Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

" C hange, Your Grace?" Mrs. Jarrow repeated, a little taken aback. "I do not believe I have advice for you in such matters. Please forgive me."

Philip leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the older woman. It was a rare thing for him to seek counsel from anyone, especially on personal matters, but he'd hoped that Mrs. Jarrow would have a solution to his question since she was also a woman.

The discord between himself and Aurelia had been bothering him since the previous day, and for the first time in a long while he found himself lost.

Mrs. Jarrow hesitantly shifted on her feet but continued, her voice softening with sympathy.

"If this matter concerns Her Grace, then I would respectfully advise you to spend time with her, Your Grace. Do something with her. And perhaps…" She paused, watching his face closely. "Perhaps tell her the truth about her father. If she does not know everything, she will continue to harbor loyalty for him."

Philip was stunned into silence. It felt as though everyone in his circle was on a mission to make him tell his wife everything about Keldbrooke's nefarious involvements.

He had summoned the housekeeper with the hope of receiving a simple answer, something that could mend the rift between himself and Aurelia, but now the truth of it weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Seeing his silence, Mrs. Jarrow offered him a small smile to ease the burden of her words. "Perhaps you might start by giving her a tour of the dukedom," she suggested. "Her Grace is the Duchess but the people have only seen her once and that was on your wedding day."

Philip sat up straighter in his chair, the idea sparking something within him. He had been so focused on their strained relationship that he hadn't thought to introduce Aurelia properly to their people, to show her the lands she was now part of.

"That…that is an excellent idea," Philip acknowledged, his voice softer than it had been all morning. He leaned forward, his gaze sharpening with new determination. "Where is she now?"

"I believe I saw Her Grace entering her room when I was on my way to you," Mrs. Jarrow replied, her voice tinged with warmth.

Philip gave a curt nod. "Thank you, Mrs. Jarrow. That will be all."

She dropped into a respectful curtsy. "Of course, Your Grace."

Philip rose from his desk, the tension easing slightly in his shoulders. He marched toward Aurelia's room with a newfound purpose, his mind already turning over what he would say. He could hear his heart beating in his chest, each step bringing him closer to her.

When he reached her door, he knocked twice.

Her maid startled and quickly opened the door, her eyes widening at the sight of him. "Your Grace." She curtsied quickly. "How may I…"

"Leave us," Philip ordered quietly, peering over her shoulder.

The maid bobbed another curtsy before hastily exiting the bedchamber.

Aurelia stood in the middle of the room, her hands folded in front of her, surprise shining in her eyes as Philip strode in. She was dressed simply in a pale blue gown that complemented her fair complexion, her hair cascading down her shoulders in soft waves. She looked beautiful, though he refrained from voicing the thought aloud.

"What brings you here?" she asked, her voice cautious.

Philip took a step closer, his eyes searching hers for a moment. "I plan on taking a stroll into town," he said, his voice steadier than he felt. "Would you care to accompany me?"

Aurelia blinked, her wariness now replaced by a spark of excitement. "Truly?" she asked, her voice pitching in hopeful delight.

Philip's lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "Truly."

Aurelia beamed at him, the tension of the past few days seemingly forgotten in that instant. "I would love to! I must change, of course, but I shall be ready shortly."

Philip inclined his head. "I will wait for you downstairs."

He turned around and made his way to the door, but just as he was about to leave, he glanced over his shoulder. The sight of her standing there, her eyes sparkling, her cheeks flushed with excitement, filled him with a warmth he had not anticipated.

He allowed the smallest of smiles to curve his lips as he left her room.

Once downstairs, Philip waited by the door, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared out the window. The idea of showing Aurelia the duchy felt like a step in the right direction; a way to rebuild the fragile bridge between them. He hadn't been honest with her about her father, but today, perhaps he could begin to change that.

A few minutes later, the sound of soft footsteps alerted him to her presence. He turned to watch her descending the stairs, now dressed in a dark green walking gown that hugged her figure elegantly. Her maid had twisted her hair into a neat chignon, and she looked every bit like the Duchess that she was.

His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he extended his arm. "Shall we?"

Aurelia smiled as she looped her arm through his. "We shall."

Aurelia's excitement was palpable as she took in the village with wide, appreciative eyes. Every detail seemed new to her, despite having lived at Oakdale Manor for a month.

She marveled at the quiet streets, the charming rows of shops and the friendly townspeople who passed by with smiles and nods. It was as though she had been asleep for weeks and now, for the first time, she was fully awake.

Philip walked beside her, watching her with a quiet sense of longing. Her childlike enthusiasm was refreshing; a stark contrast to her father's vileness.

As she waved to passersby and even stopped to help an elderly woman purchase flowers for her grandchildren, Philip couldn't help but feel a tinge of admiration. Aurelia was kind-hearted, more so than he had given her credit for, and she had clearly needed an escape from the confines of the estate; a chance to breathe and interact with the world around her.

As they strolled past a bustling row of shops, Philip glanced at her with a smile.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Duchess?" he asked, his tone teasing.

Aurelia turned to him, her face alight with genuine joy. "I am," she admitted. "I did not expect Oakdale to be so beautiful."

Philip's chest swelled with pride at her praise. It was his home and his land, and hearing her admire it stirred up a sense of satisfaction deep within him.

"It is," he agreed, his smile softening. "Though I daresay it is more beautiful with you in it."

Aurelia's happiness was nearly infectious. She hadn't known what to expect after their last encounter in the parlor. Philip had left her to converse with Oliver, and afterwards he had buried himself in his work, neglecting to come down for dinner or return to his chambers. He had spent the night in his study and Aurelia had wondered if they would fall back into the cold distance that had marked much of their marriage to date.

Today felt different. As they walked together Philip was relaxed, even playful. Aurelia worried that all it would take to shatter this fragile peace was the mention of her father.

The weight of not knowing the truth about her father's actions pressed down on her, and she feared she would not fully enjoy Philip's company until she learned everything.

Her inner turmoil must have been written all over her face, for Philip glanced at her intently as they walked, his expression growing concerned.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, his voice low and intimate as he slipped an arm around her waist, drawing her closer.

Aurelia stiffened, her eyes widening in alarm. "Philip!" she gasped, pulling away from him, her cheeks flushing a bright red. She glanced around, mortified that someone might have witnessed his display of affection. "What if someone saw us?"

Philip chuckled softly, clearly amused by her reaction. "What of it?" he teased. "Is it so terrible that a husband desires to be close to his wife?"

She tried to cover her embarrassment, lifting her hands to her cheeks. "I was thinking about you," she admitted, though it was only half the truth.

Philip's eyes sparkled with mischief. "And what, pray tell, were you thinking?"

Aurelia smiled but didn't answer, her lips pressed together in playful refusal. Instead, she let the moment pass, her heart beating a little faster from his teasing.

As they resumed their walk they passed more townsfolk. To Aurelia's surprise, several stopped to exchange pleasantries with Philip.

"We have not seen you about town much, Your Grace," one shopkeeper remarked with a respectful bow. "Busy with work, I imagine?" he asked, his eyes darting playfully to Aurelia.

Philip nodded, his smile warm and genuine. "Indeed. But rest assured, all matters are well in hand."

"I am glad of that, Your Grace."

Aurelia observed the way Philip interacted with his people, noting the compassion in his eyes and the ease with which he reassured them. There was something noble about the way he carried himself, something she hadn't fully appreciated until that moment.

As the shopkeeper turned to address another customer, Oliver's words about Philip being more compassionate than she thought echoed in her mind. Now, as she watched her husband, she couldn't help but agree.

On the walk back to Oakdale Manor, the afternoon sun casting a reddish-yellow glow over the path, Aurelia finally voiced the thoughts that had been nagging at her.

"Your people truly adore you," she noted quietly, glancing up at Philip. "You a good Duke," she said with a smile. "However, I do not know if I can be the same. I am not sure I am cut out to be a Duchess."

Philip stopped walking and turned to face her, gently taking her hands in his own. He pressed a kiss to each of her fingers, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You are every inch a Duchess, Aurelia," he assured her softly, his voice filled with a sincerity that made her breath catch. "I do not know what others expect a Duchess to be, nor do I care. But I know you are perfect for me, and that is all that matters."

Aurelia's heart swelled at his words, but her uncertainty still lingered. "But what if…"

"We will do something about your worry," Philip interrupted, his voice firm but kind. "If you are unsure, then it is my duty to help you find your place. We will face it together."

Aurelia blinked, caught off guard by his sudden determination. "How do you propose we do that?" she asked.

A mysterious smile tugged at the corners of Philip's lips. "You shall see once we return home."

Aurelia's curiosity was piqued, but she didn't press him for details. Instead, she nodded, allowing herself to trust whatever he had in store.

The following morning Aurelia sat in her room nervously smoothing out the folds of her gown, anticipating Mrs. Jarrow's arrival.

The idea Philip had in mind was simple: Aurelia needed to familiarize herself with the intricacies of running Oakdale Manor and he had summoned Mrs. Jarrow to offer her guidance.

Aurelia sighed, imagining the housekeeper's stern face and clipped tone. It would surely be a long, trying lecture on running Oakdale Manor. She suspected that Mrs. Jarrow still didn't like her because the woman had always been curt and distant, her loyalty to Philip far outweighing any warmth she might have had for his new wife.

A knock at the door made Aurelia sit up straight.

"Enter," she called, her heart racing.

When Mrs. Jarrow walked in, Aurelia was taken aback. The housekeeper smiled, something she had never done before. It wasn't a small, polite smile but one of genuine warmth which softened the sharp lines of her face.

"Good morning, Your Grace," Mrs. Jarrow greeted her with a curtsy. "I trust you are ready for today's lesson."

Aurelia blinked, momentarily stunned by the sudden change in the woman's demeanor.

"I…I am," she replied, though her voice faltered.

An irksome voice in the back of her mind reminded her not to be too trusting in light of the situation concerning her father. The smile that had briefly danced on her lips vanished and was replaced with uncertainty.

Ever observant Mrs. Jarrow noticed the change. "If you are not feeling up to it, Your Grace, we could always reschedule," she offered kindly. "I would be delighted to teach you whenever you feel most comfortable."

The sincerity in her voice caught Aurelia off guard. She had expected coldness, but in its place there was genuine kindness in the woman's words. Something in Aurelia softened.

"No," she said gently, her smile returning, "I think we can proceed today. I am eager to learn."

Mrs. Jarrow smiled again and motioned for Aurelia to follow her.

As they walked through the grand halls of Oakdale Manor, the housekeeper began explaining the household's workings. She showed Aurelia the ledgers, discussed the staff's responsibilities, and even shared small, useful details about managing the estate's vast grounds. Despite herself, Aurelia found the many tasks to be less daunting than she had imagined.

As they made their way to the kitchens Mrs. Jarrow suddenly stopped, turning to face Aurelia. "Your Grace," she began hesitantly. "I owe you an apology."

Aurelia turned to face her, surprised. "An apology?"

Mrs. Jarrow nodded. "I have not been kind to you. When you first arrived, I believed I was protecting His Grace by keeping my distance from you. I have served this family for many years, and I have seen His Grace suffer in ways you could never imagine. I was wary of anyone who might cause him more pain."

Aurelia considered her words for a moment before nodding. "I understand. I would have likely done the same, had I been in your position."

Mrs. Jarrow looked relieved. "Thank you, Your Grace. I now see that you are not a threat. In fact, you have brought something out in His Grace. Something…better than he was before you arrived. He is not as distant as he used to be."

Aurelia smiled, a sense of pride washing over her in the wake of the housekeeper's compliment. "Could you tell me more about Philip? I know so little of his past."

Mrs. Jarrow smiled wistfully. "Ah, His Grace and Lord Gabriel. When they were young, their home was far from peaceful. Their parents…well, they were known for being deeply in love with each other, but a love of that intensity also had its downsides. Although they appeared happy on the outside, things were not always the best on the inside."

She paused to catch her breath and then continued. "Even as a boy and despite being the younger sibling, His Grace was fiercely protective of Lord Gabriel. He would always shield him from the worst of their parents' outbursts. I remember once, after a particularly bad argument between their parents, Lord Gabriel was crying in his room. His Grace sat with him all night, telling him stories and keeping him calm."

Aurelia felt a pang in her chest. She could envision Philip as a boy and felt the weight of the responsibility he must have carried from such an early age.

"I never knew," she whispered.

Mrs. Jarrow nodded. "Few do. His Grace does not speak of it, but it shaped him into the man he is today. He is guarded but also strong. Now, with you, perhaps he can begin to heal."

As they continued their walk, Aurelia found herself deep in thought. The past, with all its mysteries and pain, felt distant now. What mattered was her future with Philip. Aurelia slowly grasped that it was time to let go of her old life and focus on building something new.

She glanced at Mrs. Jarrow, her heart lighter than it had been in weeks. "Thank you," she said quietly.

Mrs. Jarrow smiled. "You are most welcome, Your Grace."