Chapter 5 #2
It was a very thoughtful thing to say, and Agnes could not help but wonder what the Dowager Duchess’ marriage had been like.
Her godmother used to talk about how her friend had always spoken of her marriage as the greatest gift life had ever rewarded her with.
Lady Anna mentioned that the old Duke had been Alexandra’s whole world, and when he had passed, she had felt so lost and unsure of how to continue living without him.
Agnes had felt a similar kind of displacement when she lost her father and had been separated from her sisters in the same time frame, and it had taken her quite some time to rise and put her life back together in order to fulfill the last duty her father had bestowed on her.
Still, she could not help but wonder how much the Dowager Duchess must have loved her husband, how good their marriage had been.
During the night, she had thought of how the Duke’s grandmother had expressed her desire to see Agnes and Silas happy together, irrespective of their motivations behind getting married, and it had moved Agnes just how sincere and kind the older woman was.
Unfortunately, she was unsure if she would be able to fulfill the Dowager Duchess’ wishes, given the partner she had to work with.
But for a moment, Agnes let herself dream of having a husband who would look at her as though she was the only person he could see in a room full of people.
The next location they visited was the two large libraries with more books than Agnes had ever imagined she would see in her lifetime.
“We have a vast collection of literature, from the classics to very rare contemporary works. Even some highly sought-after first editions. When the Duke is not riding or working, he usually spends most of his time here.” Marion informed Agnes as she explored the shelves.
“Is that so?” Agnes wondered out loud in surprise. “He seems so… active. I would not have imagined he was the sort to settle down to a good book.”
Marion smiled gently, nodding in understanding. “Your impression of him has its grounds, but the old Duke was the one who instilled in him the importance of a mind trained to appreciate the beauty of written words. For a brief moment as a child, he had wanted to be a poet.”
“No,” Agnes gasped with a laugh. “Really?”
“It was a fleeting aspiration, but he was really charmed by the idea. He was a really precious child, once upon a time,” Marion nodded sagely as though she felt saddened that the Duke of that time had been lost somewhere along the way.
Agnes sensed that the air had suddenly lost some of its lightness and cleared her throat, hoping to revive it.
“Well, I am very impressed with all that I have seen so far. The mansion is truly even more of a wonder than I expected it to be. I am also sort of envious that you have been blessed to have this lovely place serve as your home.”
“It’s your home now,” Ella spoke up, blushing deeply a moment later, as though she had not properly thought it through before she spoke.
“That’s right,” Marion agreed, sending Ella a reassuring look before adding. “Besides, we’re not done with the tour yet. There’s one last stop to make.”
Agnes was surprised to hear that, quite certain, they had been to every important part of the house, and the less-than-significant spaces had been merely pointed out to her before they moved on elsewhere.
Still, she diligently followed them as they led her through the vast corridors, down a smaller hallway that seemingly appeared out of nowhere, which led to a room that looked like a study that was no longer used.
It housed a few pieces of furniture, along with some boxes, but none of that was apparently why they had brought her there because at the end of the room was a glass door that led to a terrace.
“Please be careful, my lady,” Marion urged as she guided them up the stairs at the corner of the terrace, leading them to the rooftop.
For a moment, Agnes’ mind could not decipher what it was she was seeing, but after a moment, she understood where they were.
“Is this… a garden?” she gasped, staring at the array of vibrant, colorful flowers and green plants.
“It is the Dowager Duchess’ pride and joy.
She and the Duke grew it together. They would spend hours here, tending to the plants, nurturing them, and caring for them.
She still does it – tends to them. The Duke was always the one who was upset whenever a plant died, or a flower failed to bloom, and she said she did not want to break his heart as he watched over her, so she kept at it.
” Marion told her, watching as Agnes lightly ran the tips of her fingers over a rose.
The garden was truly wonderful. Agnes could tell just by looking at how carefully placed each potted plant was, the way the petals of flowers seemed to grow, and how void the surrounding was of any weeds, just how much time and love had been dedicated to the space.
And the view… oh, the view.
Slowly, she approached the edge and looked over the property, taking in the vast greenery the mansion sat atop, realizing once more how grand her new home was.
The place felt… almost magical and promising that her singular dream would be brought to reality – a notion she wished she could believe without question.
“Magnificent… This place is truly magnificent,” she sighed, resting her arms on a railing that surrounded the rooftop, relishing in the cool breeze that was blowing as she looked over the property again.
It was then she noticed the stables next to the mansion, just as grand as any other thing within the property. Her excitement grew when she spotted a beautiful horse grazing peacefully next to it, and a familiar rush coursed through her veins.
Without thinking too much, she reached out and pointed at the horse, announcing.
“I want to ride that horse.”