A Duke's Lesson in Love

Chapter 3 - Rumour has it

Eleanor had finished teaching the girls for the day and had some free time to herself, so she decided that today she is going to explore. She wanted to understand the layout of the never-ending hallways and duplicating doors.

Walking aimlessly, Eleanor saw the walls adorned with intricate décor and paintings. This is the home of wealth and status, it made her feel out of place. Her clothes were painted a sad brown and the hems of her dresses were all slightly frayed and showed signs of heavy use. Hopefully, with this new role Eleanor could afford to buy new clothes, but she could not waste her new found money. Clothes shall now last for three times or more longer than usual.

As she rounded the corner, she heard the voices of several housekeepers chatting amongst themselves. As they saw her, they instantly became very quiet and ran away, as if they had been caught with unspeakable secrets. Eleanor paid them no mind and continued her exploration.

Hours passed by and Eleanor found herself in the gardens, where she spent some time admiring the colourful flowers and the tranquil water fountain. The scents overwhelmed her, consuming every part of her and leaving a stain on her hair and clothes. Lost in thought, she heard the sound of children's laughter in the distance. The sound led her to Elizabeth and Mary playing with their dolls with a group of children from what she purported was from the nearby village. Eleanor couldn't help but grin at the sight because it was so heartening to watch the kids playing together.

While Eleanor was pleased to see the girls forming friendships, she remained concerned about their safety. So, she decided to stay near them. The children were too preoccupied with their games to observe Eleanor set a blanket on the grass and settle down.

She admired their carefree spirit but was disappointed that she couldn't adopt it. Her responsibilities as the governess included watching out for the children and making sure they had a good education. It was hard work, but she cared for the girls.

Hours passed making Eleanor realise that it was time to go back inside. She called out to the girls, signalling that it was time to head back inside. It was getting colder and she didn't want the girls to become ill or worse bed-ridden. Elizabeth and Mary were saddened by Eleanor's words, but they knew it was for the better to listen to their governess. They bid their friends goodbye and went inside with their maid.

As they walked back to the manor, Eleanor couldn't help but wonder what the Duke was up to. Their previous walk was forever engrained in her head, refusing to become forgotten. After only a few days at the manor, she had deduced that the Duke either preferred to spend all of his time in his office or was simply avoiding her.

Eleanor stopped by the door to hear gossip about the Duke while on her way to the kitchen to tell the maids that she would like to take her lunch into her room. They all talked about him nonchalantly, as if he was not their employer but someone they had just heard about. Eleanor was taken aback by their words. From her few encounters with His Grace, he was presented as a responsible and noble man, but the maid's words painted a different picture, drowning his image with red. The stories of his wild ways, and numerous affairs danced in the air, flowing straight to her heart. Eleanor tried to push the thought away, not wanting to dwell on rumours and gossip. Once the chatter about the Duke stopped, she entered the kitchen and spoke about her meal.

"You can eat here if you'd like, I find comfort in dining with others," Miss Dowden smiled at her, placing her food in front of her.

Eleanor sat at the wooden picnic table, and started eating. She asked the cook about the Duke's whereabouts, "the children are wondering where he has gone," lies slipping through her.