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“That is fine,” he muttered and ate.
“Do you have any artist you prefer? I noticed the portrait of you with your mother and sister, which is lovely. He made your mother’s radiance shine.”
“Yes.”
“So, you do not have a person in mind?”
“No, whomever you choose is fine.”
He felt very distant and cold and I did not understand why. Did he not want me to talk about the painting? Or maybe he did not want to speak about his mother. Fine. I would focus on Emeline.
“Tomorrow, I will go into town. Emeline, would you like to join me?” I asked as she lifted a carrot to her mouth and paused.
“Into town?” Evander cut in, a grimace on his face. “Whatever for?”
“Tradition,” I replied, not sure why he was looking at me like that. “I was taught that a new mistress of the house gives gifts to the tenants and goes to town, so the people may see and get to know her—well, me. Did you not hear me last night? I asked if it was acceptable to give bread.”
His continued confounded gaze told me he was not aware of a word I had said, which made me wonder. Had he ignored me the whole night, and I did not realize?
“You wish to give them bread?” he asked.
“Not just bread, it is more like a basket of goods with bread, jams, fruits, and other things. They are preparing them now,” I explained.
“If the servants are already preparing the baskets, can they not make the deliveries themselves?” he questioned as he lifted his glass to his lips.
“Does that not defeat the point if I am not there? It is I who am familiarizing myself to them,” I asked in return.
“I do not see why that is needed.”
I was quickly growing annoyed by this. “I do not see why it is a problem.”
He frowned, leaning back in his chair. “It is merely unsafe for you to wander, Aphrodite.”
“Wander? Is this not your land? How can I wander?”
He sighed as though I were being difficult. Before I could ask him the actual reason behind his objection, Wallace entered the dining room with a letter, reminding me we were not in private. I glanced at Emeline, who had now stopped eating altogether.
“Have the servants deliver the baskets on your behalf,” he said, rising from his chair, his eyes on the letter. “I must go. I will see you later this evening.”
He did not wait for either Emeline or me to respond before he walked out, leaving Wallace in the dining room with us.
“Is everything to your liking, Your Grace?” Wallace asked me.
“Yes, everything is fine.” It was not. But I could not say that aloud, nor was it fair to take my anger out on him or the staff.
“Your Grace?” Mrs. Watson said as she entered the room, hands clasped in front of her. “If you are finished, I can take the miss for her lessons.”
“No,” I said, seeing Emeline ready to move. I placed my hand gently on hers. “How about no lessons today, and we walk through the gardens?”
Emeline stared at me and then glanced at Mrs. Watson, who did not seem to approve.
“Your Grace, it is crucial that the young lady be devoted to her lessons—”
“Yes, I am aware, as I was once a young lady.” I rose, the footman stepping behind me to remove my chair, and I walked to where Emeline sat. “Lessons are fundamental, but so is family time. Emeline and I will take only an hour. In the meantime, Mrs. Watson, you can see to your duties as housekeeper. I have left a list of things that I require done. My lady’s maid might not be able to accomplish them on her own.”
She blinked repeatedly then nodded. “Of course, Your Grace. I shall see to them now and meet you both in an hour in the garden.”
“Brilliant, thank you.” I waited as she glanced at Emeline, giving her a small smile before finally choosing to go about her work. With her gone, I knelt beside Emeline, who sat as properly as she could, her hands clasped together in her lap, her lips clamped shut.
