Chapter 10 #2
Jeremy huffed as Theresa and Lina both chuckled, and all three of them turned to their work. Mrs. House bowed her head, and Arina and Belle went back to focusing on their laundry.
“I am afraid there is not much we know about her, Your Grace,” Mrs. House offered, gesturing invitingly for Deborah to take a seat. “The young lady joined us here a year ago, but she seems to not want to be around anyone. Not even her uncle.”
Deborah’s brows furrowed in confusion as she accepted the offered seat.
“How do you mean?” She asked, “I thought it was Ced- His Grace- that chose to stay away from her?”
“Perhaps now,” Mrs. House explained, pouring out a cup of tea for Deborah, “However, when he first brought her home, I believe he tried her best to be warm with her.”
Mrs. House sighed heavily as she held out the cup of tea to Deborah, who murmured her thanks and accepted it.
“His Grace is- well, as you may have assumed, is not quite the fatherly figure,” Mrs. House went on. “However, he did make efforts.”
Surprised by this, Deborah pondered the new information as she tapped her nails against her teacup.
“So, he never became violent with her then?” She finally asked.
The subtle noises of work being done ceased once again as everyone’s gaze snapped to her.
“His Grace might be an odd man out when it comes to the rest of the ton, but he would never be violent toward a child or woman,” Mrs. House answered with great vehemence.
Despite her annoyance toward Cedric’s personality, Deborah felt greatly relieved to hear such a thing, and her opinion of him shifted- if only a little.
“I am grateful to know this,” Deborah confessed, “In truth, His Grace and I did not have much time to court before we wed. There is much I do not know about him.”
“Arranged marriages,” Mrs. House sighed, shaking her head, “Though I see some of their practicality, the rush leaves little room to discover who one another is before the wedding for many couples, I suppose.”
Deborah only smiled, not willing to go into the details of how she and Cedric had actually met.
“Quite right,” she said instead, then took a sip from her tea, gathering her courage to ask about what she truly came there for.
If Cedric was not responsible, and the last governess or nanny was not either, then the staff were responsible.
Seeing as how quickly Mrs. House defended her master, Deborah imagined she would only be more vehement if it seemed she was accusing one of her own.
“Adeline’s bruises…” she started tentatively, “Does anyone know where they came from?”
Pity filled Mrs. House’s eyes.
“Oh. Those,” she said softly.
The housekeeper cleared her throat as she picked up her pen and began to fiddle with it.
“Mrs. House?” Deborah prompted.
“The poor girl takes to fits at times,” Mrs. House explained, “It can happen out of nowhere. She falls, poor thing, knocks herself into things.”
Questions erupted in Deborah’s mind.
“Adeline is sick?” She asked.
“She is.” Cedric’s deep voice broke through the air.
Deborah and everyone else startled and turned to see him standing in the kitchen doorway, holding a jacket.
He had a rare, hard look in his eyes as he met Deborah’s gaze, and she felt a shiver move down her spine.
Then, in the blink of an eye, his expression relaxed into its usual uncaring nature, and he smirked as he strode around her back and toward Arina and Belle.
“That is not for you to worry about, though,” he stated, almost sounding chipper. “It is well in hand.”
Then he turned to the two maids and gave them a charming smile as he held out the jacket.
“Pardon darlings, but could one of you fix this for me, please? There is a tear in the left pocket.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Lina readily replied, taking it. “I shall have it done straightaway.”
Cedric gave her a nod of thanks and turned to Deborah.
“How is your progress with Adeline going?” He asked, taking a casual stance as he slipped his hands in his pockets.
Not pleased with how little she learned, Deborah looked back at her tea as she simply answered, “Just fine.”
“Is she talking to you?” Cedric asked.
“Well enough,” she retorted.
If he wasn’t going to give her a proper answer, she wasn’t going to give him one either.
“Glad to hear it,” Cedric replied, his nonchalant tone annoying her further.
She cast him an annoyed glance, and her annoyance shifted to anger when he simply smirked and winked. Though she willed herself not to react, butterflies erupted in her stomach as she caught his gaze raking over her figure; the reminder of their kiss bloomed in her mind, unbidden and unwanted.
“Lovely dress by the way,” he remarked.
Arrogant cad, she thought, and said nothing. Though she did start to wonder if it was he who had made the new dress appear in her closet. Could he be capable of something so nice?
“I will not be home for supper this evening, Jeremy,” Cedric sighed, heading out of the kitchen, “And will not return until tomorrow afternoon. So no need to fix me a tray.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Jeremy readily replied.
Without another word, Cedric left, leaving Deborah more annoyed and more clueless than before.