Duke of Fyre (Braving the Elements #1)

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

A s midnight settled over Fyre Manor, Lydia found herself drawn to the study, where the portrait of Elias's late wife hung quietly on the wall. The candlelight flickered, casting a pale glow over the painting, and in the shifting light, the woman's eyes seemed to watch her, distant yet piercing, almost as if she were asking Lydia a silent question.

"Were you happy?" Lydia whispered, her voice soft as she reached out, her fingers barely grazing the edge of the frame. She felt a chill at her words, knowing this woman had been part of Elias's world in ways Lydia might never understand. "Did you love him? Or were you trapped here?"

A creaking floorboard made her whirl, hastily wiping her eyes, but it was only Mrs. Winters with an armload of fresh linens. The housekeeper's gray hair gleamed silver in the moonlight, her familiar presence somehow comforting in the strange intimacy of the hour.

"Oh! Your Grace, I didn't expect... that is..." The housekeeper's eyes darted between Lydia and the portrait, understanding dawning in her weathered face. Years of service had taught her to read the subtle currents that ran through the household, and something in Lydia's tear-stained face must have spoken volumes. "Shall I come back later?"

"No, please," Lydia managed a watery smile. "I was just... being rather silly, actually. Talking to portraits in the middle of the night like some character from a gothic novel." She attempted a light laugh, though it came out slightly shaky.

Mrs. Winters's face softened with understanding as she set down her linens. Her hands, worn from decades of service, smoothed the fabric in an automatic gesture. "Not silly at all, if you ask me. Many of us have spoken to that portrait over the years, wondering what might have been different if..." She trailed off, seeming to catch herself, years of discretion warring with what appeared to be a genuine desire to speak.

"If?" Lydia prompted gently, sensing something important in the housekeeper's hesitation.

The housekeeper hesitated, then seemed to come to a decision. Her eyes, wise with years of watching the family's private dramas unfold, met Lydia's directly. "Might I speak freely, Your Grace?"

"Of course." Lydia found herself holding her breath .

"Lady Barbara... she was a good woman, but there was no love between her and His Grace. Their marriage was arranged, you see, to secure an alliance between their families. They were cordial enough, but..." The housekeeper shook her head, old memories clouding her eyes. "Not like what I see between you and His Grace now. Never anything like that."

Lydia's heart skipped. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean." But her cheeks warmed, betraying her.

"Don't you?" Mrs Winters smiled knowingly. "Child, you must understand… I have known His Grace since he was a wee boy. And I saw what led to the monstrous masks he chooses to wear. It is not my place to tell you everything, but what I will say is this: for the first time in many years, I have seen glimpses of the man he used to be and that… Well that is something special indeed."

"Is it enough?" T he words were out before Lydia could stop herself and a deep blush rose to her cheeks.

"I just…" she tried to explain clumsily, "I just fear that I do not do enough."

"You do everything, dear," Mrs Winters encouraged her softly. "Young master Peter, His Grace… They are better with you here. You will see it too."

"

Lydia found herself blushing. "I... thank you, Mrs. Winters. Though I'm not sure His Grace would agree about all the changes."

"Wouldn't he?" The housekeeper's eyes twinkled with motherly wisdom. "Then perhaps you haven't noticed the way he smiles when you enter a room? Or how he touches the drawings Peter leaves in his study, when he thinks no one's watching? Or how he ordered the gardeners to plant more lavender because it's your favorite scent? The Beast of Fyre indeed - more like a man remembering how to smile again, if you ask me."

With that, she stepped away quite easily - though not without a last look in Lydia's direction.