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Then, without a sound, he slipped back through the adjoining door.

Chapter 10

Eliza awoke to the feeling of warm light. Almost forgetting where she was, she sat up instantly, waiting for the blur of her surroundings to materialise into clarity.

It was not a dream, she realised. This was very much real as she glanced around her room at Winworth, taking in the deep crimson furnishings and mahogany furniture in every direction. She was still in her wedding gown from the previous night, which meant she was very much still a wife.

Eliza climbed out of bed groggily, expecting to feel stiff after falling asleep in her corset, but the discomfort was absent. She reached behind her back and, as she rolled her shoulders, realised the corset had been loosened. She rang the cord by her bed hesitantly; she assumed it summoned someone, and only seconds later, Vinnie appeared.

"Good morning, Your Grace," she curtsied before correcting herself once more. "Forgive me... Eliza." She smiled. It seemed as though she was not the only one who would have an issue adapting to this new life.

"Good morning, Vinnie. Would you mind helping me change?"

"Of course." Vinnie was instantly behind her, making quick work of her dress.

"Now, I understand His Grace and the guests are in the dining room taking breakfast. Would you like to join them, or should I bring a tray up for you?"

"I can join His Grace for breakfast. Though I must confess, I have no idea where the dining room is," she said, lifting her arms as Vinnie pulled off her wedding dress and helped replace it with one of the two day dresses she owned. A simple pale blue linen dress with a thin blue ribbon beneath the bust. Her locket remained.

"I can show you where it is. You will get the hang of Winworth eventually. There are over two hundred rooms across the four wings. You could not be expected to learn them all in a day... at least, I hope not." Vinnie sobered, her expression turning sympathetic.

Eliza had seen that expression a great deal yesterday. It was the look people wore after glancing from Arthur to her. It was pity. With every action her husband took and every word he spoke, Arthur was methodical. She would concede that. He was also likely very demanding. She had heard those rumours. But the rest she had yet to understand. She sensed no threat in his company, and she had little reason to believe he was capable of being the monster the stories suggested.

Yes, the scars, unapologetically present on his face, alluded to a violent past, but she did not think they justified the rumours that painted him as bloodthirsty and inhuman.

And so, as she looked at Vinnie's sympathetic expression, she decided it was unwarranted. She trusted Arthur would not expect her to learn every corner of Winworth in a single day.

"That would be wonderful. Thank you."

As Vinnie finished helping her dress, she escorted Eliza through a dimly lit corridor, down two staircases and into a large dining room.

The dining room was a similar shade to her day dress, adorned with portraits and statues around the walls, but the far end of the room was barely visible as it remained plunged into shadows, as the final set of curtains had yet to be drawn.

In the middle stood a large walnut table and, by her estimation, each side could comfortably seat twelve guests. However, only three chairs remained on each side.

Seated at the head of the table, in the shadowed end of the room, was Arthur. His mother sat at the opposite end, bathed in morning light.

On the right-hand side sat Lord Benedict and the second gentleman who stood beside Arthur in the chapel. He wore a burgundy waistcoat over a crisp white shirt, and his blonde hair was short but neatly kept.

Everyone was so spaced apart she was surprised they could converse and still hear one another. As she entered, she turned to give Vinnie a little wave and when she turned back towards the table, all four had risen from their seats.

"Your Grace." Lord Benedict led the chorus of greetings before everyone resumed their seats.

She paused, looking at the empty chairs on the left of the table.

She pulled a chair away from the table and dragged it rather inelegantly closer to Arthur, closing most of the distance between them. Her cheeks warmed as the chair screamed in protest as it was dragged across the wooden floor. Once she had settled into her seat, she looked along the length of the table, craning her neck to see the Dowager.

"Good morning! My apologies, I hadn't realised everyone was awake. I must have been terribly tired." Eliza shared.

The Dowager looked at her with a neutral expression. It was as though she was carefully choosing her words. So Eliza turned to her right, where Arthur sat, only to find he was scowling at her. Again.

Perhaps he wasn't a morning person. She raised an eyebrow at him and he promptly lifted his newspaper in response. Eliza was close enough to read the headline, Tensions Rising in the North, but before she had time to ponder, Lord Benedict filled the silence.

"I am glad you managed to rest considering it was your wedding night, after all. I shall spare you the scandalous inquisition I intend to give Buck later this afternoon, as it is hardly suitable for a lady's ears, but I do hope you slept well?"

She grinned in his direction.

"I did sleep well, thank you. Which is rather strange, as I have never had a room solely to myself before," she admitted.