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The Duke Sent Her His 3 Old Aunts for Winter — By Easter His Duchess Begged a Seat at Their Table

The Duke Sent Her His 3 Old Aunts for Winter — By Easter His Duchess Begged a Seat at Their Table

Chapter 13

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She had never asked for the dower rooms. She had said once at dinner in the first week that the dower wing would make a pretty dressing room, and the next time she looked, it was empty, and nobody would tell her why."I thought there had been some sadness nobody wished to speak of," she said. "I did not know he had sent you away.""We know you did not," said Dorcas.And that was when the Duke came.He came to the kitchen door, not the front, with the rain running off the brim of his hat. He had followed his wife down the hill, and stood in the yard some time, it seemed, before he could make himself knock. He was a tall man of thirty-two in a navy coat, and he had his hat in his hand.And when he came in before them all, and saw his aunts in the high places at the table and his wife by their fire, he stood quite still, and his face went a slow, dark red from the collar up. The room fell quiet. Nobody moved, and nobody offered him a seat.It was Maud who spoke. "Your Grace," she said.He looked at her properly, perhaps for the first time: a tired woman of thirty with flour on her sleeve, soot on her cheek, and a blue jug of pennies in her hands. She held his look and did not drop her eyes."Mrs. Lowry," said the Duke, "I have come to ask what I owe you."
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The Duke Sent Her His 3 Old Aunts for Winter — By Easter His Duchess Begged a Seat at Their Table

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