Chapter Five
Henry wanted to halt work at one o’clock, and David agreed to do so.
They had made excellent progress this past week.
He had spoken to the duke about his plan to purchase Mr. Shaft’s shop, as well as creating the addition of a bookshop upstairs.
His Grace had accompanied David, Henry, and Mr. Shaft into Keswick, where they met with the duke’s local solicitor.
He drew up all the legal documents for David to purchase the shop in Kidsgrove before the group had gone to the bank and completed the transaction.
Mr. Shaft had walked David through the inventory of the store, including the large storage room in the back on the ground floor.
He had also left a list of his suppliers, as well as companies David could order goods from.
He became familiar with the ledgers, which showed a record of all goods sold for the last twenty-two years.
Mr. Shaft had meticulously kept these ledgers, and David planned to do the same.
He also had a separate ledger showing what was owed by various customers.
A handful did not pay Mr. Shaft in coin.
Instead, they bartered with him, providing the shopkeeper with items such as milk and eggs, as well as doing tailoring for him and providing him with new boots on a regular basis.
David decided he would continue the same practice for this limited number of customers.
The older man graciously drew up a list of his regular clients who required special orders.
And that included Lady Justina Fulton.
David had never been taken with a woman as he had the pretty blond. She had stolen his attention from the moment he descended the stairs, and he was more than happy to have been invited to tea with her and her brother.
They rode their horses back to Norwood, cutting through the kitchens.
Henry called for hot water for both of them to have baths, teasing that he did not want the stench of their sweat to rescind their invitation to tea once they arrived at Traywick Manor.
David took his time bathing in the large tub, knowing this was a luxury which he would soon forgo.
Having hot water brought to him. Meals prepared for him.
Those would all be things he would soon take care of on his own.
He was scheduled to move to the cottage on the duke’s estate early next week.
His Grace was having a new roof placed upon the cottage, seeing it was painted, and the cottage was getting a thorough cleaning from top to bottom before possession would be turned over to him.
He would have no servant with him, in part because he could not afford to pay for one, and also because the space was so small.
The duke had insisted that one of his maids come once a week to clean for David.
She would also take any dirty clothes with her so that the Norwood laundress might wash and press them. That would be most welcome.
They met downstairs in the foyer at half-past three and went to the carriage.
Inside it, Elinor said, “Thank you for agreeing to come to tea with us today, Papa.”
Now that he thought about it, David could not recall the duke ever heading out for tea with one of his neighbors, nor did Norwood ever have guests, other than himself.
“I am doing this as a favor to you, my darling,” the duke said, gazing fondly at his only daughter.
“I like Lady Justina,” Elinor shared. “It would be nice to have a friend close by. None of the girls from my boarding school live anywhere near us.”
He wondered how much the death of Her Grace had to do with Elinor going away to school and the lack of social contact the duke had. He soon got his answer.
She turned to David. “Papa does not accept any social invitations. He hasn’t ever since Mama passed. I am happy he is accompanying us to Trawick Manor this afternoon.”
“Tell me of your progress, David,” His Grace said, clearly uncomfortable being the topic of discussion.
He spent the remainder of the carriage ride describing the helpful documents Mr. Shaft had prepared for him. He also elaborated on the work Henry and he had done on the first floor of the shop, knocking down walls, sanding the floors, and building numerous bookshelves.
“I am going to be investing a good deal of my available funds in an inventory of books,” he explained. “I believe I will need to make a trip of town to visit booksellers and select a variety of books from them. Histories. Biographies. Novels. Books on gardening and other hobbies.”
“If you would like company, I would not mind going to town with you,” Henry said.
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” His Grace said. “You can meet with my solicitor and financial advisor while you are in town and bring the latest news from them to me. David, you would be more than welcome to attend those meetings. Perhaps you might learn something valuable at them.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. I will consider doing so.”
“I would also like to help you get started in building your collection of books,” the duke continued.
“We spend a majority of our time at Norwood. The library at my London townhouse goes unused. It is up to Henry, since it will be his one day, but you are welcome to any books on those shelves. Bring back as many as you would like to Kidsgrove.”
“I am more than happy to let David have as many books as he chooses to take,” his friend said generously.
“We can go through them together and have the servants pack up the ones you wish to ship back to Kidsgrove. In fact, we could place them in crates in a wagon. A couple of our town servants could drive them here directly.”
For a moment, tears misted his eyes. “Thank you both for your generosity. I am deeply touched by it.”
“I hate to see a good book go to waste,” Norville said. “This way, they will benefit all the people of Kidsgrove and beyond.”
They arrived at Traywick Manor after having stopped first at Mr. Shaft’s to collect the art supplies Lady Justina had purchased earlier that day.
He wondered if she had true talent or was like many young ladies of the ton and merely painted because it was expected for her to do so. Something told him she had talent.
Once they disembarked from the carriage, Lady Justina greeted them.
Alongside her was a man a good four or five inches over six feet, with light brown hair and dark blue eyes.
David assumed this must be Lady Justina’s older brother.
Seeing his height explained hers, since she was very tall and had a willowy frame, which suited her.
She smiled graciously at them. “I would like to introduce my brother, the Earl of Traywick.” She looked to the duke first. “You must be His Grace. It is an honor to meet you. I am Lady Justina Fulton.”
The duke took her hand and kissed it before offering a handshake to Lord Traywick.
“I knew your parents. You both favor your father a great deal. Occasionally, Her Grace and I came to dine at Traywick Manor years ago and your parents would come to Norwood.” He paused. “That was before the loss of your father and brother. Lord Traywick was a most generous, kindhearted man.”
“Thank you,” the earl said.
“And how is Lady Traywick?” the duke asked.
David was watching Lady Justina and saw her composure crumble for a moment. Then she rallied and said, “We lost Mama back in early March of this year, Your Grace.”
The duke took her hand again, sympathy in his eyes. “I am so sorry to hear of that news, my lady. Your mother was full of grace and kind to a fault. I am certain she is missed deeply.”
“She is. Thank you,” Lady Justina said. “Shall we go inside and finish the introductions? This brisk wind is giving me a bit of a chill.”
They moved inside Traywick Manor, which seemed small when compared to Norwood, but it was tastefully furnished.
“Tray, this is Lady Elinor Davenport. Her brother, Lord Marbury, and Mr. Rochester.”
The earl greeted them with enthusiasm and invited everyone to accompany him upstairs to the drawing room. David followed, watching Lady Justina signal the butler, and he supposed tea would arrive shortly.
As they seated themselves, he found himself on a settee next to Lady Justina. A whiff of violets, his favorite flower, clung to her.
He smiled at her. “Thank you again for the invitation to tea, my lady. I am new to the area, and it is good to get to meet others.”
“I am always happy to meet new people. It is a shame that we all live so close together and yet have not become acquainted before now. Well, Mama and Papa knew Their Graces.”
“I am afraid I became a bit of a recluse after Her Grace passed,” the duke explained. “We were very private people and cared deeply for one another. Once I found my darling at the Season, we never returned for another Season. Our life was always here, in Cumberland.”
“Well, I am hoping that Lady Justina and I will become fast friends,” Elinor declared. “I am to make my come-out next Season, my lady. Have you made your debut into Polite Society?”
Lady Justina chuckled. “No, I have yet to do so. I will be frank, Lady Elinor. The Season does not hold much interest for me. Though I love to dance and attend the monthly assemblies in Kidsgrove, making my debut has little appeal.”
Elinor looked perplexed. “But what of marriage? And children?”
“For now, I am happy here at Traywick Manor. I have been running the household since Mama’s death. I am also dedicated to my art.”
David spoke up. “We called at Mr. Shaft’s for your canvases and oil paints on our way here. The footman was instructed to bring them inside for you. What might you paint, my lady?”
A dreamy expression filled her face. “I paint the Lake District, Mr. Rochester. I do not believe there to be a more beautiful spot in all of England. My brother and I have numerous cousins scattered throughout the country, and I have been to visit them in their various estates. Cumberland always calls me home.”