Page 3 of Duchess By Condition
She nodded to the man. “I’m Lady Violet, yes.”
“Your arrival has been highly anticipated,” he told her. “My name is Williams. I’m the butler here.”
“I didn’t realize there would be staff waiting for me at this house,” she admitted. “I’ve brought my own lady’s maid along—I hope that won’t mean displacing anyone.”
“Not at all,” he assured her. “We haven’t had a lady of the house in some time, and your late aunt’s lady’s maid has gone to work in the kitchen—where, I assure you, she is very happy. So you can certainly install your own maid. The household budget should be more than enough to cover her.”
So she was to have a budget for the household as well. Perhaps that was something Violet ought to have known—but then, when would she have learned? She had never managed her own household before. “Thank you, Williams,” she said. “I’d like to look at the ledgers later, if you would be so kind as to help me with that.”
“Certainly.” He nodded. “But right now, perhaps you would like to be shown to your room?”
“Very much,” she agreed. “I’ve had a long journey.” Not to mention the last few days in her father’s house, which had exhausted her emotions. She had always known, of course, that he didn’t really want her there, but before now it had never been quite so overt. Suddenly, there was no ignoring the fact that all he really wanted was to be rid of her.
Well, I’m sure you’re happy now, Father. I’m out of your life for good.The thought of collapsing into a bed and sleeping for a very long time sounded absolutely wonderful. It would probably be the best sleep she’d had in years, she mused, because she wouldn’t have to worry that she wasn’t really wanted. There was nobody inthishouse who didn’t want her here. This house was all hers.
For the first time since all this had begun, she felt a flurry of excitement. Her father had not intended to give her a gift, but he had done so just the same.
Her life here was going to be good. Peaceful and good.
No sooner had the thought taken shape in her mind, though, than a young boy came sprinting into the room. Violet couldn’t even process what she was seeing at first. The child skidded to a halt in front of her, folded his arms across his chest, and scowled up at her.
“What is she doing here?” he demanded.
Williams sighed. “Master Noah, you know the answer to this. You were told that Lady Violet would be coming.”
“And I told you that I don’twanther here,” the boy snapped. “Make her go away!”
Before anyone could react, he had reached out and shoved Violet with all his might—which wasn’t that much, all thingsconsidered. He couldn’t have been more than ten years of age, and he was small and slight. Violet staggered back a step, more out of surprise than anything else—he hadn’t hurt her. He turned and ran off in the direction he had come.
She and Williams both watched him go. “I’m mighty sorry about that,” Williams murmured.
“Who was he? The son of a member of the staff?”
“No…” Williams sighed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “He was your aunt’s ward.”
Violet frowned. “Aunt Margaret had a ward?”
“She did. She took him in a couple of years ago. Gave him a home after his mother abandoned him—the poor thing was living on the street before he came here. It was in her will that he should go on living here at the estate after she died, and that the staff was to care for him. We wouldn’t have put him out anyway. None of us have the heart. But…he stays with the house.” He gave Violet an appraising look. “The law states that he can’t be turned out.”
“I wouldn’t have tried to do so,” Violet assured him. She was far too sensitive to the subject of being turned out of one’s home to do it to anyone else, especially a child who hadn’t done anything wrong. “He really doesn’t seem to want me here, though.”
“Perhaps not, but he has no more choice in the matter than you do,” Williams said. “The house is yours, and you are entitled to live here. I fear the two of you may be stuck with one another.”
Violet squared her shoulders. “That’s all right,” she said firmly. “We can manage that. Of course it’s disruptive to him to have a new person living in his house. I wouldn’t expect anything different. But he’ll get used to me, and we’ll find a way to get along together.” She sighed. “I think I had better go find him and talk with him. He must be shocked by everything that’s happening.”
“I think he’s still heartbroken, Lady Violet,” Williams told her. “When your aunt died, it was particularly difficult on him. She was all he had in the world, the only person who had ever shown him love or kindness. We’ve tried to take care of him since then, but he has no trust in any of us. He wants nothing to do with us. He runs wild, and I don’t think anyone knows quite what to do to help him or bring him to heel.” He shook his head. “Maybe you’ll have the magic touch. I don’t know. Maybe you’ll be the one who is able to change that boy’s life for the better. All I know is that he needs someone to make the attempt.”
“Well, I’ll do my best,” Violet said firmly. “Do you think, Williams, that you could arrange for someone to take my things up to my room, so they’ll be there for me later? I really do want to speak to the boy right now. He should understand that the two of us finding a way to get along is a priority for me.”
Williams nodded. “Of course,” he said. “We’ll see that all your things are brought up. And when you’re done speaking to thechild, you can come and find me, or any other member of the staff, and we’ll take you up to your room as well.”
“Thank you,” Violet said with a smile.
“I’m sorry things have been so hectic on your very first day,” Williams said. “I know this isn’t what you were expecting when you came here.”
“But in truth, I had no idea what to expect,” Violet told him. “It was always a question. I was always unsure of what it would be like to be here, to be the lady of a house I haven’t seen in years. This is just one more unexpected thing, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. In fact, I rather like having something I can work on, because at least I know what needs to be done. At least I know that I need to make the boy comfortable with my presence here.”
Williams smiled at her. “You are going to be a wonderful addition to this house,” he told her. “I think you’ll find Master Noah out in the garden.” He pointed. “Thats where he usually goes when he runs off like this.”
