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She did not know what to say in response to that, and wished there was more air in the hall. Something scratched the floor near her feet, and she started. A slight whimper came and when she looked down, she found the most adorable brown Newfoundland.
“And who might you be?” she asked, kneeling beside the dog.
“That is Cato,” her husband said brusquely.
“How do you do?” She held her hand to Cato, the palms facing up. To her surprise, he placed his paw upon her palm.
“Oh!” Belinda gasped. “He rarely goes near strangers, but he positively fancies you.”
“Well, I am no longer a stranger, now am I, Cato?” She smiled at him, feeling as though she had just made a new ally. Cato inclined his head as if he could understand. Perhaps he did.
Bridget straightened and looked up at her husband. There was amusement in his eye, and his mouth held a smile. Could her interaction with his dog have endeared her to him? Lander stepped forward and whispered something to him, which abruptly changed his demeanor.
“I must attend to a matter in the brewery,” he said to her. “Please excuse me.”
She wanted to ask him if he would be present at dinner, but he had already donned a hat and was walking out the front door, a footman on his heels with his greatcoat in hand. That was when Bridget truly noticed how long his chestnut hair was as it blew in the wind.
Mrs. Piper ushered the servants away, and Belinda took her arm. “Allow me to show you to your new chambers. The duchess’s chambers.”
“Of course. Thank you.”
Cato followed them, getting ahead and leading the way at some point. “I rarely hold superstitions but I believe you will bring good fortune to this family, my dear,” Belinda said as they turned in the hallway that led to the west wing of the castle. “Cato is a very wary dog, bless him.”
“I truly hope so, Belinda,” Bridget smiled. “And I want to thank you for receiving me well.”
“Oh, bless you. I know how abrupt my nephew is.” She turned and quickly explained. “He is not at all what people say.”
“I believe that,” Bridget assured her. The duke was mysterious and brooding, but she could understand that there must be a great reason behind it. And she would unravel it, she promised herself.
“Here we are,” Belinda said when they arrived at a door that Cato was waiting in front of. “Do open it,” she encouraged, and Bridget did.
She found herself in a beautiful set of chambers with features that were not as dark and worn as the others.
“I shall leave you to settle now,” Belinda said. “Come, Cato.” Cato crossed the room to the fireplace and sat on the rug, disinclined to follow Belinda. “Well, then.”
Bridget smiled, appreciating the dog even more.
She explored the chambers when she was alone, and it was larger than she thought with the dressing room almost as large as the room she had occupied earlier. A door in the bedchamber caught her attention, and she went to it. She found it was locked when she tried to open it and supposed that it might lead to the duke’s chambers.
A small flutter started in her stomach at the thought of him visiting her through that door, and her skin felt hot.I must not think of such things at this moment, she admonished herself.
When evening came, Bridget anticipated seeing the duke, but when she arrived at the dining room, only Belinda was present.
“Will the duke be joining us?” she asked as she took her seat at the end of the table, which was quite far from where her companion sat. Such formality was unfamiliar to her.
“I am afraid not. He expressed his regrets.”
“Oh.” She felt her face fall. The smile she had seen him wear earlier had given her hope, but it was ebbing now. If he would not deign to eat with her, she doubted he would visit her chambers tonight too. Perhaps it was a good thing.
Belinda stood and came to sit in the chair on her right, a footman coming to set the place for her.
“Have you been to Suffolk before?” she asked, and Bridget knew it was an attempt at diverting her thoughts, and she appreciated it.
“No, I have not.”
“There is much to see. We have one of the best prospects in England. The village of Daventon is a good place to find all manner of things and people.”
“I look forward to an adventure here, then.”
