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“Men, wrap as many breakables as you can inside the dresses.If it’s in this room, it belongs to the duchess.We are taking everything that isn’t nailed down.And I want someone to find a few miniature paintings somewhere in this mess.Everett, come with me.Coop, keep everyone moving.”
The children might be comforted by their things, too.In a new home, with a new father and new servants, who knew what might bring them happiness?Matthew grabbed the top covers from the now empty beds.Books, toys, a music box, more clothes.Their pillows and a small, well-worn blanket with frayed edges.By the time they were done, they had two more heavy bundles to load into the wagons.
Back in Rose’s room, his crew had cleaned the floor of nearly every garment.Two men had started to roll the Aubusson carpet, when a sound hitting the wooden floor revealed the two miniatures.Matthew retrieved them and tucked them in his pocket.
There were three pastoral paintings he removed from her walls.Those were individually wrapped in sheets, then bundled in a thicker quilt before being carted off to the wagons.Would Rose actually want them?If not, they would be on the next ship to New York City for an auction.Immigrants who couldn’t afford to take any belongings with them going to America could buy back some of their heritage—just another service he provided.
Every drawer was opened; every door cracked wide.If they had more wagons, he’d have carted off the furniture too.
When at last they were done, Matthew was the last to leave her room.Sandhurst’s butler waited in the foyer.
“Sir, this is the silverware from her mother and the candelabra from her grandmother.I’ll see if I can get Her Grace’s china to you in a few days,” the butler said quietly.“He will never know they are gone, because he never knew they were here.”
Matthew nodded, accepting the burlap sack.He flung it over his shoulder, looking like a thief in the night.Well, because in addition to all his other business adventures, he was also a thief.
At the carriage again, he looked in to see Rose’s head leaned against the plush squab.Her lids were lowered, but not closed.She still held Ava in her arms.There was room beside Rose.He walked around the carriage and entered from the other side, trying not to disturb them or rock the carriage too violently with his weight.
The burlap sack was lowered to the floor.She reached for him in the dark, squeezing his hand but saying nothing.All that care was for naught as the coachman cracked the whip and the horses jerked the carriage into motion.Matthew’s arm went across the seat to hold Rose and Ava from tumbling off the seat.His other hand went across the aisle and landed on Elaina’s hip, keeping her in place.
He’d wager that Rose had purchased more than she bargained from Madame DuPuis.
* * * * *
Rose’s second marriagehad started as badly as her first marriage had ended.Chaotically, emotionally, fearfully.Edmond was a kind but weak man.Commonplace in England’s nobility, from her experience.It was Matthew Hardy who remained a complete mystery.
However, Cyril was a vicious and determined man.Cyril, past and present.What a contradiction.Gentlemanly as a young man when Edmond and Rose had married.Gentlemanly, but different.He hadn’t been with the family much while he was in the military, so she couldn’t say exactly why he was the way he was.What made one man boisterous and entertaining, another morose and frightening?
At some point since Edmond’s death, she’d realized her children were desperately afraid of Cyril.There’d been one too many outbursts from him.Good Lord.To think she’d considered marrying him.
When the carriage and wagons arrived at Highwood in Islington, a swarm of servants descended the majestic stairs to help the new arrivals.Without uttering a word, two matronly women had coaxed Elaina from the carriage, offering her a doll for her cooperation while another eased Rose’s tight grip from the still sleeping Ava.
“Come along, mistress.We’ll show you the children’s rooms.”
“Oh, no.They must be in the same room.At least for tonight,” she said, while looking around for Matthew’s direction.He was the only person here that she knew.This was his home, and these were his servants.She did not have a place yet.And she had only the authority of a wife, not a duchess, to command the servants.
“Of course.It will be as you wish.”A male servant took her arm along with the burlap sack Matthew had dropped in the carriage and her reticule, which she had untangled from her wrist and left on the carriage seat.
At the top of the stairs, she looked back to see Matthew talking and pointing as his orders were carried out with efficiency.Most of the trunks were carried down some side stairs into what was likely near the servants’ quarters.He had no time to see what she was about, even though it was their wedding night.
Once inside the foyer, a butler or majordomo said, “This way, Mrs.Hardy.All is prepared.”
“But how do you know who I am?Everything happened so—”
He held up his hand.“You owe us no explanation.Suffice it to say, Mr.Hardy told us a few days ago that we were to prepare for his new wife.And here you are.It seems in his excitement, he forgot to mention there would also be children.But it is no-never-mind.We will take care of everything.I’m Mr.Raleigh.Now, tell me your preferences for in the morning.What time you like to wake?When you like to eat?”
The cacophony caused confusion and she could only think of her children who were getting away from her as they were taken up the stairs.She was barely listening.“I need to go.”
“In a moment, Mrs.Hardy.Would you like a meal now?Refreshment?Or a bath?Clean clothes will be sent up shortly.Do you prefer a room with a door leading to Mr.Hardy’s room or one across the hall?”
“I—I don’t know.I just need to be with my children.”
Raleigh nodded.“As you wish.”
She took to the stairs, trying to catch up.Since Edmond died those months ago, her daughters were her anchor.When she’d told Matthew they were her life, she meant it.What else was there when Cyril saw to it that anything she thought was hers would be taken from her?He was determined to claim all things for Sandhurst, down to her children’s stockings.
Thank God for her dowry and the legal entitlement of dower.Thank God for her grandfather’s generous gift of property to Ava and Elaina.
The hallway went on forever.How big was the home?She passed several doors, all closed.At last, she heard her daughter’s chatter and a laugh.Before she could get through the door, two servants came down the hall carrying another bed.They pressed themselves against the wall then followed her in, followed by Raleigh, who was still giving her instructions to which she’d turned a deaf ear.
