AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The only reason Lady Nora acts out is because she misses her mother and her father—well let’s just say that he hasn’t been the most present after his wife passed away,” Mrs. Cooper said. “At least that’s what I’ve heard from the servants.”
Carmen nodded. It was unfair to Nora that she had to grow up without a mother. “The Duke must have loved his Duchess very much.”
“They got along very well,” Mrs. Cooper said. Carmen didn’t know why, but she didn’t feel too good to hear that answer. She didn’t know what else she had been expecting. The man had her portrait hung over the mantel of his study. She must have been the love of his life, only to be snatched away in a terrible turn of events.
Carmen dismissed these thoughts as Nora approached them. She had changed into a bright red frock and her hair was combed back in plaits. “Let’s go then, shall we?” Nora asked with a beaming smile.
* * *
It was a good day to have a picnic, Carmen had to admit. As the carriage rocked towards the park, she tried not to notice the Duke sitting on the seat just opposite her. He was trying just as hard to ignore her, his eyes firmly fixed on the window and the scenery outside.
A terrible jolt shook the carriage and almost yanked Carmen out of her seat. She fell upon the Duke’s lap and in her attempt to scramble away, made her skirts tangle around his shoes. “I-I’m sorry, Your Grace,” she stammered when she was deposited back on her seat. She heard Nora giggle beside her and then a stern shush by Mrs. Cooper. “It’s fine,” Arthur replied grimly. After that silence reigned inside the carriage.
So much for staying away from him, Carmen thought to herself. She had practically landed on his lap again even though it wasn’t her fault. She sullenly stared at her skirts; her fingers clutched around the curved handle of the plush velvet seat to avoid a repeat of the disaster.
They passed through the gates of St. James’s park and Carmen almost forgot about the incident. The park was in full bloom of green, caught in the lap of spring and summer. She could see people in large hats and elaborate gowns taking a stroll in the garden trail.
The sun sat heavy and square on her shoulders as the carriage doors opened and they stepped out. But Carmen didn’t mind at all. She took a deep breath, smelling the wild grass. It was a beautiful day. Nora was equally delighted at the sight.
“Can we feed the ducks, and oh, there’s a fountain that we simply must visit,” she said, her hands clutched to her chest.
Carmen smiled. “We’ll do all of that, milady but I suggest that you calm yourself first. We need to set up the blankets for the picnic.”
“Right,” Nora said. “The picnic, of course. I know I had breakfast only a few hours ago but helping with the sandwiches must have made me hungry again.”
Carmen chuckled. “I suppose you can have one before we go exploring the park. If that’s okay with Your Grace.” She turned around, expecting the Duke but found him still inside the carriage. She walked to him and peeked inside. “Why aren’t you coming out?”
“I’d rather not,” he said shortly.
“Why not? Are you afraid you’ll catch the sun? It is quite warm out here, but I think the color will do good on you.”
The Duke narrowed his eyes at her. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I mean everybody needs some sun now and then,” she said.
Arthur made a face. “I get enough sun by myself, thank you very much.”
“Suit yourself,” she said with a frown. She didn’t understand why he was behaving in this manner. It almost seemed like a pretense to her now that she knew what kind of man he really was. But if he was going to be a stubborn ass, there wasn’t much she could do about it. She walked back to Nora and together they started looking for a good picnic spot, finally settling over a plush grassy knoll. There were many families around them enjoying the lazy sun and the spring wind that ruffled the tree branches. In the distance, the lake’s water glistened, and the sound of laughter drifted up to them. Carmen smiled to herself. It was a good day, and she hadn’t had many of those recently.
They settled over the blankets and Mrs. Cooper started to take inventory of the fruits and sandwiches they had brought over for the picnic. “Isn’t his grace going to come out?” Carmen asked, watching the motionless carriage in the distance.
“He doesn’t really like to be out and about,” Nora said shrugging. “He mostly avoids going out and when he does, it is to only meet his friend.”
“Nowhere else?” Carmen asked in a puzzled voice. Nora shook her head. Carmen thought back to their last conversation when the Duke had admitted that he had a similar ailment to her. Could the two things be related? And could that in turn be related to his utter dislike of music? There didn’t seem to be much in common between the two, but she couldn’t help but wonder…
Two prairie dogs ran up to them with their tails wagging. A boy followed them with a stick in his hand and a little girl about Nora’s age came up from behind him. He approached Nora with a smile. “Want to play fetch with the dogs?”
Nora stood up before either Carmen or Mrs. Cooper could stop her. “I would love to.”
“Don’t go too far,” Carmen called out after her as she ran beside the dogs and the boy. They looked harmless enough. Carmen watched as they played together. She hadn’t seen Nora look as happy as she did when she played with the two children and their yapping dogs.
Mrs. Cooper cut a few pieces of apples and handed one to her. “Here,” she said.
“What about the Duke?” Carmen asked.
“He’ll be here when he wants to be,” Mrs. Cooper said. “There’s not much we can do about it.”
* * *
