A Spinster to Heal the Duke

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

I cannot believe we kissed, Anne thought as she woke up. I've hardly slept at all. Surely, I look dreadful.

She looked in the mirror.

Oh, dear. He shall never kiss me again if he sees these dark circles under my eyes, she told herself.

She leaned toward her reflection and looked at herself more closely. Still, she smiled. She could not stop smiling.

"He kissed me," she whispered to herself, placing a hand over her mouth to keep from squealing loudly.

"I must try to make myself look as nice as possible today," she said. "It was not an admission of love, but a kiss is still a symbol of feeling. He felt something strongly enough to kiss me and kiss me deeply."

Anne touched her fingertips to her lips.

Or perhaps only I feel so deeply, she thought.

She paused for a moment, feeling all the good and bad wash over her. Then, Anne decided to focus on the good. She dressed in her favorite blue day dress. She took a few extra minutes doing her hair, and she put a light dusting of blush on her cheeks with an even lighter stroke of rouge to her lips.

"Grandfather and Charles will surely say something, but if the Duke likes it, I do not care," she decided.

Then, she made her way downstairs, thinking of everything the Duke had seemed to enjoy most from the breakfasts she had prepared.

She moved through the house quietly, but one person still heard her every step. It was someone who had managed to get as little sleep as she had. The one on the other end of the shared kiss.

That is her, he observed when he heard her moving through the hall and down the stairs. She wakes so early each day. The Baron and Charles will be sleeping a few hours more. I could sneak down and see her.

Peggy is likely with her, the Duke reminded himself.

" "I couldn't sleep any longer and thought I would have a muffin and read a book or take a walk," he said aloud, testing it out.

I'll dress and take my chances, he decided.

The Duke put on his clothes, and like Anne before him, he made his way down the hall and stairs nearly silently. When he reached the landing, he was torn between going to the parlor and seeing Anne at breakfast or keeping to his plan and visiting her in the kitchen.

Then, he heard a voice say, "You're awake."

It was Peggy, the maid.

"Shall I let Miss Anne know you have come down?" she asked.

"Um…" the Duke started, faltering. "I hate to disturb her."

"I am sure it is no trouble," Peggy said. "Wait one moment, Your Grace."

Moments later, she was in the kitchen with her mistress.

"Miss Anne, the Duke is at the bottom of the stairwell."

"What?" Anne asked, turning so quickly she nearly knocked over the batter she had been mixing.

"The Duke," Peggy repeated. "He is awake, dressed, and downstairs. How shall I direct him?"

"Oh, hmm…" Anne considered. "I shall go speak with him. Please continue the plum cake batter then slice some ham and strips of bacon."

"Yes, Miss," Peggy said, straining to keep a smile from spreading across her lips.

Anne dusted her hands and removed her apron.

Then, she asked, "Do I look good enough to face him, Peggy? I did not sleep very well last night."

"You look lovely, Miss. Even more than normal," the young maid replied.

"Thank you," said Anne.

She felt reassured but also wondered if she would appear to have tried too hard.

Too late to do differently now, she thought.

As Anne left the kitchen and walked toward the Duke, she felt her heart beating hard and fast in her chest.

Steady girl, she whispered to herself.

When she rounded the corner, she found the Duke waiting.

"Good morning, Anne," he said, straightening his posture and smiling.

"Good morning, Noah," she replied, enjoying the feeling of addressing him as such.

His smile grew, and he stepped toward her quickly as though he might kiss her again. Then, just before touching her, the Duke restrained himself.

"I enjoy the sound of my name from your lips in your voice," he observed.

"I must admit, I enjoy saying it," Anne replied.

"Then, honor me by saying it once more," he requested.

Anne blushed then said, "Noah."

He took one of her hands in his then he placed the other over the back of her hand. They both looked at their hands. Anne's heart raced, so she remained for a few seconds before withdrawing her hand.

"I should make breakfast," she said. "What brings you downstairs so early?"

"I couldn't wait any longer to see you," the Duke admitted. "I could not pretend to sleep any longer."

"I have not had much sleep either," observed Anne. "However, I do not feel tired in the least."

"If you still feel that way this afternoon, will we take another stroll?" the Duke asked.

"That would be delightful. Maybe we could take a couple of baskets to the orchards," she suggested.

"I will be counting the minutes," the Duke said.

Anne was flattered. She had never been spoken to so flirtatiously, nor had she wanted to be. But with the Duke, she felt her heart quicken with every word.

"Did you want to join us in the kitchen? There is nothing prepared yet, but you could try things as they become ready," she offered.

"I would love to sit and watch you in your element and talk with you, but I will be patient and eat with everyone else," the Duke said.

"I am pleased just to have your company," Anne replied.

She made to return to the kitchen, and the Duke followed.

"Peggy, I will not disturb you if I sit at the table while you two prepare the meal, will I?" he asked politely.

"No disturbance to me at all, Your Grace," she replied. "You are very welcome to stay."

"Thank you," he said, sitting down at the table.

"Peggy, have you sliced the bacon?" Anne asked. "If you would like, I could fry a few pieces for you, Noah."

I wonder how he feels about me using his name around others, Anne thought. Peggy is the safest to try it with.

She looked at him, waiting for his response. He seemed happy to hear her say his name again.

"Thank you, Anne," he replied.

S he turned away with a smile, pleased that he responded well then glanced at the maid and saw that she was smiling, too.

Peggy placed a pan to warm and brought the bacon she had sliced to Anne. "I will slice a bit more," she offered.

"Thank you," Anne said.

When the skillet was hot, she added the meat. As the fat cooked off and it became crisp, she added a few quail eggs to the rendering. They sizzled quickly, and she removed them when they were soft-cooked.

"All you need is a bit of bread then you have a decent small plate," she said to the Duke.

"You did not have to do anything at all, but I am grateful," he replied.

When the plate was placed before him, the Duke offered his thanks again.

"Are you able to join me?" he asked.

"I might eat a piece of bacon, but there is more to prepare," Anne said.

He stood and pulled the opposite chair for her, and Anne sat with the Duke.

"I will excuse myself to get a fresh cloth and set the table," offered Peggy, taking the opportunity to give the two a brief moment of privacy.

"I wondered how you would react to my using your Christian name in front of someone," Anne admitted. "I thought better to see with Peggy than someone else."

"When I asked you to call me by my name, I wanted you to do so freely," Noah said.

Anne blushed. "I will," she said.

"Thank you. Now, share this delicious small plate with me, please. It has been prepared by the finest chef I know," Noah suggested.

They shared the sampling then Anne said, "I must return to preparing the meal."

"I imagine your brother and grandfather will be up soon as they retired rather early last night. I will go to the study and read for a little while if I can focus," decided Noah.

"See you breakfast," Anne said, taking the plate.

"See you breakfast," Noah replied.

As he left the room, Peggy returned.

"My timing is improving," she said. "So, something is brewing between you two then?"

"Peggy, I wish I could tell you," said Anne earnestly. "It seems so. That is all I will say for now."

"It's alright, Miss. Your faces when you two are together say plenty," the maid observed. "It is a good match if that is what it becomes."

"Thank you," Anne said with a smile, but as she turned away, she felt a brief pain in her chest.

I am living in a dream, she thought. I want so badly to enjoy it, but I cannot fully until I know his heart. If he returns to London and all that is between us ends, I will be shattered irreparably.

"Are you all right, Miss, or just lost in romantic daydream?" asked Peggy, observing her.

"I don't know, Peggy," Anne replied.

In the Duke's presence, it was hard not to be swayed by his glances across the table at meals or his charm when they talked along their walks. Anne knew without question that with each passing day, she was growing more in love with him.

As the days passed, she also watched him grow still more comfortable with her family and at Reedley Manor.

Noah, Charles, and Grandfather have fallen into step with one another. They seem to enjoy their routines and time with one another just as I enjoy our walks and stolen moments, Anne thought one morning.

They had finished breakfast, and rather than teaching Charles, the three of them were discussing the improved ledgers.

"I believe we can hire more staff than I originally thought," pointed out Charles. "And sooner, too. I think we can afford at least four, and if we place them strategically, we can take on a few more in six months to a year."

"Reedley Manor will see a great turnaround thanks to you. Well done," Noah praised, patting Charles on the back.

"No, thank you for helping me see it all more clearly. A better understanding has made all the difference," said Charles.

"To celebrate, I shall take us all to town," offered Jeremy. "We can spend the afternoon strolling the shops."

"I feel your celebrating will cost us the wages of one person I could hire," Charles said with a laugh.

Jeremy shrugged, "Perhaps we start with three instead of four. I still say we should bring out the carriage and go to town, even if only to be out for the day."

"I could order some of what we will need sent to the assembly for the banquet," Anne suggested. "Charles, you could celebrate by getting a few confections, or you could purchase a nice hat for when you meet with people."

Charles rubbed his chin and thought.

"A hat would give me more of an air of authority," he considered.

But their planning was interrupted by a knock at the door. It was heavy and in rapid succession.

"Are we expecting anyone?" Jeremy asked.

"I do not believe so," replied Anne.

"No," said Charles.

The Duke settled in his seat and said, "Oh no," under his breath, but Anne heard him.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I believe I know who it is," he said.

The knock repeated, louder and faster this time.

"Who?" asked Anne.

"Let us answer it and see for ourselves," suggested the Baron.

By the time they stood, Peggy had already answered the door and a woman's voice came through the house.

Then, the maid entered the room and said, "Lady Diana Campbell, sister of the Duke of Grandon, is here."

The words had hardly left her mouth when a tall slender woman with the same green eyes as Noah entered the room. She had light red hair and exuded an elegance that Anne felt she could only dream of.

"For as long as your absence has been, I expected to arrive and find you bedridden, brother," she observed.