Chapter 21
Twenty-One
Jane dressed carefully for dinner. This would be the first formal meal with her husband. Duke sniffed at Francis as the abigail pinned up her hair. Francis turned to the under-maid.
“Martha. Take him out of here.”
Duke growled.
Jane took a deep breath. She could speak up for herself, as Phil coached her to do. “The dog stays. He is learning to trust me. While he will not go to the dining room, he is welcome here.”
Francis nodded, her lips pinched, allowing her disapproval to show.
Jane wished she did not need to remind the maid of her place.
Perhaps her last employer rid herself of the abigail for that very reason, Jane should have asked more questions of Mrs. Harding.
She only learned the other candidate was the daughter of Lady Anne’s lady’s maid that afternoon when Martha mentioned the relationship.
Jane left Duke in Martha’s care when she went down for dinner. The Duke met her at the bottom of the stairs. He looked quite dashing in his dinner clothes and deep purple waistcoat.
He offered his arm and led her past the dining room. “Did my mother show you the family dining room? I prefer it for small gatherings, then we are not at either end of such a large table.”
The room was much smaller than the grand dining room, though the table could still fit eight or more.
However, the servants arranged place settings across from each other the short way on the table.
So that the Duke was not sitting at the head.
Including the breakfast room, this made three dining areas.
Three, plus all the sitting rooms she had not yet counted. So much extravagance.
“I hope you do not mind I rearranged the menu tonight so we could finally enjoy our wedding cake.” The Duke led her to her seat.
“I requested that they serve the cake too.” Jane sat and took up her napkin. “I am almost tempted to start with our cake lest something interrupt us again.”
A puzzled look crossed the Duke’s face. “Is that something you do often, starting with the final course?”
“Only at George’s—I mean Georgiana’s, suggestion.”
Neither of them requested the change in meal order and the soup was served as they spoke.
“Use the names you are accustomed to for your sisters. I am well aware that Phil, Alex, and George are not rivals of whom I should be jealous. I have, in fact, nearly addressed Philippa more than once by her shortened name. Why do you not share in the naming conventions of your family?”
Jane swallowed the soup she held to her lips.
“You must have been tired when we spoke of this yesterday. No one expects twins. Father only had one name chosen, which he gave to George as she was born first and bigger. He told my mother that she could name me. After my brother was born. Father chose a girl’s name for the next child, hence Rose did not become Fredericka. ”
“Is it true your father told the parish priest to register your sisters only by the male names?” The Duke continued to converse as he ate.
“I forget how much you know about my family. The story is that he did that for Alex, but the priest refused and instead of writing Alexander wrote Alexandra in the register and conducted the christening with a definitive A at the end of Alex’s name. What of your name? How did you come by it?”
“Richard Thomas Kenworth, the eighth Duke of Aylton. Every single name is inherited. My grandfather was Richard and my great-grandfather was Thomas. I have no intention of naming any of my sons after my father, Edward Duncan. My Father originally was the spare son, so he didn’t follow the naming convention. ”
Jane almost spat out her soup. “Your father named your half-brother for himself.”
“Yes.” The Duke’s frown returned. He had not worn the off-putting expression much of the day.
She searched for anything to say. “What would you name your son?”
“I am not sure. The name we had if the child had been a boy included Ethel’s father’s name and I do not wish to use that.”
“Do not use Felton either, please.”
The Duke smiled at that. “We are in agreement then. What of your grandfather’s name?”
“John? I have no objection other than that it is as plain as Jane.”
“Not so. Both John and Jane are good, powerful names. I am fond of both.”
Heat rose in her cheeks. Jane was glad for the distraction of the next course being served. “You have the most excellent cook.”
Their conversation continued, venturing into safer realms. After the traditional courses, the wedding cake was served. The footman brought in the entire top of the cake, just as the cook had preserved it with sugar flowers and thick frosting.
The Duke stood so he might slice the cake. “I feel as if I should say something before cutting the cake as I would if I had remained on Saturday, but we have no audience.”
“You need not say anything then.”
“But I wish to.” He looked her in the eye. “Today has been one of the most pleasant days I have experienced in the last many years. I can never thank you enough for agreeing to such a rushed marriage to a man you hardly know. I hope we have many more pleasant days in our future.”
Her cheeks burned. Jane forced a smile and a nod.
What else was she to do? The Duke had proven he was much kinder and thoughtful than she believed.
He knew the names of all of a particular tenant’s children.
He gave her a dog and didn’t care that it was named Duke.
They had forged something of a friendship during the day, and she had not flinched once, had she?
Only when he put his arm out quickly. But that could easily be explained away because of the movement of the vehicle.
“Yes, to a pleasant future.” The most she could hope for.
Phil and George got love matches. A future she was not destined for as she had been told so many times.
Pleasant would be a happy compromise. She already liked him as much as the Godderidge brothers and Michael, perhaps more, difficult to tell on so short of an acquaintance. That was a good start, was it not?
Despite being five days old, the cake was still moist. The fruits and nuts must have something to do with the unspoiled state. Jane did not know enough about baking to be sure. She must remember to compliment the cook.
The Duke pushed aside his empty plate. “Unfortunately, in spending the day with you, I neglected my correspondence. I hope you do not mind that I excuse myself to my study.”
“Not at all.”
“May I join you later?”
“Of course.”
An hour and a half later, Jane finished the book she read with another yawn. If she stayed in the library much longer, the Duke would find her fast asleep. The thought of being found with her head lolling and drool seeping out of her mouth was enough to propel her to her chambers.
Francis waited to help Jane change. The abigail offered two choices of night gowns. Both new. Both more translucent than opaque. Both equally daunting to wear.
Jane glanced to the adjoining door. Perhaps the Duke meant he would join her later, here.
In her room. They had discussed names for an heir over dinner…
The natural course of things would have put him in her room nights ago.
Jane pointed to the more modest of the two offerings longing for a warmer option.
Martha entered with Duke on a lead. The maid curtsied as Duke came as close to Jane as the lead allowed. “Your Grace, I am to ask where the dog is to sleep.”
“Do we know where Duke was accustomed to sleep before?” asked Jane.
“Mr. Marsh came during supper and said that the dog slept on a blanket near the fireplace when he was at the master of the hound’s cottage, but that he suspected the dog slept with his prior owner.”
“A dog should not sleep in the bedchamber of the mistress of the house. Especially at night. I am sure His Grace would not be pleased to find a dog here. A duke finding Duke.” Francis ended her observation with a strangled sort of giggle.
Jane’s face burned, she had a vague notion that she should reprimand Francis for her boldness.
The younger maid turned to leave.
Jane stopped her. “Prepare a cushion or a blanket for Duke. He may remain until I ascertain my husband’s wishes. He was much concerned about the health of the dog.”
Her request was not as much to put the abigail in her place, but it was enough to make Francis frown and mutter something.
Jane wondered what her mother or Lady Anne might say.
Jane wished to be on friendly terms with her maid, as Alex was with Mrs. Green.
Taking advice from a woman not two years her senior was much different from thirty-years older, and who seemed to care.
Soon Jane was prepared for bed, alone in her room, with Duke curled up near the fireplace.
The new nightgown itched, and the door to the Duke’s chambers loomed before her.
Should she remain up? She wore the matching wrapper to her nightgown and could sit in her chair and read.
Though she was more awake now, she could still be found asleep in the chair…
Should she lie in bed? What if she fell asleep?
Jane wrung her hands as she paced the room.
Phil hadn’t told her what to do while she waited for her husband…
The second time she circled the room, she became aware of noises beyond the adjoining door.
Duke raised his head, indicating he heard them as well.
Not wanting to be found standing in the middle of the room, Jane cast aside the wrapper and dove for the bed.
She smoothed out her gown and pulled her braided hair over her shoulder.
Looking down, she saw even in the dim light of the bedside candle that the thin material clung to her in ways her old gown did not.
Would he think her wanton? Jane pulled the blanket up to her chin and waited.
Phil’s advice filled her head. Kissing. How was she supposed to do that? Phil hadn’t said. Jane closed her eyes. Was praying for help to kiss properly wrong?
The candle sputtered as it burned lower. Why hadn’t the Duke come in? Did he not want to? He’d spoken about an heir at dinner. Their heir. Obtaining one could not happen unless they were in the same bed.
Jane yawned. The dog raised his head.
“Are you the only Duke who wishes to be in my bed?”
Duke padded over and set his front paws on the bed. Jane reached out and scratched him behind the ears. Hearing no sound from the other room, Jane blew out the candle and settled into the bed. A moment later the mattress dipped as the dog joined her. At least one Duke wanted her.