This Was a Man Read online

“I’m happy to abide by your wishes,” said the duke. “Perhaps you could also give some thought to the order of service, and suggest who you think should be invited to the reception afterward?”

  “I’ve already begun working on a list. I’ll let you have it later today.”

  “Thank you, Virginia. I knew I could rely on you. I have some meetings to attend this afternoon, so I hope you’ll be around when Alice arrives.”

  “Of course. And when are you expecting Camilla and her family?”

  “Later this evening, but as I’ll be in Father’s study—”

  “Your study,” said Virginia quietly.

  “It may take me a little time to get used to that. Would you be kind enough to let me know when Alice arrives?”

  * * *

  Virginia was working on the list of guests she wanted to attend the private reception following the funeral, as well as those she didn’t, when a taxi drew up outside the castle and Alice stepped out. Once again, she took her place at the top of the steps.

  “Poor Virginia,” were Alice’s first words as she greeted her. “How are you bearing up?”

  “Not well. But everyone’s been so kind and understanding, which has been a great comfort.”

  “Of course they have,” said Alice. “After all, you were his rock and soulmate.”

  “It’s so kind of you to say so,” said Virginia, as she led Alice up the staircase to the guest bedroom she had chosen for her. “I’ll let Clarence know you’re here.”

  She strolled downstairs and went into the duke’s study without knocking, to find Clarence deep in conversation with Mr. Moxton, the estate manager. Both men immediately stood as she entered.

  “You asked me to let you know when Alice arrived. I’ve put her in the Carlyle Room. I hope you’ll be able to join us for tea in about half an hour.”

  “That may not be possible,” said the duke, giving her a curt nod, clearly not pleased to have been interrupted, which Virginia found somewhat disconcerting. She left without another word and retreated to the drawing room, where Montgomery, Perry’s old Labrador, sat up and began wagging his tail. She took a seat near the open door, which allowed her to keep an eye on the comings and goings in the corridor outside. She intended to have a word with Clarence about replacing Moxton in the not-too-distant future.

  The next person to enter the duke’s study was the butler, who didn’t come out for another forty minutes. He then disappeared below stairs, only to return a few moments later accompanied by the cook, who Virginia couldn’t recall ever seeing on the ground floor.

  Another twenty minutes passed before Cook reappeared and scurried back downstairs. Virginia could only wonder what had taken them so long, unless they’d been discussing the menu for the reception, a responsibility she had rather assumed the duke would leave to her.

  Virginia was distracted by a loud knock on the front door, but before she could answer it, Lomax appeared and opened the door.

  “Good afternoon, Dr. Ainsley,” he said. “His grace is expecting you.”

  As they crossed the hall, Moxton came out of the study, shook hands with Dr. Ainsley, and quickly left the house. Although he couldn’t have missed Virginia standing in the doorway of the drawing room, he made no attempt to acknowledge her. She would get rid of him as soon as the duke returned to his regiment.

  Virginia was pleased to see Alice coming down the stairs and hurried out of the drawing room to join her. “Shall we go and see your brother?” she said, without waiting for a reply. “I know he’s been looking forward to seeing you,” she added as she opened the study door and entered without knocking. Once again both men rose.

  “Alice has just come down and I remembered you wanted to see her immediately.”

  “Of course,” said Clarence, giving his sister a hug. “It’s wonderful to see you, my dear.”

  “I thought we might all have tea together in the drawing room.”

  “That’s very thoughtful of you, Virginia,” said Clarence, “but I’d like a few moments alone with my sister, if you don’t mind.”

  Alice looked surprised by her brother’s waspish tone of voice, and Virginia hesitated for a moment before she said, “Yes, of course,” and retreated to the drawing room. This time Montgomery didn’t even raise his head.

  Dr. Ainsley came out of the study twenty minutes later, and also departed without making any effort to pay his respects to the grieving widow. Virginia waited patiently for the duke to summon her to the study, but no such call came, and when a maid, whose name she could never remember, began to turn on the lights all over the house, she decided it was time to change for dinner. She had just stepped out of the bath when she heard a car coming down the drive. She went over to the window and peered out to see Camilla and her family being greeted by Clarence. She dressed quickly, and when she opened her bedroom door a few minutes later she saw the butler and the two children heading toward the corner suite, which she hadn’t allocated to them.

  “Where is your mother?” asked Virginia.

  The children swung around, but it was Lomax who responded. “His grace asked Lady Camilla and her husband to join him in the study and requested that they should not be disturbed.”

  Virginia closed the door behind her. She had never known Lomax to address her in that offhand manner. She tried to concentrate on her makeup, but couldn’t help wondering what they were discussing in the duke’s old study. She assumed all would be revealed over dinner.

  Half an hour later, Virginia walked slowly down the wide staircase, across the hall, and into the drawing room, only to find nobody else was there. She sat and waited, but no one joined her. When the gong was struck at eight o’clock, she made her way through to the dining room, to find the table had been laid for one.

  “Where are the rest of the family?” she demanded when Lomax appeared carrying a small tureen of soup.

  “His grace, Lady Camilla, and Lady Alice are having a light supper in the library,” he said without further explanation.

  Virginia shivered, although the fire was crackling in the hearth. “And the children?”

  “They have already eaten, and as they were tired following their long journey they went straight to bed.”

  A feeling of foreboding gripped her and she tried to convince herself that there was nothing to worry about, but without a great deal of conviction. She waited until the clock in the hall struck nine before leaving the dining room and making her way slowly upstairs to her room. She undressed and went to bed, but she didn’t sleep. She had never felt more alone.

  * * *

  Virginia was relieved when Clarence and Alice joined her for breakfast the following morning, only to find that the conversation was stilted and formal as if she were a stranger in her own home.

  “I’ve almost completed the order of service,” volunteered Virginia, “and I thought perhaps—”

  “No need to waste any more of your time on that,” interrupted Clarence. “I have an appointment with the bishop at ten this morning, and he told me he agreed all the details of the ceremony with my father some time ago.”

  “And does he agree with me that Thursday—”

  “No,” said Clarence equally firmly. “He recommends Friday, which will be more convenient for my father’s friends who will be traveling up from London.”

  Virginia hesitated before saying, “And the guest list, would you like to see my recommendations?”

  “We settled on the final list last night,” said Alice. “But if there are one or two names you’d like to be added, do let me know.”

  “Isn’t there anything I can do to help?” asked Virginia, trying not to sound desperate.

  “No, thank you,” said Clarence. “You’ve done quite enough already.” He folded his napkin and rose from his place. “Please excuse me. I don’t want to be late for the bishop.” He left without another word.

  “And I ought to be getting on,” said Alice. “I’ve rather a lot to do if everything is to be in pla