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"Then your health has been good?"
"Yes, of course. I am never ill, Honoria, you know that."
"You are too thin, my dear. Won't you have a sandwich?"
"I believe," said Lady A
The door opened and the footman a
The unkempt surly boy had undergone a surprising transformation. To be sure, he had outgrown his neat gray suit, so that his bony wrists protruded, and he was in need of a haircut, a fact that was even more apparent now that he had attempted to comb his hair. Still, Maria
In any other company this comment would have been the cause of spilled tea and exclamations of horror. The only one who appeared to be perturbed by it was the tutor, who had followed his charge at a respectful distance. He rolled his eyes heavenward. Then he bowed to the three ladies in turn. Each bow was a masterpiece of calculation, conveying abject reverence to the Duchess, courteous respect to Lady A
"Your Grace permits?" he inquired. "It were more respectueux to inquire first, but the Duke was anxious to pay his devoirs to Your Grace."
"I am sure he was," the Duchess said dryly. "Well, Henry, have you been a good boy?"
"Yes." The Duke flung himself into a chair and reached for a piece of plum cake. M. Victor looked wistfully at the love seat where Maria
Much later Maria
"The Duchess kept asking Henry questions which he did not bother to answer; he never took his eyes off me and I felt sure he expected me to sprout bat wings and fly up the chimney at any moment. Lady A
Henry finished off the cakes. No one reproved him for making a pig of himself or for scattering crumbs all over the carpet. When the food was gone he jumped up, interrupting the Duchess in the middle of a question.
"I'm going now. This is dull. I thought she would do something exciting. Come on, Victor, I want to play chess."
"I shall retire as well," Lady A
Fluffy promptly proved her premonition to be correct.
After they had gone and a footman had tactfully dealt with Fluffy's misdemeanor, the Duchess sighed. "Poor A
"Very true," Maria
"If you will excuse me," the Duchess said, "I believe I will dine in my room tonight. I have letters to write and business matters to deal with. Would such an arrangement suit you? We do not usually dine en famille; Henry is really too young, and his mother…"
"A tray in my room would suit me admirably. I am a little tired."
"Amuse yourself as you like," the Duchess said. "The music room and the library are in this wing, but I advise you not to explore farther than that tonight. The older parts of the castle are dreary and a little frightening after dark."
"Please don't worry about me."
"Then I will say good night. Oh – I usually attend church in the village. The people like it; but you need not join me tomorrow unless you like."
"I would be glad to go to church," Maria
When the Duchess had gone, Maria
Here she walked for some time, admiring the changing sunset light on the high mountains that could be seen beyond the wall.
The Duchess's abrupt decision to leave London for this remote Scottish castle had not troubled her initially. She had no idea what matters, business or personal, might have motivated such a decision. Now that she had met most of the members of the household she was ready to eliminate natural affection as a motive. The Duchess was not related by blood to any of them, so it was no wonder that her strongest emotion toward one and all was a sense of responsibility. Certainly duty might have prompted this visit, but the more Maria
Maria
A now-familiar pang of guilt touched her as she remembered her old friend. Really, she must write Mrs. Jay. Roger Carlton had mentioned that he had spoken with Maria
I will write tonight, Maria
This apartment was not difficult to find, for the comforting lights ended abruptly just beyond its entrance. The door had been left open, no doubt on her account, and the room was adequately lighted. It was like a fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast," in which the captive maiden was attended by thoughtful but invisible spirits.