Page 34 of The Duke Who Claimed Her

Claude looked at her as if searching for the lie. No doubt he thought she was trying to trick him; if he revealed something she did not appreciate, she would dismiss him. But Arabella was sure to smile, appearing perfectly innocent, determined to make him trust her.

“Well… It might be nice if there was another cook on hand,” he said carefully. “Only, there are times when I am run off my feet, is my meaning. One more cook, even an apprentice of sorts, would make all the difference. It would certainly make my life easier,” he finished with an awkward chuckle.

“That is quite reasonable,” she said. “I will see it done.”

“Truly?” He blinked in surprise.

“Yes,” she laughed. “I do not see why not? If it makes your job easier, does that not benefit everyone?”

“I suppose it does…” He narrowed his eyes, still unsure.

“I will speak to His Grace—no.” She stopped herself, furrowing her brow, taken by a sudden desire to put her foot down. “I do not need to speak to him. I will arrange it myself.”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Claude said with exasperation. “You are too kind.”

She shrugged. “Just doing what I can.”

It felt good to help. It felt important. And as Arabella spoke to each member of the staff, she searched for small ways that she could show them, and herself, that she was in charge.

As she met the staff, she was also introduced to the young woman who would be her lady’s maid. Her name was Anna, she was just twenty, had only started working at the estate six months earlier, and was a bundle of nervous energy.

“I am so pleased to meet you… Your Grace,” she stammered helplessly, hardly able to look Arabella in the eyes.

“As I am you,” Arabella said. “There is no need to be so nervous.”

Her eyes were sharp blue, and they widened in fright. “I am so sorry! I did not mean it.”

“Nor is there a need to apologize,” Arabella laughed. “We are going to be seeing a lot of one another, Anna. So, we ought to be able to speak honestly, no? Perhaps we will even be friends.”

“Friends?” she said the word as if she did not know its meaning.

“Yes, friends,” Arabella said with a warm smile. “Mrs. Robertson has told me so many good things about you, I cannot wait to see the truth of them.”

As Anna seemed unsure about the concept of friendship, Arabella was just as unsure. She had no true friends, as sad as that was to say, and the idea of having one in her life excited her. Further proof that she was changing.

“Mrs. Robertson said that?” Anna’s smile was hesitant, but it reached her eyes, and Arabella saw the pride in them.

“Does that surprise you? I hope not.”

“No, Your Grace.” She shook her head vigorously. “I am… good at my job.” She nodded firmly. “I will do you proud.”

“I know you will.”

What pleased Arabella most of all was when Timothy joined her toward the end of the morning. He must have gotten word of what she was doing, and he eagerly stood by her side as she spoke to each staff member, acting as if he were in charge.

“We should dismiss someone,” he said to her at one point.

She laughed. “And why would we do that?”

“To show that we are serious!” he said as if it were a matter of fact. “So that they are scared of you.”

“But I do not want them scared of me,” she said to him. “I want them to like me. Believe me when I say that kindness works as a better motivator than fear.”

“You think so?” He did not look convinced.

“I know so,” she said to him. “If you can gain a person’s affection and their trust, they will do anything for you.”

“I never thought of it like that.”