Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,37
Once or twice, she could swear she had caught his lips lifting in a smile.
The servants had come to adore her for her pleasant company and appreciative demeanor. They smiled when she appeared and took their time to converse with her.
In the beginning, she hadn’t realized how much she was starting to affect them. However, it was soon apparent to her that she was becoming a beacon of light spreading warmth throughout the dark, cold manor.
As this became increasingly evident, Amy tried to call her attention to it, advising her that it was not wise to make herself indispensable, as this was not their home, and they were bound to leave soon.
Amy’s words had very little effect, as the maid herself scarcely had time for Judith any longer. Out of gratitude, she had taken to helping the servants with their duties.
In her absence, Judith felt lonely and continued to seek camaraderie amongst the staff.
The terrible weather appeared to have ceased for good, and even though the sun had become an unchanging part of their days, repairs to the roads continued, so they still could not leave.
Judith sometimes wondered how it was possible to feel so much comfort in a home so strange to her.
She did not fail to realize that, in leaving Charleveaux, she sought adventure, and their time in Dunham had turned out to be exactly that. The manor had become an important part of her story, one she would tell her children and grandchildren. Her life had utterly changed from the uneventful wasteland it had used to be.
Other times, she wondered what it would be like if she chose to remain at Dunham. Of course, she was aware it was a foolhardy thought.
She did not belong there. Her family certainly would hear nothing of it.
Beyond that, she could not live so far away from home. They had only come here by chance, and no matter how homely Dunham was beginning to feel, the truth remained that they were nothing but strangers.
They did not belong here.
There was the matter of the master … he had said he would share his abode with her until it was safe to travel.
There was no reason for an unmarried lady such as herself to stay with a widower whose sorrows were boundless.
As she pondered these thoughts, she came to the decision that perhaps, it was time to start thinking and planning the rest of her journey.
The longer she remained here, the more her head would fill with such silly notions and hopeless dreams.
With this in mind, she rose to find Mr. Beauregard.
She found him where he often was, at the balcony in the east wing, smoking a pipe and listening to the birds’ chirruping.
He felt her presence before she spoke.
“A pleasant day, is it not, my lady?” He asked, not sparing her a glance. “These days, the fields are so beautiful. Dunham is truly remarkable. Things are changing. The hallways are brighter, the servants smile more, I no longer have need for my coat. Even the master’s countenance seems to have improved. It has been a while since we experienced anything such.”
As he stopped, he turned to look at her, dropping his head in a bow. When he straightened, he looked her in the eye.
“It does cause one to wonder, I’ll say.” There was that hint of a smile again.
Judith found herself wishing she could see him smile, if only once.
“How are you today, Lady Judith?”
“Very well, Mr. Beauregard, thank you.” She had heard his words loud and clear and now held his meaningful gaze. She could not help but wonder if he was trying to tell her something.
He nodded.
“May I help you?” he asked again.
It was her turn to bob her head. “Very much so. You have always been helpful, Mr. Beauregard, and I thank you for every kindness.” She paused to drag in a breath.
“I simply wanted to ask if you know how far the men have got with the road repairs and if you will soon be able to tell me when we can leave.”
His brows raised. “Already weary of our company, my lady? You should not be in such a hurry to leave. I have come to see that the people of Dunham would miss you. You have made such a mark during your visit.”
Judith smiled, feeling her heart flutter with warmth. Mr. Beauregard was not the kind of man to offer flattery. For this reason, she took his words to her heart.