THALIA WOKE EARLY the next morning, determined to take control of her marriage to and her life with Giles. It was all well and good for the gentlemen to plan, but she could do some things as well. Such as find out where the rest of the tunnels from the chapel led. She would accomplish that directly after the service this morning.
She glanced around the room. Why was there no clock?
Tossing her covers aside, she threw her legs over the side of the bed. “Mannering.”
The maid came into the room from a small door at the end of the chamber. “Yes, my lady?”
“Do you know what time it is?” Thalia padded to the screen.
“It is half past seven. I was just getting ready to come to you.” Her maid ducked back into the dressing room. “Lady Hawksworth sent up three trunks yesterday. She had gowns made for you in London.” Mannering held up one of the garments.
Thalia’s jaw dropped, and it took her a moment to shut it. “Oh, my. Are they beautiful?”
“Yes, my lady. Beautiful and fashionable. I pressed one for this morning. Would you like to see it?”
New gowns! “Yes.” Several times over the past year, she and her mother had taken fashion plates to the local seamstress in the village near Somerset Castle, but the woman could never manage to make them up properly. When the gowns were finished, they always looked at least a year out of fashion. “It will be so nice to have something that is well-looking.”
The walking gown was primrose muslin embroidered with small violets. Mannering also held a spencer in Saxon blue. Thalia clasped her hands together. “I have never had anything so lovely.” But if she was going to explore tunnels, she might ruin the gown. “I think she meant them for me to wear after I married. Or perhaps I could wear one tomorrow for my wedding.”
Mannering sighed. “I suppose you’re right, my lady. They aren’t suitable for a young unmarried lady.”
Thalia felt sorry for her maid, who only wanted her lady to look as good as her sisters. “I shall ask when I see everyone this morning. If my aunt or mother approves, I shall change for this afternoon.”
“That’s just the thing to do.” Happy again, her maid went back into the dressing room and brought out one of her light-pink gowns.
As far as Thalia was concerned, the dress could get as dirty as it needed to be while she accomplished her mission.
When Thalia stepped out of her door, Giles was there. “I came to escort you to the breakfast room. It’s a bit of a journey from this wing.”
She joined her hand with his. “How did you sleep?”
“Well, but I knew you were safe.” He gave her a rueful grin. “Hawksworth was waiting for me when I left.”
“Oh, dear.” That could not have been comfortable. “What did he say?”
“He was glad I decided to go back to my chamber.” They reached the first level of the stairs and turned toward the back of the house.
“It will not be long now.” She wondered how difficult it was to open the stone chests. “Do you know how to open the stone boxes in the chapel?”
Tilting his head, he gazed down at her. “I do. Why?”
Thalia raised her chin. She would soon be a duchess and the mistress of her own house. It was time to go on as she meant to. Even with her husband. “I have decided to explore the tunnels to their ends in the event we need them.”
“Very well.”
They turned another corner. She had not been paying much attention, and at this rate, she would not be able to find her way back.
Giles said, “I cannot accompany you directly after the service, but I have time to show you soon how to find the levers.”
“Are they all the same?” That would make it easy.
“No.” He steered her left, and they stood in front of a green door. “But there is a trick that will help you.”
“Thank you.” He opened the door, and she found only the senior members of their party. “What happened to the others?”
“They were up and down all night with the babies,” her mother said, rising. “I am going up now to lend a hand.”
Thalia looked over the selection on the sideboard and found baked eggs and slices of ham. A fresh pot of tea was set before her when she took her seat as well as a rack of well-buttered toast.
Giles sat next to her with porridge and eggs. “It’s not breakfast for me unless I have porridge.”
“Too many years living this far north?” her uncle asked.
“That and a Scottish cook.” He poured cream on the porridge. “Bannocks are also one of my favorites, but I’ve yet to find an English or French cook who can make them properly.”
Thalia made a note to herself to speak with the cook here about making bannocks, whatever they were.
She had just finished her tea when Berwick rose. “It’s time for the service.”
They followed him out, and fortunately, the way from the breakfast room to the door into the chapel was straightforward. When Giles turned his head to speak to Berwick, she took the opportunity to ask her aunt about her new clothes.
“Meg bought me gowns, but they are not what I have been allowed to wear. May I wear them now or should I wait until I am wed?”
