanny Drew around.”
“Your Grace! I would never do that!” George shook his head. “I respect Nanny Drew too much to do that.”
“I know. But I think you need to be reminded anyway.” David looked at himself in the mirror. “I’ll go and have dinner. You can head to bed now. I’ll let the butler know so he doesn’t disturb you.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
George looked relieved as he glanced towards the window. David left the room and headed downstairs, not for the first time wondering what Caroline would think of the house. She loved the rustic feel, which made it feel earthy and warm. This cottage just wrapped warmth around everything.
She would certainly love this place.
David made a mental note to bring Caroline and his sisters along the next time he visited the Cornwall residence. Of the two he had visited so far, he was more inclined to keep this one and sell the other. Would Caroline agree?
Stop thinking about her. She doesn’t have a say in what you do.
She has. Whether I like it or not, she has a say. And I’m not sure what to think about that.
#
“Can I ask you something, Lady Caroline?”
Caroline turned to see Henrietta leaning against the wall, keeping out of the warm sun. The older sister looked a little pale, and Caroline worried she might keel over.
“Do you want to go back to the house, My Lady?”
“I’ll be alright once I get my breath back,” Henrietta said, pressing a hand to her chest. “And we did agree that you didn’t need to call me My Lady, didn’t we? I feel older than I am when I’m addressed as such.”
Caroline could understand. But, at her age, she really did feel old. She nodded.
“Alright. But when your brother’s not here, you don’t have to do the same.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Caroline watched Gwen as she chased Jennifer Drew through the trees, darting around the huge Greek statue the sisters had intended to show her. The young girl was having a lot of fun, and somehow, Jennifer kept up with her. It was startling at how spritely the woman was.
Then again, given how energetic Gwen was, it shouldn’t be any surprise.
Caroline could leave them to it and tend to Henrietta, but she was reluctant to leave.
Keeping one eye on the ten-year-old, she moved towards the older child.
“Why don’t we sit down?” she suggested. “There’s a bench over there, and it’s in the perfect position if you don’t want to go back.”
Henrietta didn’t argue as she was led over and eased onto the bench. Caroline sat beside her, smoothing out the creases on her skirts. Henrietta slumped back with a sigh.
“That feels better. I didn’t think I’d be able to get here on my own.”
“You did too much, didn’t you?”
“You could say that. I keep thinking that I can manage if Gwen is doing well, but then I remember that I’m not as young as I remember.”
Caroline laughed.
“You’re only fifteen!”
“When it comes to Gwen, I feel like a lot more.”
“Well, it doesn’t help that it’s really hot today, either.” Caroline untied the ribbon on her hat and used it to fan herself. That helped a little. “I’m glad the weather’s nice, but it is a little bit much right now.”
“I’m beginning to wish I had brought my hat out.” Henrietta sighed. “I should have listened to you when you said we should bring them.”
“You’re a young woman. You have your own mind.” Caroline smiled. “And, sometimes, you have to learn the hard way.”
Henrietta grunted.
Caroline laughed. The girl was growing up. She was more mature than Caroline remembered being at the same age, but she was still learning. It was easier to let her find things out herself.