As Deborah closed the door and stepped into the hallway, her heart felt torn between going back in for one final attempt and leaving the girl be. Ultimately, she decided to let Adeline rest. She had started the day with rosiness in her cheeks, but by the end of their time together, Deborah did not miss how the girl had taken to taking in deeper breaths or how her complexion had turned sallow.
She stayed there in the hallway a moment, tapping her fingers against the brass doorknob as she contemplated what to do next. Adeline had not confessed where the bruises had come from. Perhaps she never would. However, perhaps someone else in the house could tell her.
In the kitchens, she found a very different atmosphere from the one she had just left. There was laughter, chatter, and a sense of camaraderie among the servants as they worked on one thing or another. However, such warmth seized the moment Deborah’s presence was noted, and all eyes turned to her.
Deborah had met them all a day after she settled into the Calder Estate. There was Mrs. House, the housekeeper. She was a slight woman with sharp eyes and a kind smile, exuding maids, Theresa and Lina, were preparing meals, and he often had them laughing as they all worked. They were all now standing by the long counter in front of the windows, seemingly prepping the night’s meal.
Arina and Belle, two of the cleaning maids, were there as well; one was darning a sock, the other folding dried bed sheets at the large worktable where Mrs. House sat at the opposite end with her schedule book and pen.
“Forgive me,” Deborah offered, giving them all a kind smile, “I did not mean to intrude or interrupt.”
Mrs. House rose from her seat at the large wooden worktable and smiled politely as she placed her pen down.
“No need for forgiveness, Your Grace,” Mrs. House replied politely, “This is your house, and we are at your service. How may we help you?”
She then gestured toward Jeremy and added, “If you are in need of a nibble, I am sure Jeremy would be happy to make you whatever you are hungry for.”
Jeremy quickly nodded his head, offering a kind smile toward her as he bowed his head; his hands still on the roast, he seemed to be rubbing spices into.
“It would be no trouble at all, Your Grace,” he agreed, “And I noticed that you never did ring for lunch.”
“Oh, no, I will happily wait for your supper, Jeremy,” Deborah hurriedly assured him, offering a kind smile in return for his. “It has been so long since I have tasted such fine food; it is certainly worth waiting for.”
Pride glimmered in Jeremy’s light brown eyes, and this time his hands left his work, and he turned to her to give her a formal bow.
“Your words honor me, Your Grace,” he said humbly.
Deborah bent her knees in a small curtsey, remembering how her mother taught her to pay respect to everyone willing to work in a household. They may be getting paid, but they were also giving up parts of their lives to serve, and that should be honored.
“Well, tea then?” Mrs. House offered.
“Actually, I was hoping to speak to you all about Adeline,” Deborah explained.
Jeremy huffed as Theresa and Lina both chuckled, and all three of them turned to their work. Mrs. House bowed her head, and Arina and Belle went back to focusing on their laundry.
“I am afraid there is not much we know about her, Your Grace,” Mrs. House offered, gesturing invitingly for Deborah to take a seat. “The young lady joined us here a year ago, but she seems to not want to be around anyone. Not even her uncle.”
Deborah’s brows furrowed in confusion as she accepted the offered seat.
“How do you mean?” She asked, “I thought it was Ced- His Grace- that chose to stay away from her?”
“Perhaps now,” Mrs. House explained, pouring out a cup of tea for Deborah, “However, when he first brought her home, I believe he tried her best to be warm with her.”
Mrs. House sighed heavily as she held out the cup of tea to Deborah, who murmured her thanks and accepted it.
“His Grace is- well, as you may have assumed, is not quite the fatherly figure,” Mrs. House went on. “However, he did make efforts.”
Surprised by this, Deborah pondered the new information as she tapped her nails against her teacup.
“So, he never became violent with her then?” She finally asked.
The subtle noises of work being done ceased once again as everyone’s gaze snapped to her.
“His Grace might be an odd man out when it comes to the rest of theton,but he wouldneverbe violent toward a child or woman,” Mrs. House answered with great vehemence.
Despite her annoyance toward Cedric’s personality, Deborah felt greatly relieved to hear such a thing, and her opinion of him shifted- if only a little.
“I am grateful to know this,” Deborah confessed, “In truth, His Grace and I did not have much time to court before we wed. There is much I do not know about him.”