CHAPTER 5
J ust as the Drowtons and their guests settled into their luncheon, there was a knock at the door. Before Peggy could call, "Coming," there was another rapping.
Considering the hasty succession, Anne rose from the table and raised a hand to the maid that she would answer the call herself.
"A moment please," she called, interrupting a third sounding.
When she opened the door, she was only a little surprised to see neighbors from further along the road, Esther Hughes and her spinster sister, Judith Jones.
"Esther, Judith," Anne said greeting the ladies with what enthusiasm she could muster. "Lovely to see you both. We were just about to luncheon."
"Oh? Then, we would love a sandwich," Esther replied, welcoming herself in Reedley Manor. "Actually, we brought a cake and a pie thinking, ‘We have not had a luncheon or tea with Anne Drowton. We should visit her today.'"
"How thoughtful of you," Anne said, knowing they had likely seen or somehow gotten wind that there was something gossip worthy at Reedley Manor.
I wonder if they somehow saw or heard about the Duke, she thought. Or perhaps they saw Charles driving Dr. Edwards home and believed something happened to grandfather. Nevertheless, they are here now, and it would be rude to send them away, Other than being a little chatty, they are harmless.
"If you don't mind," Judith said, standing where she had been when the door opened.
Anne had a softer place for Judith as she showed a little more manners than Esther, most of the time.
"Not at all, Judith," she replied. "Please come in and join us."
Judith smiled and entered the house. Then, like Esther, she showed herself to the dining room.
As they walked through the house, the two women talked all the while — mostly Edith with Judith supporting her every word.
"We had heard from a neighbor that a man with a limp appeared on the doorstep of Reedley Manor two nights ago," Esther explained.
"Indeed, we did," echoed Judith.
"And our first thought was, ‘Oh, dear, we hope no one with ill will came to harm the Baron or his grandchildren in the night," Esther continued.
"Dreadful thought," added Judith. "I'll admit I assumed the worst."
They each helped themselves to a sandwich as Esther continued.
"We weren't sure if the Baron had been attacked in his sleep or if the person had been seeking help, so you can imagine our relief when we saw Charles driving Dr. Edwards home, and we learned at the market that you all were caring for a wounded gentleman," Esther stated. "The Duke, no less."
"Indeed," Anne said, resuming a new seat at the table as Esther had seated herself in the chair nearest the Duke and Judith had taken the one after that.
Anne now sat in a chair between her brother and her grandfather.
"Ladies, I present the Duke of Grandon," said Jeremy, setting his utensils down to gesture to the man at the other end of the table. "He shall be staying with us while he recovers from leg injuries received in a carriage crash."
"Oh, so you're staying," Esther gasped excitedly, clapping her hands together once loudly.
In a softer, more concerned tone, Judith added, "I hope you were not injured too badly."
"Nothing that won't heal," replied the Duke, looking to the Baron then Anne.
"And aren't we so glad to hear it," said Esther, waving a hand to quiet her sister. "Once we heard there was someone of status in the area, I immediately said to Judith, ‘We should host an event, a party or dinner, to celebrate the nobility that has come to Reedley.' Now, that we know it is the Duke of Grandon, a small dinner is certainly not enough."
"I assure you that is not necessary," Noah replied with a shake of his head.
"Of course it is, but it should be something larger," Esther persisted without pausing.
"Oh, no. I hate to cause a disruption," the Duke insisted.
I am only just getting used to Reedley Manor. I'm not sure that I can pass an evening surrounded by the bumpkins of the area or women who prattle on like this when they have been told no, Noah thought.
"We insist," said Esther, rapping a hand on the table. "There must be a banquet in your honor. It has been too long since Reedley has been the seat of a banquet."
Seeing no way out of it, the Duke looked to Anne for help. She only smiled in a conspiratory smirk. He looked to the Baron, but the old man looked more excited than anyone.
"Reedley Manor was a hub for social events before my son passed," he said with a bittersweet and distant look.
"Then, I suppose it shall be once again," Noah observed in surrender.
"Wonderful," said Esther. "Oh, Anne, I can help you plan everything and invite the merchants and landholders from town."
"Thank you," Anne replied, resuming eating as she grinned from ear to ear at the Duke's expense.
"And I can prepare all the desserts," offered Judith. "Oh, Your Grace, you have not tried my cake."
"I am not very hungry. I thought I might have a sandwich and retire to rest my leg," he said, hoping it was a polite enough response to avoid disappointing the Drowtons' neighbors or eating any of their food.
"Oh, only a small slice then," the woman replied. "No meal is complete without at least a few bites of dessert."
"Really, I couldn't," he professed.
"Surely you can eat a little," Judith persisted.
"Oh, yes, there is not a better queen's cake than my sisters, and I have perfected vegetable pie," Esther boasted.
"I'm sure they are both delectable, but I simply cannot," replied the Duke, feeling frustration rising with each coercive comment.
"Your Grace, surely a sliver of cake would do no harm," Anne suggested, smiling at him encouragingly and her neighbors apologetically.
The Duke forced a smile as he searched his mind for any other reason to say no.
"I'd like a piece of both," Charles said, having finished two sandwiches and a pasty during the debate.
"Certainly," said Judith. "After His Grace has the first piece. After all, I prepared it special knowing you all had a guest."
Noah's face straightened then he forced a smile.
I hate feeling backed into a corner, but there seems to be no fighting my way out, he thought.
"What harm is there in a small slice of dessert?" he said, knowing very well what it would do to him if no one else.
Perhaps I will be surprised as I have been with Anne's food, he thought hopefully though he hardly believed it. I haven't been able to stomach, much less enjoy anything so well for a decade now.
Still, all eyes were on him now, and Noah hated the attention.
"Let's all have a slice, shall we?" he said, hoping people would turn their attention to their own portion.
"Wonderful," Esther and Judith said at nearly the same time.
They were both so excited to have him eat that they promptly dismissed his prior refusals.
Esther yelled, "Maid? Peggy? Please, come serve us this dessert we have brought. His Grace is waiting."
After a moment, Peggy entered the room hurriedly. She sliced the cake into ten portions and the pie into eight. Then, she placed a wedge of each on the plate of each person at the table.
"Is there anything else," she asked, looking from Anne to Esther and Judith.
"No," replied Anne. "Please continue cleaning the kitchen."
"Let's have some, shall we?" the Duke asked, looking round the table at his companions with a large, insincere smile plastered on his face.
Though it seemed only Anne realized. Esther and Judith were still blissful that their food was being tasted by a duke. Charles only wanted to be able to eat. Jeremy, as always it seemed, only smiled at whatever he deemed to be the humor of the situation.
The Duke of Grandon shoveled several bites of cake into his mouth.
"Delicious," he said with his mouth full.
Hardly pausing to swallow, he ate the rest of the cake on his plate and several bites of the pie.
"You were right," he said. "Perfect."
Then, he cleaned his plate of pie as well. He could feel his stomach beginning to churn and looked at the uneaten portion of Anne's food that remained.
Now I couldn't eat the only part of the meal worth having if I tried, he thought.
"We're so glad you liked it, Your Grace," Esther said, unsure whether he really did or didn't.
She was inclined to believe he did not.
"Yes, so glad," replied Judith. "Perhaps eat a little more slowly so you can savor the flavors at the banquet."
Noah nodded.
Anne watched him with a fiery look growing in her eyes.
Jeremy and Charles each ate their portion and wanted more.
"Please excuse me," Noah said after sitting long enough for conversation to resume, planning his unwanted banquet.
When he departed from the table, Anne excused herself and followed.
"I should see if he needs assistance getting about," she explained as an excuse.
Truthfully, she wondered where the Duke was going and wanted the opportunity to tell him all that was wrong with his behavior while it was fresh in her mind.
"Your Grace," she called after him.
But it was as though he was drunk. He seemed not to hear her and stammered through the house.
"I need to get out of here," he said.
Anne wasn't sure if he was speaking to her or himself.
"No, you need to return to the table and apologize," she reprimanded. "Those ladies may whisper and gossip, but they are here to show you kindness, and you should reciprocate their gesture."
"I need air," Noah said.
"You need to do better at living up to your station," Anne replied, prepared to argue. "What sort of gentleman refuses the hospitality of others as much as you do? How do you think this will look to those ladies? Not to mention each person they are sure to talk to and tell prior to the banquet we will now be throwing you."
Noah found his way to the rear door of the house leading to the garden and said, "I'm asking you to please return inside."
"No, perhaps you should have to plead for small requests as we have all had to do with you," Anne spat, continuing to follow, though the Duke weaved and turned every time the garden path had opportunity.
"I'm warning you," he said.
"Warning me of what," Anne replied, refusing to back down.
When the Duke of Grandon, Noah Campbell, paused to expel all the contents of his stomach, Anne came to a full stop and even stepped back a little.
"Of that," he said, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his mouth.
After he spat a few times and wiped his mouth once more, Anne apologized, "I'm sorry. I did not realize you were feeling unwell."
The Duke only shook his head.
"Is there…" Anne paused looking for the right words.
She felt she had somehow caused what the Duke was experiencing now.
"Is there anything I can bring you?" she asked. "Is there something I can do, Your Grace?"
"Next time, you and everyone else can take me at my word when I insist on declining. As I said, I need to excuse myself," he replied.
Anne didn't speak. She only nodded and remained in place as the Duke walked away. After a moment, she returned inside to find that Esther and Judith were preparing to leave.
"Thank you for coming," she said.
"Yes, thank you for the cake," Charles said.
"And the pie," added Jeremy. "I think, now, I am ready for an afternoon nap."
"I'll walk you to your room, Grandfather," Charles said.
Anne sat down at the table and looked over the food. She sniffed her slice of cake and tasted it. She sniffed her slice of pie and tasted that as well.
"I don't understand," she said to herself. "Esther and Judith are perfectly good cooks. These smell and taste well enough. No one else is nauseous."
Anne couldn't figure out what caused the tension at the table or why the Duke took ill, but for the moment, rather than press the matter, she cleared the table. Then, she decided to go to her room and rest as well. Their impromptu luncheon had been exhausting.
After walking the grounds for some time, Noah returned to Reedley Manor.
"Can I bring you some tea, Your Grace?" Peggy asked when they crossed paths as she dusted.
"No, thank you. Peggy?" he asked.
"Yes, Your Grace," the maid replied, surprised he learned her name.
"Peggy, would you please bring a glass of brandy to me in the parlor?" he asked.
"Of course, Your Grace," Peggy replied.
Noah continued his walk to the parlor, looking forward to getting off his wounded leg.
I've no doubt set my recovery back immensely, he thought. I feel as though I've swollen until my bandages might rip, but I needed the fresh air to clear my head.
As he reached the sofa and ottoman that he had claimed for himself during his stay, Noah sighed aloud with relief. He felt as though his body melted into the couch cushions, and placing his heel upon the ottoman brought as much relief as it had the night of his arrival.
The only thing better was the first sip of brandy when Peggy handed him his glass. She thoughtfully brought the decanter and placed it on the table nearest him.
As he finished the glass, Anne entered the room.
She did not speak and neither did Noah until he poured a second glass of brandy.
"I have a problem keeping things down," Noah admitted, feeling ashamed.
"I beg your pardon?" Anne asked, not sure she heard him correctly.
"I struggle to eat, and when I do eat, I have a hard time not having an episode like you saw earlier," Noah stated.
"I don't understand," Anne said, looking confused. "You ate dinner. You were fine at breakfast."
"I know, and it surprised me that I managed that, enjoyed it even," Noah admitted.
"You didn't seem ill," Anne said, trying to make sense of the Duke's explanation."
"I wasn't." Noah replied. "Not until I ate the desserts."
"But Esther and Judith are both excellent cooks," Anne replied.
"That may be, but their cooking doesn't agree with me. Very few people's food does. That is why I was so resistant to eating when I first arrived," he explained, taking a long sip of his drink and avoiding looking at Anne.
"Why do you think this happens to you?" Anne asked.
"I don't know. The doctors believe it is a manifestation of my anxiety. Since my father passed and I assumed the role of Duke of Grandon, this has been my life," he explained. "I've had food sensitivities since I was a child, but it worsened around the time I stepped into his role."
Anne nodded and was silent for several minutes.
Then, she asked, "So you never eat?"
"I have found a cook that is tolerable, but I don't eat very much or very often. To limit the risks, she cooks from a limited menu with little more than salt and pepper to season anything," Noah said.
"That sounds dreadful," Anne replied.
Then, she quickly clasped her hand over her mouth and said, "I apologize, Your Grace. It's just cooking has been something that has connected me to my mother since she passed, and meals together brought our family through my parents' passing and the transition to Charles and I living here."
"I understand," he replied. "I can see where meals with the family you have left could be a comfort."
Anne smiled meekly but wasn't sure what she could say.
Finally, she said, "I'm nervous to offer you such rich foods, or anything really, for dinner now."
"Yours has been the first food I have been able to keep down and enjoy since I was eighteen," he confessed. "I am feeling much better and look forward to joining your family at the dinner table this evening."
Anne felt pleased by such a compliment, but she still felt concerned.