The Duke's Secluded Bride (Marriage by Fairytale Book 5) Read online

  “No,” she replied. “I’d rather do it myself.”

  “All right. I’ll have the maid bring your dinner in a couple of hours.” Andrew turned back to Baldwin and the vicar. “We should let her get that bedchamber ready.”

  Baldwin seemed ready to say something when Andrew added, “I’m sure the vicar is tired after the long ride here. I should take him to the drawing room and let him rest.”

  “It would be nice to sit,” the vicar admitted.

  “Then it’s settled.” Andrew started to lead the two gentlemen down the hallway and called out to her, “The night will go fast. Before you know it, it’ll be morning.”

  Though she couldn’t be sure, she thought she saw a flicker of disappointment on Baldwin’s face, and that made her heart give an unexpected flutter. Maybe he was as excited about seeing her again as she was about seeing him.

  When Baldwin called out, “I look forward to returning,” that only confirmed her thoughts.

  She smiled and waved.

  Her brother turned from talking to the vicar and gestured for Baldwin to follow him. Baldwin joined the two gentlemen and walked down the hallway. She supposed she should go to the musty bedchamber that was closest to hers, but she opted to watch them.

  She watched them as they passed the rooms. She watched them as they went down the stairs. She didn’t take her eyes off of the staircase until she heard the door open and shut, letting her know she was, once more, alone.

  Chapter Seven

  “I don’t mind helping her clean the bedchamber,” Baldwin told Andrew after dinner as they played a game of chess. He’d done his best to hold back the urge to say anything sooner, but he was getting more and more anxious to see Dinah again. “I realize you wish to have everything clean and ready for me because I’m a guest at your estate, but I really don’t mind doing some light housework.”

  The others had retired early for the night, leaving him and Andrew alone in the drawing room, and their absence made time creep by even slower. Baldwin tried not to glance at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room, but his gaze unwittingly went to it. It was only eight. The evening was still early. Much too early. And the last thing he felt like doing was playing chess.

  Andrew moved his knight before taking a sip of his brandy. “The last thing I want is for you to clean. You’re not a maid. The only reason I’m allowing my sister to clean your bedchamber is because she has insisted many times that she clean the rooms instead of the maid. Once in a while, she’ll allow the maid to clean, but she will run off and hide in the corner of that library.” He paused. “You know how it is. She was hiding today when I brought you to her.”

  “Yes, I remember.”

  “She wants to make your bedchamber as perfect as it can possibly be, and she wants to do that herself. You wouldn’t want to deprive her of that, would you?”

  “Of course not, if that’s what she wants.”

  “That is what she wants. She told me so when I spoke with her right after the wedding ceremony. She was adamant that you stay on this side of the manor tonight.”

  She was? Baldwin sighed. He had thought she’d been excited by the prospect of being his wife. Perhaps he’d misunderstood the way she’d smiled at him.

  “You shouldn’t be so glum,” Andrew said after he took another sip of his brandy. “My sister is looking forward to seeing you again.”

  “She is?” Baldwin criticized himself for seeming so eager to be with her in front of her brother. He couldn’t think of a single gentleman who acted like a besotted fool in the presence of others.

  “If it helps, I don’t think she’ll be hiding in the corner of the library when you go over there tomorrow. She might wait for you in the hallway.”

  That would be nice. Given how much she preferred to be alone, he was probably asking too much to be with her so soon. It was best he give her this night to get used to the idea of spending time with him.

  “It’s nice to know you’ve taken an immediate liking to her,” Andrew said. “I was hoping the match would be a good one.”

  “It probably seems silly since I hardly know her. I only had a few minutes to talk to her.”

  “It was a half-hour, but yes, that is a short time.”

  A half-hour? It hadn’t seemed like it’d been that long. He had thought it’d only been ten, maybe fifteen, minutes total that he had spoken to her before her brother had returned with the vicar. Well, that only proved how quickly time passed when one was enjoying what they were doing.

  After a moment, Baldwin picked up his glass and sipped the brandy. Settled with the plan to wait until tomorrow to see her again, he turned his attention back to the game and made his move.

  ***

  Dinah was sitting up in her bed, the covers wrapped around her body and the knife firmly clasped in her hands. She didn’t often make it a habit of keeping watch like this, but she’d found something in the adjoining bedchamber she’d cleaned earlier that day that had frightened her.

  It had resembled a long tooth. It’d had a yellowish color, and it’d been about four inches long and two inches wide. It’d been hard. She’d tried to bend it but couldn’t. Then she’d turned it over and saw red stains on it. And that was when she screamed and threw it into the basket where she collected trash. She’d rushed the basket to the stone wall that kept her side of the manor safe. She opened the door, shoved the basket out, and then locked her door.

  And after that, she had quickly closed all the drapes then ran to her bedchamber and locked herself into the room. She’d lit up every candle even though it hadn’t been dark outside yet.

  It couldn’t have been a tooth from one of the creatures. It was impossible. She’d been safe from them ever since the wall and door had been built to protect her. There was no way a creature could get in.

  So what was that strange object? What had she held?

  She gripped the knife more firmly in her hands. Ever since that terrible night when one of those creatures had been in her bedchamber, she’d kept a knife under her pillow.

  Never again. Never again would she wake up and have no means to protect herself against something that wanted to eat her.

  She blinked and a tear slid down her cheek. She knew it was selfish, but she wished she wasn’t alone tonight. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to get hurt, but she really hated being alone when she was frightened like this.

  It couldn’t have been a creature’s tooth. It just couldn’t be. She’d been in that bedchamber since the night the creature had pursued her. There hadn’t been anything out of the ordinary in that room before today. But then, she hadn’t been in that room for months. Until today, she hadn’t needed to go in there.

  She shivered and buried her body deeper into the covers around her.

  Whatever that thing was, it had to be something harmless, and it had to have been in that room since she first came to this side of the manor. She must have kicked it out of its hiding place while she was cleaning. It’d been on the floor by the bed. She was sure it’d been under the bed this entire time. It had to be. There was no other logical explanation for why she found it today.

  Baldwin would be fine in that room. She was sure he had nothing to worry about. Maybe tomorrow morning, she’d be able to finish cleaning the room. Maybe she’d have the courage to go back in there once the sun came out.

  For the time being, she had no intention of leaving her room, though she didn’t know if she was ever going to fall asleep tonight.

  She shivered again. It would be nice to have someone with her. Though she knew there was nothing to worry about since this part of the manor was secure, she would feel much better if she wasn’t alone all the time. She ran her thumb along the leather handle of the knife. Yes, she felt safer with the weapon, but it wasn’t the same as having someone with her.

  She didn’t think there was any way she could continue to endure this unending loneliness that had become a part of her world ever since everyone but her brother died. God willing, she wouldn’t do anything to dissuade Baldwin from staying here with her. She would have to be mindful not to do anything to make him want to leave.

  ***

  The next morning after a late breakfast, Baldwin forced himself to stay with Andrew and the others since he had given his word that he would play his clarinet today. If he had known he would have ended up spending the night away from Dinah, he would have played for them yesterday.

  It was with a sense of relief that he finished playing the last musical composition he often played when alone. Andrew, Beatrice, Clarence, and Holly were an ideal audience. They were attentive and easy to please. They didn’t mind the occasional note he missed, and they were expressive in their enjoyment of his performance.

  If he wasn’t so eager to get to Dinah, he would have desired to play for them all through the day, if nothing else than to experience the thrill of doing something he loved while receiving high praise for it. But he was eager to see Dinah. All through the night and morning, he’d thought of little else but her.

  He finished playing the last note and lowered his instrument. Andrew, Beatrice, and Holly stood up and clapped, and though Clarence was unable to stand, Baldwin could tell he wanted to.

  “Thank you,” Baldwin said. “You make it easy for someone who does this as a pastime to play in front of an audience.”

  “Were you nervous about playing for us?” Andrew asked.

  “I don’t make it a habit of playing in front of anyone,” Baldwin replied as he set the clarinet in its case. “I admit that my heart was racing faster than usual when I first started to play.”

  Andrew didn’t hide his surprise. “Really?
I wouldn’t have suspected that. You hide your emotions well.”

  “I’m glad you delighted us with your music,” Beatrice said. “I can’t recall a time when we had such joy in this place. Your music lifts the spirits.”

  “All music does that,” Andrew told her. “It’s in the nature of music to take the soul to great heights.”

  “Yes, I suppose you’re right,” she agreed.

  “Will you be going to see Dinah now?” Holly asked.

  “I’d like to.” Baldwin glanced at Andrew, wondering if it was a good time. He had all of his things packed. The vicar had left right after breakfast, and he’d just finished playing for the group. He couldn’t think of anything else he needed to do before he could go to her. “What do you think?”

  Andrew blinked as if he hadn’t expected the question. “I think you can go whenever you’re ready. If you’d like to go now, I’ll summon the butler and footman to get your things.”

  “Yes, I’d like to go now,” Baldwin said.

  “I’ll talk to them then.” Andrew gestured to his sheets of music. “Gather everything up, and when I return, we’ll go to the other side of the manor.”

  Excellent! Baldwin finished closing the case and then retrieved the sheets of music, careful not to bend them in his haste.

  “It’s so nice that Dinah will finally let someone keep her company,” Beatrice said as she sat back down with Holly. “I’ve been longing to go to that side of the manor, but she never asks for me. It hasn’t been easy to stay away, but the last time I went to see her was when she was ten, and she wouldn’t stop screaming.”

  Really? That was odd. Baldwin didn’t see why Dinah would have screamed. Yes, she had hidden in the corner when he went to see her, but she hadn’t struck him as the type of person who was terrified of people. She was just reclusive.

  “Maybe you should go with Baldwin and Andrew,” Holly suggested. “I can go, too. It’d be nice to see her after all these years.”

  “No,” Clarence barked.

  Baldwin looked up from the sheet music he’d been putting away. The two ladies also looked over at him in shock. Clarence had seemed like such a mild-mannered gentleman. Baldwin wouldn’t have thought him capable of using such a sharp tone.

  Clarence seemed to realize how much he’d shocked them since his expression softened. “It’s best that you let Baldwin and Andrew go alone. If Dinah wishes to see you, then she’ll ask Andrew for you to go there.”

  Despite Beatrice’s disappointment, she said, “All right. I’ll wait for her to ask to see me.”

  “Maybe since she’s open to having Baldwin there, she’ll be more receptive to more visitors,” Holly said.

  “Perhaps,” Beatrice whispered.

  Eyebrows furrowed, Baldwin looked over at Clarence again.

  Clarence made eye contact with him. “You’ll be good to her, won’t you?”

  “Yes, of course, I will,” Baldwin said.

  He wanted to ask why Clarence would even question whether he’d be good to her or not, but he decided against it. Something about Clarence didn’t seem right. He’d switched from being in a pleasant mood to being unpleasant within the blink of an eye. Who knew what one could expect from him?

  Andrew returned. “The butler and footman are on their way to get your belongings,” he told Baldwin. “I’ll take you over there.”

  Glad to leave the awkward silence that had fallen in the room, Baldwin collected his instrument and leather satchel and joined Andrew.

  He waited until they were out of earshot of the others before he whispered, “Is your uncle all right?”

  “He had a good appetite when we ate and enjoyed your performance,” Andrew said. “He seems fine. Why? Is something wrong?”

  “I don’t know if wrong is the right word, but yes, something seems strange about him. While you were gone, your mother said she longed to see Dinah and thought perhaps she might join us. Your aunt was equally willing to go. Then your uncle yelled that they would not go. I don’t wish to get involved in an uncomfortable situation, but he didn’t have to be so mean to them.”

  “I don’t think he meant to be mean. I think he worries that it wouldn’t be best for Dinah. Yes, she has welcomed you, but she’s resistant to seeing the others. I’ve tried. Believe me, it hasn’t been easy to be the only family member she’s been willing to see. It’s put a strain on all of us.” He sighed. “I just don’t know what else to do. Is it right to force her to see the others if she’s not ready?”

  Recalling the fact that Beatrice said Dinah had screamed when she’d gone to see her, Baldwin couldn’t deny that Andrew made a good point. “No, it wouldn’t be right to force her to see someone if she’s not ready.”

  “I know it’s not easy. It hasn’t been easy on any of us. We just want what’s best for her. I worry so much about my family. Sometimes it’s hard to know what the best course of action is.” His steps slowed as they approached the other side of the manor. “If she mentions wanting to see them, let me know. So far, she hasn’t said a word to me about them, but she might with you.”

  “If she says she’d like to see them, I’ll tell you.”

  “Thank you. I feel much better knowing that you’ll be with her.” He gave Baldwin a pat on the shoulder. “I’m glad you married her. She needs someone like you. Come.” He picked up his pace. “Let’s go to your bride.”

  Chapter Eight

  Dinah sat in the chair of the library. The meal in front of her on the small table went untouched. The maid had brought it promptly at eight, as she did every morning, so Dinah had made sure to meet her at the door connecting the two wings of the manor.

  She’d brought the tray up here to this room. Her intention had been to eat, but as soon as she lifted the fork of eggs to her mouth, she realized she didn’t have an appetite. She’d set the fork down on her plate and brought her knees up to her chin. She missed the comfort that her long hair had provided her. She used to wrap it around herself like a blanket when she was scared. Now it was so short that it barely touched the middle of her back.

  She let out a shaky breath and turned her gaze to the doorway. The sunlight filtering in through the large windows in the hall told her it was almost noon. The maid would soon return to take this tray. Then she’d give Dinah a tray with light refreshments on it.

  Dinah had once asked Andrew how the servants could be safe on the other side of the manner, and he’d told her they were old enough to know how to defend themselves.

  Her stomach rumbled. She glanced at the plate. No. She just couldn’t do it. She had no desire to eat. All she wanted to do was go back to bed and wrap herself in the blankets while she held the knife. Without her long hair, it was the only real source of comfort she had.

  But Baldwin was due to arrive at some point today, and she was determined to be close enough to the door connecting the wings of the manor so she would be ready when he came.

  She set her forehead on her knees and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. For the most part, days seemed to blend into one another, but last night and this morning had been unbearably long. If she had the courage, she’d return to the bedchamber Baldwin would be sleeping in and finish cleaning it. She shivered. No. She couldn’t bring herself to go back into that room. What if there was another tooth from one of the creatures in there?

  But there’s no proving it’s a tooth.

  It was impossible. It couldn’t be a tooth. This wing was secure. No creature could get in.

  Maybe you just think it’s secure.

  Andrew had checked everything and said everything was secure.

  Maybe he lied.

  She lifted her head and scanned the room, just to make sure she really was alone.

  No, Andrew didn’t lie. He was her brother. He loved her. Ever since she could remember, he had taken care of her. He had been attentive to her every need. He had even arranged for her to marry so that she didn’t have to be alone anymore. London wasn’t safe for ladies. Being outside at this estate wasn’t safe for ladies. He’d had no choice but to make this wing of the manor her home, and he’d done everything possible to make sure nothing bad would get in here.