Page 16 of To Steal a Duchess

It made her dizzy, being so high up on the cliffs, but she loved how the wind wiped her face, and Eloise smiled, perhaps for the first time that day.

“I am ready,” she said, finally turning away from the lighthouse that piqued her curiosity, and the cliffs that enticed her.

She had to ignore their siren call for now. Eloise was well aware of literary works that spoke of how the water was a tempting mistress, calling to sailors and, apparently, curious ladies alike. Eloise had always ached to be near the sea, for she loved it, but now she had to resist it a little longer.

“Then come,” the duke told her, leading her toward the mansion. “Do give my staff nods of gratitude. They have prepared endlessly for your arrival.”

Eloise wouldn’t have dreamed of doing anything different, for she knew how hard staff worked to keep a household running, but she nodded anyway, following her husband.

Inside, lining the main entry hallway, maids and stewards lined the walls, the maids with their hands clasped before them, and the stewards with their hands held behind their backs. Eloise followed Dorian’s instruction, nodding and even saying a formal greeting to some of them.

Finally, she came to the housekeeper, judging from her different uniform of a long, gray dress and lack of an apron. She looked more proper, her chin lifted, but her eyes were kind, though sharp. Next to her, an older man was proudly waiting to be acknowledged.

“Duchess, this is Mrs. Hale, and Mr. Forster, Oldcliff Hall’s housekeeper and butler. They shall be your primary staff to go to should you need anything. From there, you have, of course, your lady’s maid from Wittby House⁠—”

Eloise spun around, astounded she had missed Emily, caught in the crowd of maids. She stepped up from her place among the other girls, blushing but smiling.

She curtsied deeply. “Your Grace.”

Eloise could only stare at her, remembering she was indeed a duchess, and she was no longer just the daughter of an earl.

“Emily,” she regarded softly. “It is good to see a familiar face.”

“I would not go anywhere you don’t.” Emily gave her a kind smile, and Eloise wanted nothing more than to embrace her, this friend in a strange, new, upside-down world. Instead, she turned back to Mrs. Hale and Mr. Forster.

“Welcome, Your Grace.” Mrs. Hale curtsied. “Oldcliff Hall has stood proudly for generations, and we continue to do our utmost best to maintain it, and adhere to any requests from yourself or His Grace. Should you need anything, as mentioned, do not hesitate to come to us. I handle more of the household general duties, whereas Mr. Forster shall be your go-to for any day-to-day needs.”

“I shall be aware, thank you.” Eloise inclined her head again.

“Your Grace.” Mrs. Hale faced the Duke. “Should I show Her Grace to her rooms⁠—”

“No need,” he said abruptly. “You may all return to your duties, and you—” He glanced at Eloise, and she fought a flinch at his tone, at the look in his eyes. “Will follow me.”

“But—”

“Follow me.”

He was more commanding than he had been in public, and Eloise had the sense that something had worn his patience until it frayed over the day. Maybe it had been the fuss of the day itself, or maybe he had never intended to take a wife, but her request for his help had made him feel forced to save her from a scandal, cementing him in a position as a husband he had never wanted.

Who was she to trap a man in such a way?

But you did not mean to, she told herself. He made his own choices. You merely asked for help, like his other customers.

Eloise knew she was not responsible for his honor or pride, but what sort of life was she entering now?

Deep down, she had wanted love.

Love and adventure intertwined, but as the heavy main door closed behind her, the slam echoing, she worried she had perhaps not only trapped the duke but herself, too.

Her chest tightening, Eloise followed him down the endless hallway, past many closed doors. Only two of them remained open: the drawing room and the library.

Eloise’s footsteps slowed as she noticed a tall, glass-doored cabinet in the drawing room full of model ships and lighthouses. There were even some trinkets of wave sculptures, blue curves of the water ending in white foam, ready to crash over a swimmer.

Eloise’s heart skipped a beat at the sight, but the duke had already strode further down the hallway, stopping at a particular door. His stare bored into her as he waited for her to hurry to his side.

“Something catch your attention?” he asked.

“Nothing at all,” she said quickly, not ready to expose her love of ships and just anything to do with adventures that sang from the open seas.