Three Graces by Victoria Connelly Read Free Book Online Page B

the private dining room which was a simple room by the standards of Amberley. It looked warm and inviting with its enormous raspberry-coloured rug and red and gold flocked wallpaper and, as everywhere else in the house - just as Richard had told her - there were a number of portraits gazing down at the room, as though the Bretton ancestors didn’t like to miss a trick so made sure the whole house was covered between them.
    The duke pulled out a chair for his wife and Richard mirrored his actions by pulling one out for Carys.
    ‘Well,’ Richard said awkwardly, as he sat down. ‘This is nice, isn’t it?’
    The duchess gave a tight smile and the duke mumbled something that Carys didn’t quite hear.
    ‘Are the girls not coming?’ Carys asked Richard quietly.
    ‘No. They’re eating with Nanny.’
    ‘Oh,’ Carys said, wondering if that was the norm. Not that she particularly fancied having the cool eyes of Cecily upon her whilst she ate her lunch but she instinctively felt that the sooner she made an effort to get to know Richard’s daughters, the better.
    She let her eyes glance around the room with its fine portraits and beautiful lamps and vases. And this was the least grand dining room at Amberley.
    ‘It’s a beautiful room,’ she enthused.
    The duke grunted a response and the duchess merely glanced to the side as if to look at it for the first time. Perhaps they had stopped seeing the great beauty of their surroundings after having lived there for so long. Yet Richard seemed so in love with the place - showing it off to her as if he’d just stumbled across it himself and was desperate to share his new discovery.
    ‘I love all the portraits,’ she continued enthusiastically. ‘Who’s he?’ she asked, pointing to a gentleman above the fireplace. ‘He’s very handsome.’
    The duke coughed and shifted in his seat and Carys noticed that the duchess was blushing. Oh, dear. Had she put her foot in it again?
    She turned to Richard for help and saw that he was smirking.
    ‘He’s James, Marquess of Amberley. He became the seventh duke.’
    ‘It’s such a lovely portrait,’ she said, looking at the pale, pensive face, the dark expressive eyes, and the proud way he held his head. ‘Shouldn’t it be in one of the public rooms?’
    The duke’s eyebrows rose in horror.
    Richard cleared his throat. ‘Bit of a naughty boy, the seventh duke. Had three mistresses that we know about - probably had a few more tucked away behind his wife’s back, and disgraced himself by getting into a fight in the House of Lords over somebody else’s wife.’
    ‘Terrible business,’ the duke said, jowls wobbling in consternation. ‘Reprehensible fellow.’
    ‘But the public adore that kind of story. You should definitely have his portrait in a prominent place. It would be of no end of interest to visitors. And get some postcards printed too. I’d buy one.’
    The duchess gave a little smile.
    ‘Wouldn’t you?’
    The duchess blinked at Carys’s direct question.
    ‘I mean, it would be a fine memento. You know - interesting.’
    ‘What line of work are you in?’ the duchess asked.
    Carys wondered if it was to change the subject quickly or to find out if she was in marketing and really did know what she was talking about.
    ‘I’m a PA at Gyland and Green.’
    ‘Good company,’ the duke announced.
    ‘And do you enjoy your work?’
    ‘Yes,’ Carys said, wondering if the duchess was laying some kind of trap. ‘They’re good people.’
    ‘And won’t you miss it?’
    Carys frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘When you marry Richard, won’t you miss your job?’
    ‘I don’t understand-’
    ‘Mother,’ Richard cut in. ‘Can’t we talk about something else? I’m sure Carys doesn’t want to talk about work.’
    ‘It’s all right, Richard. I don’t mind.’
    The duchess gave Richard a look that seemed to say, mother knows best, dear .
    ‘Do you mean,’ Carys began, turning to her future mother-in-law,