Usually a walk could calm him down. When he was angry, grieving, or just fed up, Nathaniel had a habit of taking a stroll in his garden or at a park nearby. But even after a ten minutes stroll, his fury against Harold Whitcombe hadn't dissipated.
Dignity had been ingrained in him since he was really young.
"A lot of people are looking up to your title or simply observing you. Your behaviour should never humiliate Blackmere's name."
Therefore, he's been watching himself all along, through Eton, Oxford, then becoming a duke at the young age of 22 years old.
Until then, as a 25 year old, Nathaniel had never seen women as just objects of his desires. Blackmere men courted, married, then stayed loyal. It's honor, principles and, above all, dignity.
But some of his friends played. Some had mistresses or visited brothels. And these were all acceptable in society. Not respectable, but generally forgiven. What he could not understand was attacking a young woman like what Whitcombe did to Miss Fairleigh.
Women were human beings, too! Who gave anyone the right to attack a defenseless woman??? Damn that Whitcombe! He hoped that man would burn in hell!
*****
That night during dinner, he informed his grandmother what Harold Whitcombe did to Eliza.
"... I suspected it. But hearing the things the neighbouring servants said…..there are more victims. As bitter as it sounds, Miss Fairleigh is one of the lucky ones."
"She escaped, but I wouldn't say she's lucky."
"Well, she's safe here," assured the duchess.
"I am strengthening the safety around the house. You and Miss Fairleigh would be accompanied by two guards at all times. Do not argue with me on this."
"That will be costly! Two men riding along our carriage the whole time?"
"Grandmother, this is not something to be frugal upon. Besides, we have been too frugal for three years. You're the one who wanted to return to society. It's my responsibility to take care of you and your secretary."
"Very well. We will not fight on this. We shall save our energy."
Nathaniel nodded, then resumed his dinner.
*****
The next morning, right after breakfast, Elinor informed Eliza that she was taking her to the modiste.
"Sterling is taking your things from your previous employer's house as we speak, but I think I should supervise the choosing of your dresses. You will move in a more elite social circle than before."
"I am only your secretary, Your Grace."
"And therefore you shall be presentable. Grab your coat and hat, we are leaving now."
"I—I shall run to my sister's room, My Lady."
Elinor was a little taken aback. She forgot that Eliza arrived only with the dress on herself, since she was escaping a horrible situation.
"My secretary does not run. Dignity. At all times. Walk sensibly to the servants' quarters. I shall wait."
"Yes, My Lady."
In the past two days, Eliza had been borrowing Lucy's dress. The previous day, Lucy was tested to make stew at the Blackmere's kitchen. She passed well, and was given a position as one of the junior cooks there. She got a small room at the servants' quarter, which was different from Eliza whose room was in the main house, but Lucy got no complaints.
She was excited to learn cooking and baking, and her paycheck was much higher than what Elmwood Orphanage could ever give her. Plus, her small room felt like a palace compared to what she had.
Wearing Lucy's coat and hat, Eliza climbed the Blackmere carriage with the duchess.
*****
They went to Madame Henriette Beaumont's modiste. This vast modiste was a very successful one. They dressed Queen Victoria's daughters, but also made dresses for the middle class. It's the most mainstream modiste there was, and the Blackmeres had been regulars here.
However, Eliza was hesitant to enter.
"Are you going to make me wait?" Elinor asked dangerously.
"No! No, Your Grace!"
Eliza then hurried up the steps and entered.
Madame Beaumont herself sauntered hurriedly to welcome the duchess.
"Isn't it my favorite duchess in the kingdom! What a pleasant surprise, Your Grace!"
"Henriette. It has been a while."
"Indeed, Your Grace. I mourn the beautiful, late Duchess Catherine….."
"Thank you. But I am not here to mourn. I am here with my new secretary."
"Oh?" Madame Beaumont turned and saw Eliza, who smiled nervously. "Your secretary, My Lady? And so young?"
"She is well-educated. And—someone so old enjoys someone young around. They give us energy, you see."
"I do understand that," Madame Beaumont smiled.
"Several dresses for tea with my friends. Perhaps one party dress. A coat. One or two practical hats. A pair of boots and shoes. And everything to go with it."
"Certainly, Your Grace. What colors do you have in mind?"
"Neutral ones. Something she could wear often. And appropriate for small events. For the party dress, make it something simple but matching for audiences with the queen."
"The—the queen, Your Grace???" Eliza spoke out of turn, too shocked to be quiet.
"Haven't you heard, My Love? Duchess Blackmere is the cousin of Her Majesty. They meet often! Her secretary must of course accompany her to meet the queen."
Color drained from Eliza's face.
The Queen? She would see the queen with her own eyes???
"We need tea, Henriette."
"Right away, Your Grace," the French lady flicked her fingers and a servant disappeared to the pantry. "And if you don't mind, we have some ready to wear dresses."
"Ready to wear fits us perfectly. We do need them urgently."
Then began the fitting session. But before that, Eliza calmed her down with a cup of tea with sugar.
*****
The next afternoon, Nathaniel entered the house from the side entrance, and heard someone say, "Afterall, "My Lady," you look perfectly natural in this fancy dress!"
"Hush! Don't call me "My Lady"! What if someone hears you?"
"But my darling sister! You do look like a lady in this beautiful dress!"
"Haha. Thank you, Luce. I have to admit, the best part of today is wearing this new dress. I feel so rich!"
The sisters laughed.
Nathaniel could see into the small sitting room beside Eliza's bedroom. The sisters were having tea together. Eliza was wearing a bright gray dress that made her looked….like a lord's daughter. But more importantly, she looked happy. She was smiling and eating a slice of cake.
"Truly, I have never been this grateful. New dresses. I met countesses and ladies. They all sounded so….so serious in their charity works. And can you believe it, I actually saw a lady who attended lectures at Oxford University!"
"Oh, my! What did she study?"
"She was a nurse before she got married, so she attended medical lectures. She was accompanying the doctor she worked for, but still. I think I was staring at her the whole time!"
"Explain to me what she looked like, exactly," Lucy demanded.
What he watched warmed his heart.
Two sisters who loved each other, spending time together.
A young woman feeling rich just because of one dress.
And how she was so awed by a woman who attended a lecture at Oxford.
Nathaniel walked away to his study, but he was deep in thought.
Sterling was surprised to see him.
"Forgive me, Your Grace, I didn't know you entered through the side entrance."
"Oh. Hm. Yes. I was—it was a heavy morning at the House of Lords. I left my carriage and walked along the Thames a little."
"Tea, perhaps, My Lord?"
"Yes, that would be great. Make it cold though, I'm parched."
"Certainly, My Lord."
As Sterling was making tea, Nathaniel suddenly said, "Sterling, I don't think I am grateful enough, to the Lord."
Sterling stopped, "On the contrary, My Lord, I think you are grateful. You go to church every Sunday morning."
"It's not that. I think….I take a lot of things for granted."
"But you don't—"
Nathaniel seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
"Your tea, My Lord."
"Thank you, Sterling."
Sterling noted that even after his tea was drunk, the duke opened his letters, but didn't really read it.
*****