The Duke’s Guests Laughed as the Maid Fell Into the Lake — She Said, “I’ll Remember Every Face”
Chapter 10
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Clara stood very still. The letter felt as heavy as a stone in her pocket. "What was he like?" she asked softly. She knew the answer, but she wanted to hear him say it.The Duke smiled for the first time. "Loud. Very loud. He laughed so hard at dinner that the glasses shook. He was terrible with money and wonderful with people. He knew the name of every servant and every tenant and every horse on this estate." He paused. "He used to take me riding every Sunday, just the two of us. The morning he died, he asked me to come with him. I said I was too tired." He was quiet for a long moment. "If I had gone with him that morning," he said, "I might have seen the strap breaking. I might have done something.""You were a boy," Clara said. "It wasn't your fault.""No," the Duke said. "It was the groom's fault. John Doyle. That's what they told me. He was careless with the saddle, or worse. Some people said he did it on purpose because my father had scolded him the week before." He shook his head. "I never understood that. Doyle was the one who taught me to ride. He was always kind to me. But the judge said he was guilty, so I suppose he was."Clara's throat closed up. She could not speak. She turned away and pretended to dust the bookshelf so he would not see her face."Forgive me," the Duke said behind her. "I don't know why I'm telling you all this. I haven't spoken of my father in years. Not to anyone.""Perhaps that's why, Your Grace," Clara said without turning around. "Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone who doesn't matter.""Is that what you think? That you don't matter?"She turned. He was looking at her with an expression she did not understand: something warm and serious at the same time."I'm a housemaid, Your Grace.""You're the only person in this house who has asked me about my father in 15 years," he said. "Everyone else is too afraid of upsetting me, or they simply don't care. You did both: you cared, and you weren't afraid." He took a step closer. "That matters to me, Clara."It was the first time he had used her Christian name. Clara felt the color rise in her cheeks. For a moment, neither of them moved. The sunlight fell between them across the dusty floor. Clara could hear her own heart.Then a bell rang somewhere in the house, and the moment broke. The Duke stepped back and cleared his throat. "I should go. Lord Vane wants to discuss the wedding arrangements."The name hit Clara like a slap. "Your Grace," she said quickly before she could stop herself, "Lord Vane... was he close to your father?"The Duke looked surprised. "Like a brother. They grew up together. After my father died, Edmund handled all the estate business until I came of age. I don't know what we would have done without him." He smiled. "Why do you ask?"