The next morning, they were greeted with a message from the duchess that she would be available to discuss the changes in the house at eleven thirty.
The Rollinses arrived promptly at ten o’clock. After Theo introduced Mr. and Mrs. Rollins to Leo, they went to the attic then to the next floor down. “What would you think about moving the schoolroom and nursery to this level and expanding the servants’ quarters? I want to keep a wall between the male and female areas and add a bathing room to one end of each part, and heating.”
Mr. Rollins spread out the architectural drawings of the house on a bed. “There are fireplaces in the nursery and in the schoolroom. It would not be difficult to build another fireplace in the other side of the floor.”
“Excellent.” That was one problem resolved. “We then need to add a schoolroom, nursery, and other rooms for art, music, and rooms as the children grow older.”
“Such as at Worthington House,” Mr. Rollins said.
“Precisely. I have no idea how many children we will have.” Hopefully, not eleven. Then again, that was two families combined.
“That will be the easy part. You will want the nursery some distance from the schoolroom area. So as not to disturb sleeping babies.”
“Yes, indeed.” That was something no one had considered when the Worthington House children’s floor had been renovated to match the one in Stanwood House. When Gideon had come along, they had to rearrange some of the area.
“What happened?” Leo asked.
“The children were too loud, and they woke the baby.” Theo shook her head remembering the first time they had awoken the baby. “Grace moved Gideon down to be near she and Matt until the Season had ended. Then they renovated the floor.”
Mr. Rollings tapped the drawing. “Did you know that you have a staircase leading from the floor below to this one?”
“I did not.” Leo leaned over the plan. “Theo, look at this. It makes no sense. The stairs go from the room my mother is using to”—he stepped over to a part of the wall that bumped out—“here.”
Rollins went over and tapped on the wall. “I believe you’ve found it, your grace.”
It all made sense now. “I knew something was wrong with the way the rooms were arranged. The room your mother is in must have been the original duchess’s chamber.”
Leo nodded. “And, at some point, after one of those infamous arranged matches, it was changed.”
“Do you want to open it up again?” Mr. Rollins asked. “Its original use would have been to allow quick access to the children.”
“Yes.” Theo liked the idea a great deal. “Are there any other tunnels or passages in the walls?”
“I don’t think there are. The house was built in the mid-eighteenth century. Most of the tunnels existed before then. I’ll take another look when we go back downstairs, and I have designs for the other floors.”
“Just what we need. Secret passages,” Leo mumbled.
They would be exciting, but Theo had to concede they could be problematical as well. “It is better to know than not.”
“You’re right, my love.” He put his arm around her waist, drawing her closer to him.
“Speaking of decorating.” Mrs. Rollins grinned. “Let us discuss a color scheme for this level. It will probably be finished before the attics are.”
“I am quite partial to the colors at Worthington House.” Considering she had helped to select them. “I would like this to be the same.”
“Easily done. If you will show me the other rooms, we can discuss them as well.”
“Yes. We do not want to unnecessarily take up your time.” Theo led Mrs. Rollins to the stairs. “The main entertaining rooms are in good shape. But in other areas of the house, almost everything but the furniture must be refreshed.” Theo glanced at her brooch watch. “We must hurry. We are due to meet with the duchess in an hour. She would like to see what we are doing.”
Mrs. Rollins gave Theo a sympathetic look. “It must be difficult for you and for her. Your sister Rothwell’s mother was not happy over the modifications she decided to make.”
“I think she is resolved to the change. Chandos is making new living arrangements for her.”
Mrs. Rollins had left the fabric books she had made, in the family dining room where they were to meet with the duchess. The only real problem was that her grace desired to remain in Town for the rest of the Season, and Theo and Leo wanted to start the renovations as soon as they left for their wedding trip. That was not an easy task in the middle of the Season. He took her hand when they reached the hall.
“Have you found a house for your mother?”
“I believe so. Marrow told me that Lady Pettigrew is returning home after Sarah’s wedding. As long as we pay her for the amount of the remainder of the lease, Mama can reside there.”
