Chapter 15

My morning passes peacefully as I read in my room without being disturbed other than the few times a maid has come by to offer me tea. The first offer had come as a surprise as none of the servants at Knole House were as considerate, if I wanted a drink there then I'd have to summon someone. And they didn't always answer my summons or provide me with what I asked for.

I'm close to finishing the book I'm reading when there's a knock at the door. It's likely another offer of tea as I'd turned down the last one so I call out permission for whoever's at the door to come in. A maid enters and curtsies in greeting.

"Your Grace luncheon is being served. His Grace requests that you join him," She says remaining standing at the door.

"Thank you. Please inform the Duke that I'll be down momentarily," I reply marking the page and setting my book down. Without this reminder luncheon would have completely passed me by but William it seems isn't going to let me forget about my promise. The maid leaves silently to follow my orders.

Standing I smooth out my skirts to make myself more presentable. If we're to go out after luncheon then I should at least try to appear my best. Not knowing where we're going though William may even request that I change before we go anywhere. And with Marguerite in the know about wherever we're going she'll surely have something suitable prepared if I do need to change.

Taking my time I head downstairs to the dining room where once again William rises to greet me and insists on helping me into my chair himself. Luncheon is soon served, a simple but delicious soup along with fresh bread, and neither of us speak throughout the entire meal. It's not a tense silence that settles over us as we eat though, my agreement to William's request seems to have improved things. At least he's not forcing conversation.

"Are you ready to depart?" He asks as the footmen clear the table once the meal is finished. Rising to his feet he walks over to me and offers his hand to me.

"I shall just need some gloves and a parasol," I reply taking his hand as I stand and we begin walking out the room and towards the front door. I'd expected to separate from him near the stairs to retrieve my gloves but he kept a firm hold of my hand.

"Marguerite," He calls and sure enough Marguerite comes over with a pair of white lace gloves for me, "We're taking the carriage so you shouldn't require a parasol."

"Oh," I reply quietly slightly more apprehensive now about where we might be going. I'd thought that we'd be going on a walk somewhere, perhaps in the park across the street, but I hadn't imagined we'd be going far enough to require the carriage. And after spending the past week in one I'm not at all eager to be spending more time in one.

Mercifully though it's only a short time before the carriage comes to a stop. William exits first and holds out his hand to help me down. He keeps hold of my hand even once I'm out of the carriage and gives me a proud smile as I finally realise where we are. A modiste.

"I know that I've neglected this until now. But it's time that you had a fitting wardrobe," He says gently lifting my hand to press a kiss to the back of it before leading me inside.

"Welcome Your Graces," A tall, well-dressed pretty woman greets us. Her welcome confuses me as I've never been here before and surely William has not needed the services of a modiste before now.

"Madame Corbin," William greets in reply with a small nod of his head, "A pleasure to see you again. Thank you for making time for us on such short notice. May I present my wife Eleanor Sackville, the Duchess of Dorset. Eleanor this is Madame Corbin,"

"The best modiste outside of London," She says proudly dropping into a curtsy towards me, "It's truly an honour Your Grace. His Grace informed me that you're in need of a new wardrobe Duchess, is that correct?"

"Yes," I breath out in shock. Never had I expected that William would think of doing something like this.

"Excellent!" Madame Corbin cheers clapping her hands in delight, "When His Grace visited yesterday I cleared my entire afternoon for you. I'm at your complete disposal," Her excitement is contagious and I can't help but smile as well, "Now let's get started." She leads me away from William towards the various bolts of fabric she has available.

Each and every fabric she presents to me as an option are far more expensive than any I've ever considered. It had worried me at first the rapidly mounting cost of this new wardrobe but, noticing my hesitance, William reassured me that I shouldn't worry about the cost. I'm still wary of spending too much but Madame Corbin is thrilled by the announcement.

Beautiful silks and satins were picked, considered and discarded based on how Madame Corbin felt they complimented me. To my surprise William stays here rather than leaving me in her capable hands, he doesn't offer an opinion himself but remains quietly seated at the front of the store. Surely it must be boring for him to not having anything to do but he doesn't complain even as time drags on.

It's the most fun that I've ever had in a modiste. My last visit to one was with Lady Anne and she'd made it clear what she wanted me to get, I wasn't allowed to have an opinion myself. But this time Madame Corbin asks for preference at every step of the way as we go through the fabrics to fill out my wardrobe. A wardrobe by William and Madame Corbin's standards though means new walking dresses, morning dresses, evening gowns and riding habits.

The only time William speaks up is to discuss the number of each dress with Madame Corbin. We've finished selecting fabrics now so all that's left if for my measurements to be taken in preparation for the new dresses. Many of my current morning dresses double as walking dresses so I need fewer of them but none of my evening gowns are suitable for a Duchess.

"And riding habits, Your Grace?" Madame Corbin asks as she writes down some of my measurements.

"I-I can't ride," I point out not seeing the need for riding habits when I don't ride.

"Perhaps two or three. Along with what you'd recommend for sea bathing" William tells Madame Corbin before turning his attention to me, "If you wish to learn to ride I can hire a tutor, perhaps even teach you myself. We'll order the riding habits regardless in case you change your mind."

"I would recommend a Mr Catteforde to provide the Duchess with new shoes. He'd also be able to make suitable riding boots should you need them," Madame Corbin offers, "Should you wish it I can send some fabric samples of the new dresses directly to him. He'll have some shoes prepared that should complement the dresses well."

"Thank you Madame Corbin. I'll send word to him tomorrow with a footman if you'd prepare a note and the samples," William agrees. He really must not be worried about the cost of all of this if he's also willing to purchase new shoes.

"All done," She declares writing down my final measurements, "It will take a few weeks to fill such a large order but if you'd prefer I can have the dresses sent over as they're finished."

"Yes thank you Madame," William replies standing to help me down from the pedestal that she'd had me stand on for the measurements to be taken, "If you could have some of the evening gowns finished first I'll make sure that you're generously compensated."

"You're most generous Your Grace. I'll have my seamstresses start right away and some of the dresses should be finished in a few days," Madame Corbin curtsies gratefully as we say our farewells.

"Thank you William," I say with a slight smile as we settle back into the carriage.

"There's nothing to thank me for. I should have done this sooner."

"Nevertheless thank you for today. I quite enjoyed it."

"I'm glad," He smiles at me clearly pleased that I've enjoyed this afternoon. It's the first time in a long time that I've smiled around him or spent more than a meals time in the same room as him. I've been so occupied this afternoon that I'd forgotten that I'm angry with him. "Would you join me for some tea when get back?"

I nod in reply feeling like I owe him that at least after he's spent so much money on new dresses for me, and potentially more if he does order new shoes. This afternoon has helped to ease things between us and maybe soon I'll be able to forgive him for what happened. I've been lucky that he hasn't blamed me for the loss of our baby as so many men would have.

The ride home doesn't take even though there are more carriages about now as evening is setting in, those still residing in Bath rather than London on their way out to the theatre or some other fashionable event. Perhaps some are even going to one of the plays that William had invited me to.

William escorts me into the drawing room once we've returned home, and how quickly this place feels more like home than Knole House ever did. Not long after we've settled into the drawing room a maid delivers tea to us before silently departing leaving us to serve ourselves. Not that William gives me a chance to pour my own, he manages to take hold of the tea pot before I can. Just like last time he prepares my tea just the way I like it without needing to ask.

"Thank you," I say taking the cup when he offers it, "How did you know how I prefer my tea?"

"Well I noticed before I left to take of that inheritance. After all you put more sugar into your tea than anyone else I know," He replies with a soft chuckle as he makes his own cup.

"We never had sugar at Edmour and the tea always tasted terrible. I only developed a liking for tea while I was at Lady Anne's," I tell him trying to defend myself and the amount of sugar I put in my tea.

"I'm afraid that's not tea," He laughs nodding towards my cup, "That, my dear wife, is sugar with a splash of tea." It feels like it's been a long time since we've laughed like this. Not since he left to deal with his unexpected inheritance have things been so easy and light-hearted between us.

"I simply enjoy most things sweet," I reply to his teasing, "Is that so wrong?"

"Not at all. You can have all the sugar you'd like," He smiles as we lapse into silence as we enjoy our tea and a rest. I'm tired after spending so long browsing fabrics then standing to be measured while I'm sure that William was incredibly bored by the process.

"You didn't have to stay," I say breaking the silence, "At the modiste."

"I wanted to," He says firmly looking me in the eye so I can see his sincerity, "It was nice to see you smile again." At that reminder I drop my gaze as thoughts of my baby overwhelm me again. I'd forgotten at the time and that was the only reason I smiled.

"I forgot. While we were there I forgot," I blurt out tears rising to my eyes. William moves to sit next me as I start crying, he gently pulls me close letting me lean against him as I sob.

"All will be well," He whispers to me and as I look up towards him I find him crying as well, "Someday it will be easier. For both of us." Seeing his own grief at our loss so clear before me somehow helps ease my own. If only slightly. And just as he says one day it will be easier.