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good brushing will
take that mud off the hems and a gentle toweling might lessen those
marks on the jacket, I think.”
    Julia looked doubtfully at the pitiful image
that stared back at her from the mirror. “No wonder everyone was
looking at me so,” she murmured. “No wonder all the servants were
staring! I look a horrid fright!”
    “ Oh, my lady, anyone can see you are a
beautiful woman,” said the housekeeper, kindly. “You’ve just been
through a hedgerow backwards, as the saying does go. But you’re
still quite lovely, if I may be so bold.”
    Julia shook her head slightly. “You’re very
kind, but I know a look of shock when I see one. And every servant
who has seen me thus far has worn that very expression!”
    Mrs. Crabtree’s generous brows knit into a
single, furrowed line. “I was hoping you would not have noticed the
stares, my lady. You must forgive us, but we were so surprised when
you did arrive. You see, you are the first woman our master has
brought to Merrifield since our pretty little duchess died.”
    Julia turned quickly to look at her. “Pretty
little duchess? Are you speaking of Lord Warminster’s mother?”
    “ Oh, no, my lady! I speak of his
grace’s wife. Such a beauty she was and dearer than breath. My
master was only married to his pretty little duchess a little more
than a year before she was taken from this world.”
    Julia felt her chest constrict a little. “I
didn’t know the duke had been married,” she said, a good deal
surprised.
    “ No? Then you have not heard the rumors
about my master! Or, if you have, you know them to be untrue!” She
smiled upon Julia in an approving manner. “That would explain my
master’s behavior in bringing you here. You do seem the sort of
fine lady who would never listen to horrid gossip!”
    “ You are very loyal to the Duke,” said
Julia, trying to make sense of the housekeeper’s words.
    “ And why should I not be? There isn’t a
tenant or servant or pensioner on this estate who doesn’t think the
world of my master, him being so kind to us all, despite his
loss.”
    “ I had no idea.” Julia was having a
difficult time equating the gentleman of Mrs. Crabtree’s
description with the surly and rude wastrel she had met at the
cottage.
    “ No, and how could you, for I don’t
believe he speaks of his duchess any longer. My master is a man who
won’t have his wounds touched, you see.”
    “ But I never dreamed  There are all those stories about him, you
see  ”
    “ Bah! Stories!” said Mrs. Crabtree,
contemptuously. “I know how the villagers do speak ill of his
grace, and let them, I say. We at Merrifield know the truth! His
grace may not be the perfect gentleman when he is out in the world,
but when he comes home to Merrifield, my master is as kind and good
and thoughtful a man as ever walked the earth. Surely, my lady, you
are acquainted a little with that side of him.”
    Was she? Every whispered story Julia had
chanced to overhear about the Duke pointed to a man of wickedness.
Even her friend Harriet had repeated in hushed tones stories that
cast the Duke of Warminster in the light of a man of decided
evil.
    But now that she came to think of it, Julia
realized that a truly wicked man would have pressed his advantage
during the time they were alone together in that little cottage. A
ruthless man would have ridden away after the rain had stopped,
leaving her alone to fend for herself.
    But most importantly, an evil man would never
have lifted her up before him on his horse to wrap his wounded arm
so securely yet gently about her.
    “ I suppose I am acquainted a little
with that side of his character,” said Julia, and she was
immediately rewarded with a smile from Mrs. Crabtree. “I wonder how
the duke ever came to be so misjudged?”
    “ How do any such stories ever come to
be?” countered the housekeeper. “Now, my lady, if you will allow me
to help you out of that jacket and skirt, I might be in a way