Never Kiss a Toad

Chapter Seventy Nine

Winchester unbent a little more. "My apologies, Your Highness, Your Grace. I do not wish to leave you with the impression the family is in danger. They indeed made it here and have since gone elsewhere. Her Grace improved upon her return home, enough to accept an invitation to visit family for the holidays."

"Family? What family? That could be half of England!"

"It is not for me to comment on the actions or direction of the family, Your Grace. Her Grace said I was to tell no one their plans, Sir. She said 'no one,' Sir. She said it most emphatically." Winchester frowned, swallowed, and added. "Lady Sarah thought you might come, sir, and Her Grace said she certainly hoped so, but that if you did I was not to give you their direction. You ought to spend Christmas with your mother, she said, instead of chasing a wife."

Winchester met Toad's frown with one of his own. "I trust I have not broken the duchess's confidence by disclosing this much."

It certainly wasn't Winchester's fault his Aunt Cherry thought he needed to be told to see to his mother's welfare, so Toad softened his reaction. "I shall be entirely circumspect when I speak to her."

Etcetera spoke up then. "Might we impose on you for rooms? It has been a long trip from London."

With a coy look for Toad from Mrs Holcum, which provoked a widening of Etcetera's eyes, the housekeeper said, "The family's rooms are always ready, but for lighting fires, and we've a few guest rooms prepared. I can show you to your beds now, if you'd like."

"I know the way to the family wing, and I will gather a footman on my way to order a bath," Etcetera said. "You can take His Grace and his man, Franks, to a room."

There was a time when Toad would have been pointed to a room in the family wing—the blue room on with a nautical theme their mothers had decorated at the sbutsame time as a rose-themed room for Sally at Wellstone. But now, he was a bachelor guest. Now, on the way to the area of the house farthest from the unmarried daughter of the family, he renewed his acquaintance with Maggie, the former housemaid, now assistant housekeeper, who had relieved him of his burdensome virginity at age 14.

"How are you, Maggie? It has been too many years since we spoke. Married now, it seems? And Haverford assistant housekeeper? You have not done badly for yourself."

"Widowed, sir, and lucky His Grace took me back after my Tom died. It must be almost ten years, Sir, and a fine man you've grown into, and no mistake."

Toad blushed a bit at this new compliment from the first woman who had ever given him a compliment about his looks; it seemed like another lifetime ago.

"Surely not ten years; I count barely eight. Let us not age ourselves before our time. I am sorry to hear of your loss, Maggie. I hope it does not still pain you."

"He was a good man, and I miss him. It were cholera. Took him and the little un. But five years gone now, and there's no use repining."

Toad frowned. "I am so sorry to hear it."

"Life goes on, Sir, or so I've found." At this, she opened the door to a large bedchamber with a dressing room large enough to accommodate his valet, and a cluster of chairs and a tea table at the hearth. "I know Her Grace would want us to make you comfortable. And so would Lady Sarah."

"I will take care of the bed and fires, Mrs Holcum," Franks said, carrying Toad's hand luggage into the dressing room.

"Will Lady Sarah be pleased to see me, Maggie? Has she said anything about me since she returned, or has she well and truly settled on Lord Maddox? And is there anything I can offer you that might convince you to say where she's gone?"