Read Online The Duke's Love by Stephanie Maddux - Free Book Online
Authors: Stephanie Maddux
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dusting. The whole day was chaotic. There were servants scurrying everywhere.
The Ashbury estate was a huge castle. It had two wings, which held thirty rooms each. The servants even had the ir own luxuries below stairs. The estate was situated on a hundred acres of wooded land. Katherine’s favorite place on the grounds was the spacious garden with stepping stones leading to the pond. It was entailed to her eldest son , and she wanted him to make it his permanent home there, as she and her husband had once done. A dream perhaps , but the dower house was only down the lane and Jordan ’s country home was on the neighboring land. It was perfect for the close -knit family they had once been . By the time she had completed the preparations and then was satisfied, it had been a long night , and she was worn out.
Ana knew she could not hold off leaving any longer. They needed to get going if they were to arrive at Ashbury at a decent time. How could she have let Eliza talk her into this? She was nervous and excited at the same time. The prospect of spending time with Jake made her feel like a girl fresh out of the schoolroom. She was thankful Eliza was with her.
“Calm down, you’ll be fine , ” Eliza said in a soothing tone.
“Why did I let you talk me into this? I can just foresee disaster waiting for us . I bet he doesn’t even know I’m coming.” Ana had a bad feeling Jake had not been told.
“What is the worst that can happen? You can’t hide from him forever , ” Eliza said.
“We need to leave. It ’ s a long journey to Ashbury , ” Ana directed the statement to the maids, sidestepping the statement . It was hectic getting the luggage into the carriage and making sure, they had brought everything they needed. Eliza, Ana and the maids , all climbed into the spacious carriage and with a jerk, the horses started out to take them closer to the place that filled her with trepidation .
“What time are your parents to arrive?” Ana asked her friend.
“Oh, I’m not sure ; t hey should be there before us. We did after all leave late , ” Eliza pointed out.
“Of course. The more people there will help put distance between me and the Duke , the better .” Ana said crisply.
Eliza didn’t reply. Ana sat and listened as Eliza and the maids prattled on about a little of everything, from the weather to the latest gossip . She smiled thinking how she and Eliza had always talked openly to the servants She never felt they were below her station in any way . The servants were people with feelings just like her and it also made everyone more relaxed.
Ana had no room to judge , after all. She was lucky that she was independently wealthy. Her solicitor made excellent investments on her behalf. It made up for not being married and having children. She often thought about adopting , but she was a single female , so that was out of the question. She had also thought about marrying someone who already had children , but no one had come close to her expectations.
“What are you thinking about , Ana? You’re frowning , ” Eliza’s question brought her out of her thoughts.
“I’m just thinking about how horribly this could turn out, ” she answered with a twitch of her mouth . There was no thinking about it ; it was going to turn out horribl y .
“Don’t worry, it is only for a couple of days, then you will be back home and back to your old life.”
Ana already knew her life would not be the same after this weekend. “I think I am going to move to my house in the country and get a dog to keep me company.” On the other hand, she still had her cat. Jake was not a cat person and they had disagree d at times about what pet they would get for the children they would have together. It was a bittersweet memory the day he surprised her with a kitten and naming the precious thing together. Allie was now three years old.
Ana thought about other memories of Jake and their time together. They had so many plans for
The Ashbury estate was a huge castle. It had two wings, which held thirty rooms each. The servants even had the ir own luxuries below stairs. The estate was situated on a hundred acres of wooded land. Katherine’s favorite place on the grounds was the spacious garden with stepping stones leading to the pond. It was entailed to her eldest son , and she wanted him to make it his permanent home there, as she and her husband had once done. A dream perhaps , but the dower house was only down the lane and Jordan ’s country home was on the neighboring land. It was perfect for the close -knit family they had once been . By the time she had completed the preparations and then was satisfied, it had been a long night , and she was worn out.
Ana knew she could not hold off leaving any longer. They needed to get going if they were to arrive at Ashbury at a decent time. How could she have let Eliza talk her into this? She was nervous and excited at the same time. The prospect of spending time with Jake made her feel like a girl fresh out of the schoolroom. She was thankful Eliza was with her.
“Calm down, you’ll be fine , ” Eliza said in a soothing tone.
“Why did I let you talk me into this? I can just foresee disaster waiting for us . I bet he doesn’t even know I’m coming.” Ana had a bad feeling Jake had not been told.
“What is the worst that can happen? You can’t hide from him forever , ” Eliza said.
“We need to leave. It ’ s a long journey to Ashbury , ” Ana directed the statement to the maids, sidestepping the statement . It was hectic getting the luggage into the carriage and making sure, they had brought everything they needed. Eliza, Ana and the maids , all climbed into the spacious carriage and with a jerk, the horses started out to take them closer to the place that filled her with trepidation .
“What time are your parents to arrive?” Ana asked her friend.
“Oh, I’m not sure ; t hey should be there before us. We did after all leave late , ” Eliza pointed out.
“Of course. The more people there will help put distance between me and the Duke , the better .” Ana said crisply.
Eliza didn’t reply. Ana sat and listened as Eliza and the maids prattled on about a little of everything, from the weather to the latest gossip . She smiled thinking how she and Eliza had always talked openly to the servants She never felt they were below her station in any way . The servants were people with feelings just like her and it also made everyone more relaxed.
Ana had no room to judge , after all. She was lucky that she was independently wealthy. Her solicitor made excellent investments on her behalf. It made up for not being married and having children. She often thought about adopting , but she was a single female , so that was out of the question. She had also thought about marrying someone who already had children , but no one had come close to her expectations.
“What are you thinking about , Ana? You’re frowning , ” Eliza’s question brought her out of her thoughts.
“I’m just thinking about how horribly this could turn out, ” she answered with a twitch of her mouth . There was no thinking about it ; it was going to turn out horribl y .
“Don’t worry, it is only for a couple of days, then you will be back home and back to your old life.”
Ana already knew her life would not be the same after this weekend. “I think I am going to move to my house in the country and get a dog to keep me company.” On the other hand, she still had her cat. Jake was not a cat person and they had disagree d at times about what pet they would get for the children they would have together. It was a bittersweet memory the day he surprised her with a kitten and naming the precious thing together. Allie was now three years old.
Ana thought about other memories of Jake and their time together. They had so many plans for
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