A Spinster to Heal the Duke

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

" I 'm sorry to wake you early, Peggy, but I want to leave with everything we need to take to the assembly as early as possible," Anne said to the maid.

"It is no trouble, Miss," replied Peggy. "It is better for us to start early, so we have time for mistakes and things to be corrected than to start late and be overwhelmed."

"The biggest mistakes have already been made," observed Anne. "But it will be okay. We will get through today then tomorrow and each day going forward."

"What happened, Miss?" Peggy asked with concern. "Did we forget to order something or did that Lady Diana request some last-minute change?"

"No, nothing quite like that, but some things have certainly changed. No bother now. Let's just pack up what we need then when we are nearly ready, we can send Charles to prepare the carriage and drive us," said Anne.

"Yes, Miss," replied Peggy.

She eyed her mistress with concern but did as she was told. Anne moved quickly, deliberately, and with focus to keep herself from crying. She was so attuned to what she was doing, she didn't realize Noah had entered the kitchen until she nearly careened into his chest.

She shrieked a little as the dish she had been carrying fell to the floor between them and shattered.

"Did I startle you?" he asked.

"No," she said then she corrected herself and said, "I mean yes. I mean, I'm a little busy now."

"So, you do not have time for a quiet moment together this morning?" he asked, looking disappointed but understanding. "Is there anything I can do to assist you in some way?"

"No," Anne said quickly then in a more even tone she explained, "Peggy and I are nearly done. I need to wake Charles to run all these things to the assembly."

"I could drive you," Noah offered.

"No, thank you. You should stay here and rest. You will need to be at your best this evening," Anne said moving past him. "Peggy, I am going to tell Charles to get ready. Please, sweep this up for me."

"Yes, Miss," Peggy replied.

"All right, then," said Noah, seeming uncertain how to fill the time he normally spent alone with Anne sharing a sample of the morning meal.

"Thank you," Anne replied.

"I'd like an extra dance on your card," the Duke said jokingly, but Anne only continued to hurry out of the room.

"Is everything all right this morning?" he asked the maid. "I know there is a lot to do, but she seems different, distracted."

"I don't know, Your Grace," Peggy replied with a shrug.

As she began to sweep, the Duke excused himself to the parlor. When it was time to leave, Anne told Charles to meet her and Peggy at the back door to avoid having to interact with Noah again.

It is easier to avoid him if I can be somewhere he isn't. That is fine for now while I am here, setting up, but what will I do during dinner? He will be seated at my right hand. Hopefully those seated nearest us will chat him up. But what will I do after we dine when everyone is dancing and enjoying entertainment? Anne thought to herself.

Anne's thoughts continued in this way for the duration of the carriage ride. She knew she could not spend the evening in the kitchen with Peggy and other maids hired for the evening. She had no desire to even attend anymore, but she didn't know of a way out of a party she was hosting.

As food was cooked and tablecloths and decorations were placed, Anne watched the clock, dreading the hour of the banquet drawing closer. Soon, she would need to leave preparations to the staff to get dressed. While she once looked forward to an opportunity to be in Noah's arms, dancing through the evening, now she wished he had never arrived in Reedley or knocked on the door of Reedley Manor.

"Peggy, please leave Esther and Judith's staff to manage down here. I need you to come upstairs and help me dress," she said to Peggy.

"Yes, Miss. I've just finished adding the ribbon to the last floral arrangement. Do you like it?" the maid asked.

Anne waved a hand and began walking toward the stairs.

"Honestly, Peggy, I'm sure everything is lovely and as it should be, but I don't feel well enough to think about it," Anne said.

"Are you sick, Miss?" Peggy asked.

"Not in any way that would excuse me from my duties this evening's festivities," Anne said.

The two women went upstairs and entered a dressing room where Anne placed her dress for the evening and a few things to style her hair.

"You seemed out of sorts this morning, and now, I know something is wrong. Do you want to talk about it? What can I do for you?" Peggy asked as she shut the door behind them.

"No, thank you. I don't believe there is anything anyone can do, but I will be all right in time," Anne said.

Peggy made a sympathetic face.

Then, she said, "Very well then. For now, we will pour all our attention into how beautiful you will be tonight. You may not feel your best, but you can certainly look it."

"Thank you, Peggy, truly," Anne replied, holding back tears.

"Of course, dear," said Peggy. "Now, have a seat, and I'll fill the wash basin. You can freshen up, put on the sweetest smelling lotions and perfumes, and then we will sort out your hair and makeup before putting that lovely gown on."

Anne nodded. She followed Peggy's instructions, and it calmed her.

She felt somewhat soothed until Peggy stepped back from her dress and said, "There we are, dear — pretty as a portrait."

Anne looked at her reflection and felt beautiful. She also felt an ache in her chest with every breath and every beat of her heart.

"I'll go see to things downstairs. Do not be long. Guests will be arriving any minute," Peggy said. "Whatever is wrong, it will be okay."

"Yes," agreed Anne, smiling at the maid.

Once Peggy was out the door, Anne took several deep breaths and steeled her nerves.

"The sooner the evening begins, the sooner it will end," she told herself.

Then, she exited the room to go downstairs as well.

It seemed people were excited. From the top of the stairs, she could see many of the attendees had already arrived and were socializing. She followed Diana's example and forced what she hoped was a pleasant smile and began to greet small groups of men and women.

"Miss Anne Drowton, you look lovely," one person said.

"What a beautiful gown, Miss Anne Drowton," another said.

"You have planned an excellent soiree," said still more.

"How long until the Duke arrives?" asked several.

"Thank you, and I'm not sure," Anne heard herself echo from one conversation to the next.

She couldn't enjoy any of the compliments, and by not being at the house to see what was going on there, she could not answer any questions about the Duke's arrival. She was both relieved and distressed when the arrival of the Duke, his sister, and her family was announced.

She was fraught with emotion but did all she could to maintain a calm demeanor. The Duke was quickly flocked by people wanting to see him and speak with him, so Anne was spared from interacting with him until it was time to be seated.

Anne called Lady Diana Campbell, Sister of the Duke of Grandon, to the table first. Then, she called the other ladies to the meal by order of seating, since they were not of rank. She entered when the last of the ladies had gone before her. Then, the Baron did the same for the men.

Once they were seated, Noah whispered, "I have been waiting all day to see you dressed for the evening, and I feel I have been waiting all night to get a moment to be near enough to tell you how beautiful you look."

His smile was charming and the look in his eyes seemed sincere, but Anne did her best to control her response.

"Thank you," she said, almost stoic.

Noah tilted his head and looked surprised.

"Are you still anxious about the party like this morning?" he asked. "I assure you everything is perfect. All of your efforts were not for naught. Everything looks beautiful, and people cannot stop telling me that this is the best event that has been thrown in Reedley in some time. I would even say it is among the most beautiful I have attended, and I know the food will surpass them all."

"You are too kind, Your Grace," said Anne, looking away.

Noah frowned a little and looked even more confused.

"Are you addressing me this way because we are among others? I assure you, Anne, no matter where we are or who we are with, I still wish you to call me by my Christian name," he said. "If your concern today has been how our behavior should be here, I hope we can be as we have been, Anne and Noah. Nothing else matters."

"Some things do," Anne replied.

Noah looked like he would have asked what she meant, but at that moment, the wife of an officer she had seated to his right decided to engage him in conversation as well.

"I am so excited to be seated next to you, Your Grace," the woman said. "My husband is a major in the king's army with a distinction of Commission by the Royal Artillery."

"I am sure King George and all of England appreciate his diligence," replied the Duke.

"Thank you, Your Grace. He is looking forward to an opportunity to speak with you this evening. He said he saw you as he travelled once, and you seemed very serious. I would say from this evening, you can be quite relaxed in the right environment."

"I should hope so, otherwise word would spread that I was the dullest member of society, and I wouldn't be invited to anything else," Noah said.

He and the woman laughed together, and Noah looked at Anne for a moment before giving the major's wife his attention again. She couldn't help a small smile. He was polite, engaging, witty, and handsome.

She tried to be considerate of the guest seated to her left and be a more sociable version of herself as well.

As the first course was cleared from the table, Anne felt she was managing well until she rested her wrist at the edge of the table. Just briefly, and so discretely, Noah's hand grazed against hers before he withdrew it. When she looked at him in shock, he only smiled at her adoringly.

"Wine please," she requested, holding her glass.

Steady, girl. You're shaking, she thought, looking at her hand.

With a few sips and deep breaths, Anne composed herself once more and managed to get through the meal.

"Second remove done," she whispered to herself when the table changed again.

"Finally, through with dessert," she murmured when the last remove was gone.

When everyone retreated for dancing, Anne saw Noah making his way toward her as promised for the first dance.

When he reached her, before he could offer his arm, she introduced him to another young lady.

"Your Grace, this is the wife of our rector," she said. "Excuse me while I tend to a matter in the kitchen."

The rector's wife and Noah both looked confused as they politely introduced themselves to one another further, and Anne walked away quickly. She found a quiet area in another room rather than going to the kitchen. Then, she pressed her back to a wall, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

"This is too much," she told herself. "I think I need to just excuse myself and return upstairs."

She braced herself to brave the dance floor and find her grandfather, but as she reentered the area, Anne saw the Duke laughing and playfully dancing with a young girl, a child of no more than eight or so. The sight was somehow both touching and heart wrenching.

Then, Noah seemed to sense her presence or Anne's eyes upon him. He slowed his dance and smiled broadly at her. Somehow, his expression, the sweet sight of him and the small girl had been the last Anne could take of trying to hold herself together.

She could feel her face warm and a sting building in her eyes until the first tear began to fall.

"Excuse me. Pardon me," she said, making her way around the perimeter of the room toward the front door of the assembly.

She continued until she was in the cool night air. Then, she let every tear she held that day fall.

Moments later, Noah's voice rang from behind her.

"Anne, what is the matter? Are you all right?" he asked, coming to stand before her and looking almost sick with concern.

Anne wiped away a tear and said, "I'm all right. Return to the party. All of this is for you. The people of Reedley are here to spend an evening celebrating the Duke of Grandon."

"I'm here to spend time with Miss Anne Drowton, but I feel I haven't had a moment with you all night. Please, talk to me. Tell me what is wrong," Noah insisted.

"I know," Anne yelled. She took a breath and repeated, "I know your secret."