Read Duchess by Chance for Free Online Page B

 
    “Please allow me to welcome you to the village, your Grace. Reverend Potter urged me to call upon you now you have settled in and ask if you will be attending services this Sunday.” Mrs. Potter’s smile was hopeful.  
    “Uh, I…”
    “We are delighted to at last have another duchess living here at Stratton, and hope that soon you will honor our small village with a visit.”
    “O-of course,” Eva said, feeling guilty that she had not already done so. “Please tell Reverend Potter I will attend church this Sunday, and forgive me for not doing so sooner. I am afraid it has taken me some time to settle in.’
    “Oh no, your Grace.” Mrs. Potter clasped her hands to her ample bosom. “Please do not apologize. We are aware of the pressures such a great lady must have upon her time and it will be such an honor to have you attend our service. I will have the Stratton pew cleaned in expectation.”
    “Please do not go to any trouble on my behalf, Mrs. Potter,” Eva added. She had visions of the village all turning out to clean before she arrived and she did not warrant such attention.
    “It will be our pleasure, your Grace.” Mrs. Potter sank into a curtsy so low Eva wondered if she would need help rising.
    “Would you ladies care for tea?” Eva looked longingly at the door. She had no experience with social chitchat and the prospect of sitting in a room with them was making her feel uneasy. She envisaged long, awkward silences.
    “Tea would be delightful, would it not, Mrs. Potter?” Miss Belmont said, taking the lady’s arm and leading her to a chair.
    “Oh, indeed it would, Miss Belmont. Tea with the Duchess.” Mrs. Potter patted her sausage curls. “The ladies of the village will be most envious.”
    Eva did not say a great deal through the subsequent tea. She sat on the edge of her seat, very aware of her worn dress with its frayed hem, and listened to the other two ladies chat.  
    “I fear it is close to the reverend’s lunchtime,” Mrs. Potter said finally, struggling out of her chair, which took quite a bit of maneuvering, due to her bulk. “I like to be there when he takes his meals,” she added, sinking into another curtsy, and then she was gone.  
    Miss Belmont chuckled at the startled expression on Eva’s face as she looked at the closed door. “She is a kind-hearted lady who feels it’s her duty to poke her nose into everyone’s business. You are lucky she is in awe of you. The rest of us must suffer her moral sermons regularly.”
    Eva returned her gaze to Miss Belmont. She looked so gracious in her lemon dress with satin trim. In fact, Miss Belmont appeared exactly as a duchess should and Eva felt a hot wave of shame at her own dowdy appearance. Catching sight of the worn toe of a slipper, she pushed her feet under the hem. What was she to say to this lady who had obviously been raised in society? Surely they had nothing in common.
    “Do not feel guilty over not attending church, your Grace.” Miss Belmont patted Eva’s hand. “You needed time to settle into your new surroundings. Unfortunately, the villagers’ curiosity has reached fever pitch and now they have made up all sorts of convoluted tales about you.”
    “Oh dear, that was never my intention. I merely needed time to adjust and did not feel comfortable...” Eva’s words trailed off as she lowered her eyes.
    “Can I help you with becoming more comfortable?” Miss Belton said gently.
    Eva spread the skirts of her dress wide. “I fear there are so many things, Miss Belton, I would not know where to start.”      
    “Perhaps your dress is not quite the thing, but we could -”
    Eva could do nothing to stop her splutter of laughter. “Not quite the thing!” She lifted her head. “That is a polite way of saying my dress is a rag.”
    “Yes, well...” Miss Belton studied Eva. “If you will allow me to assist you, we shall soon fix that. If you are free, perhaps you could come to tea tomorrow afternoon