Missus Dutton heaved a tired sigh, taking a long sip from her glass of lemon water. Word of the Duchess’s request for a divorce had already spread like wildfire through Castle Birch. The Duke had, of course, refused, and he had strictly prohibited her from leaving the castle grounds. Upon hearing these instructions, some of the servants had found themselves at a loss, avoiding eye contact as they struggled to hide their bewilderment.
“Marguerite, if anyone comprehends the depth of his lordship’s affection for his wife, it ought to be you,” Missus Dutton said. Since Eliza’s departure, she was the most experienced member of the castle’s staff. “Some men tend to make a mess of their expressions of love, yet in all my years of service at this castle, I’ve never once sent such a large amount of butter, sugar, strawberries, and cream to his lordship’s chambers. It is clear that they love each other very much.”
