Page 31 of A Highland Duke to Claim Her Heart

Ewan inclined his head. “I think painting lessons would be perfectly… appropriate.”

“Speaking of appropriate,” Cassandra said, a small smile twitching at the corner of her mouth, “I was hoping that you might accompany me to the Midsummer Festival this weekend. I think it is important for the new Duchess of Calder to make an appearance and show the community that she is involved in its upkeep and continuation.”

Silence had filled the hall, and Ewan could feel his face growing warm as all eyes stared at him. He knew what they were all thinking. He knew that his absence at the festival had been noteworthy, gossiped about even, among the locals.

Cassandra held his gaze, her own steady and unflinching.

“Will you accompany me?” she asked.

And before Ewan could stop himself, before he could even think, he found himself nodding.

“Yes,” he said, “I will accompany you.”

Was it just his imagination, or did a small smile of triumph flicker across her lips at his words?

Chapter 12

The Midsummer Festival was more beautiful than anything Cassandra could have imagined. As she entered the town square of Calder Village on the duke’s arm, her other hand holding Annabelle’s, she could not help the gasp that escaped from her lips.

The whole square had been decorated for the festival. Bunting had been hung from the wrought iron lampposts, each of which was also adorned with garlands of Highland heather.

At stalls along the square, women were selling beeswax candles, seamstresses offered gloves and shawls, a woman had flower crowns for the children, a toymaker boasted wooden toys for sale, and there were more food vendors than Cassandra could count. The smells of steaming pork pies and roasting lamb filled her nose, and her mouth immediately watered.

Around the square lanterns had also been set, the candles inside flickering and casting a warm, orange glow over the pathways. Families moved along these paths, children running ahead of their mothers and fathers, who walked arm-in-arm, admiring the displays.

In the center of the square, games had been set up. There were sack races, croquet, an archery range, and a path for racing games. The children were already gathering there to partakein a relay race, and as Annabelle spied this, she tugged on Cassandra’s arm.

“Can I join in, Cassandra?” she asked, her voice filled with longing. “It looks so much fun!”

“You have to ask your father,” Cassandra said, looking sideways at the duke. He had not spoken much since they had left the castle for the village, but he turned now to his daughter and nodded gravely.

“Be careful,” he intoned, barely finishing the words before Annabelle had released Cassandra’s hand and dashed forward, her hands raised high in greeting. Many of the village children knew her, and they screamed with delight as she joined them.

This caught the eye of their parents, and faces began to turn in Cassandra and the duke’s direction. She could almost feel the tension in the air, the eyes that burned into them, the curiosity and the whispers. The duke, according to Lillian, had not been at the Midsummer Festival in five years. And now he had appeared with a new wife on his arm.

No wonder people were staring.

Cassandra drew closer to the duke.

“Where should we go first?” she murmured. “Is it customary for you to greet one vendor before another?”

“I… do not remember,” the duke admitted. “Let us begin at this side of the square, and then we can move clockwise. That is always safe.”

They approached a man selling puppets, who immediately doffed his cap and swept into a low bow.

“Your Graces,” he said, looking up with sparkling eyes at the duke, then at Cassandra. “We are so honored that you are joining us this evening at the Midsummer Festival.”

“We are very glad to be here,” Cassandra said, smiling at the man. “And I am very honored to be welcomed by the village.”

“Indeed, we are delighted to make your acquaintance, Your Grace,” the man said. “We have heard so many delightful things about you already, from those who work at the castle.”

Cassandra felt her face heat. At the same time, she could sense the duke looking at her. She wondered what he was thinking: Was he glad that she was making a good name for herself, or did he think she was overstepping? He had not spoken to her much since their wedding night, and although she was trying notto take this personally or worry that she had done something wrong, it was hard not to let her mind wander.

“And you, Your Grace,” the man continued. “I must also extend my gratitude to you for helping my sister get to Inverness last year when she was expecting her twins. The pregnancy was quite difficult, and you paid to send her to your own personal doctor. She is doing well now, and the boys are healthy and happy.”

“It was no trouble at all,” the duke said, inclining his head. “I am glad to hear they are doing well.”

They bid farewell to the puppet maker and moved onto the next stall, which was operated by the village baker. He was selling rolls, pastries, and bread, and he gave them both some to sample after also expressing his deep gratitude that they had decided to attend the festival.