Once we are at Strathmore Castle and I can check on everything, I might be able to relax.
She snorted at her own thought. Who was she kidding? The first time she would likely draw a calm breath was when the very last Radley family coach disappeared over the castle drawbridge on its way back to London.
And that was going to be at least another three to four long weeks away.
ChapterFour
The Duke and Duchess of Strathmore’s travel coach crossed the Scottish border during the afternoon of its sixth day out from London. They were a day behind the stated schedule. Constant rain had flooded the road past Darlington, and the coach had been forced to join a long, slow-moving convoy comprising various modes of transport as it made its way north.
“We won’t make the castle in daylight at this rate. I suggest we head on to Edinburgh and stay there for the night. We have time if you wish to make it a longer stopover,” said Ewan.
No. I have too much to do.
Emma and Stephen both clapped their hands with glee. “Sweets from McNally’s in the High Street,” exclaimed Emma.
“More books,” added Stephen.
Ewan leaned over and smiled at Caroline. “You could do a spot of shopping. It would be nice to let you have a day out of the coach, stretch your legs. Besides, you always love visiting Edinburgh.”
Caroline was tempted to explain to her husband that she could stretch her legs as soon as they got to Strathmore Castle, but the delight on the faces of the children put paid to those words. Caroline simply gritted her teeth.
We are not having cross words in front of Emma and Stephen.
“Alright, but no more than an overnight stay. The rest of the family will all be shortly on the road. Alex and Millie were leaving London only a day or two behind us. I don’t want to arrive after them,” she said.
Ewan rolled his eyes. “Anyone would think we didn’t have a castle full of servants, not to mention a steward who I fully expect will have everything already arranged. Or did they all suddenly disappear?”
Caroline shot her husband a filthy look. “No, dear, they did not. I just want to make sure things are in place. That is part of my role as duchess.”
“I thought we employed half the village to do that work. How silly of me,” Ewan muttered.
Ewan saw things at a simple level, whereas to Caroline, there was quite a difference between making beds and deciding just who would be sleeping in them. The servants needed someone to make the decisions and give them their instructions.
You don’t seem to appreciate that hosting the family extends to a lot more than just clean linen and hot meals.
Caroline sighed with frustration. So many of the little things she did to make Christmas special went unnoticed.
* * *
To Ewan’s way of thinking, there was method to his madness in delaying their arrival. Edinburgh was a convenient way to push forward with those plans. He was privately hoping that some of the rest of the family did arrive at the castle before them. It would save his wife having to handle trivial matters such as who took what bed.
People can sort things out amongst themselves. I’m sure no blood will be spilt.
Caroline had already sent a preliminary list of the sleeping arrangements to his mother, Lady Alison, in mid-November, and that list would have been passed onto the castle steward, Master Crowdie, without delay. As far as Ewan was concerned, Caroline didn’t need to get involved in any of it. She was the Duchess of Strathmore, not the castle housekeeper.
She’s already had three family weddings to plan and host this year. That is more than enough work in my book.
Included in those nuptials was the wedding of their eldest daughter, Lucy, to Avery Fox. The betrothal and early days of that forced marriage had not gone at all smoothly. And while Lucy and Avery’s union had settled down and the couple had fortunately fallen in love, the stress of it had taken a huge toll on Caroline.
I just want my wife to be able to relax. To let someone else bear the worry load for a change.
Their concerns about the state of the Kembal family also preyed on Ewan’s mind, but he wasn’t about to raise that particular topic with Caroline—not yet. He had done as she’d asked and sent a note to Clifford the night before they’d left London. A brief ‘his Grace is not at home’ had been the blunt reply.
Clifford is a grown man. If he does not wish to be disturbed, that is his prerogative. This is all Anne’s fault. Why hasn’t she returned from Italy? She and Augusta should have been back by now.
Whatever his sister’s game was—and knowing the Duchess of Mowbray, there was one—Ewan was determined that his wife wasn’t going to be made to play along. Dealing with the dramas of the entire Radley clan shouldn’t be her main concern. Caroline had her own life and deserved to be able to enjoy the festive season.
I just want to see her smile.
