Read Online A Duke Deceived by Cheryl Bolen - Free Book Online Page B

mourning, my dear, I want to have the biggest ball ever thrown at Hedley Hall to show you off.”
    The duke knew the road well, and as they neared their turnoff, he tried to calm the rapid beating of his heart. “After the next turn, my love, you will see your new home.”
    She moved to look through the window. The road they traveled split into two long roads that approached the magnificent Hedley Hall from either side and formed a semicircle which met at the pedimented portico entrance of the symmetrical three-story building. The afternoon sun struck the building in such a manner that the stuccoed brick walls looked golden. The building stretched across a neatly mowed park, and chimneys and dormers jutted from the roofline.
    “It’s so beautiful,” she said softly, squeezing his hand.
    Her reaction pleased him very much.
     
    In anticipation of meeting their mistress, the liveried servants lined up inside the grand marble entrance hall. Her husband had informed Bonny he kept but a skeleton staff, so she was quite surprised to find that staff numbered more than twenty servants, including a new girl, Marie, whom he had instructed Mrs. Green to engage as Bonny’s personal maid.
    As she stood in the massive entry hall with its thirty-foot ceiling and chandelier with hundreds of lights, Bonny’s chest tightened. She had never felt so insignificant, so lost. A vicar’s daughter was as ill prepared to run this...this palace as a stable lad to become a king. She had made a terrible mistake. She would bring embarrassment to her husband. Her eyes scanned the thick scarlet carpet that ran up the broad marble staircase. She looked at the French tables with porcelain vases and the Carrara Roman statues. She knew so little of such treasures. Why couldn’t she have fallen in love with a simple country squire?
    She looked at her husband and swallowed hard.
    The upper servants—Carstairs the butler, Mrs. Carstairs the cook, Evans the valet, Mrs. Green the housekeeper—were introduced by name; the others merely smiled politely.
    After introducing the new duchess to her staff, the duke said, “And this is the duchess’s cousin, Lady Emily.”
    “Lady Emily! We received a post for you,” Mrs. Green exclaimed. “It’s right over here.” She fetched the letter and gave it to Emily, who took it with shaking hands and read.
    “Mama demands that I come home at once.” Emily’s voice revealed her agitation.
    Bonny stepped toward her cousin, and Emily handed her the letter. Written immediately after Lady Lucille read the duke’s marriage announcement in the Gazette, the hastily written missive accused Emily of failing to suitably impress the duke and ordered her to come home to try to repair her situation.
    Radcliff watched Emily look entreatingly at Bonny, then he asked Mrs. Green, “What room have you made ready for Lady Emily?”
    “The green room, your grace.”
    He dismissed the servants, then offered his wife his arm as he led her toward the west wing. “I will show you the main house later, my dear.” Turning to Emily, he said, “When would you like to return to London?”
    “As soon as possible.”
    Their voices echoed in the vast room.
    “My carriage is at your disposal.”
    “That is very kind, your grace. I should like to depart early tomorrow, then.”
    “Oh, Em, are you sure?” Bonny asked disappointedly. “You’re welcome to stay here, isn’t she, Richard.”
    “For as long as she likes,” he said.
    “No. I really do need to get back.” Emily’s eyes held Bonny’s. “I have a very strong longing to get back to London. There are things there I miss very much.”
    They walked along a broad marble hallway, lit by a row of sashed windows.
    “If you will just show me to the green room, I shall rest,” Emily said. “I’m quite tired from the journey.”
    Bonny moved to Emily’s side and slid an arm around her cousin. “I am so very vexed with myself for allowing you to make such a long journey in