Madison was disappointed that Chadwick had not woken her up before departing. Why had he not told her last night that he had errands? Surely he had known of it yesterday.

Damn obnoxious duke!

What was she supposed to do for the entire day? Cleaning the cottage and making their meal may take her all of four hours, if she stretched things. What should she do for the rest of the day? She was surprised to see Buttons was around. Beth was busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Madison wished she was alone so she could sulk. She wanted to run back to their chamber and cry, but decided to bravely bare it.

‘Morning my lady,’ Beth smiled. ‘I hope you are hungry. We have bacon, toast, baked beans and fried potatoes.’

‘Thank you Beth. Did my husband eat?’ She would need to sit Beth down and explain to her that they need to use the groceries sparingly. If Chadwick was only going to replenish the pantry in a week, then they would have to tighten their belts.

‘Yes Lady Madison,’ she grinned. ‘He also asked me not to disturb you.’

‘I see,’ Madison’s face became inflamed.

Did he have to tell Beth that!

‘Thank you Beth. Sit down,’ Madison sat and accepted the cup of chocolate.

‘Chadwick told me he will only go to the market once a week. We will need to use our supplies sparingly.’

‘We have enough supplies for a week,’ Beth smiled. ‘His Grace says he will bring some beef and chicken home tonight.’

‘I would like to make my husband supper tonight Beth,’ Madison rose and walked to the pantry.

‘Have you decided on the menu?

‘I was thinking Shepherd’s pie and a vegetable stew,’ Madison angled her head thoughtfully.

I am sure His Grace will be pleased with whatever you serve him. He cares a lot you my lady.’

‘I hope so,’ Madison smiled. ‘I want to see the garden. Did Buttons not go with Chadwick?’

‘No. His Grace wants him to stay here and protect you,’ Beth smiled.

‘From the jackals?’

Beth laughed. ‘You are a beautiful, young lady. He does not want the gentlemen here in d’Angerville to become bold in his absence?’

‘There are eligible young gentlemen here?’ Madison was curious.

Beth’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘What I mean is ---. I am not asking for myself Beth. I just did not think young men would remain in this quiet, country town. Young people prefer the ton.’

‘His Grace is a good man. I would not like any ---problems.’

‘For heaven’s sake Beth! I am quite happy with my husband. It has not even crossed my mind to think about a lover after one week of marriage, and in any event Chadwick will not allow such a thing.’

‘Most ladies who take lovers do not get their husband’s permission,’ Beth winked.

‘I have no desire for a lover. I do not think I want another man,’ Madison turned scarlet. ‘Now enough of this ridiculous subject. Tell Buttons I would like him to walk with me in the garden.’

‘Morning Your Grace,’ Buttons clutched his hat in front of his chest.

‘Morning Buttons. Lady Madison will do,’ she grinned. She looked into the warm sunny sky. ‘The garden looks lovely.’

‘We can grow a lot of our own produce my lady. Yesterday I got lots of different seeds. Carrots, beans, cabbage and sweet potato.’

‘Did my husband pay for all that?’

‘Er---he does not know.’

‘Buttons! I cannot let you spend your money on agricultural supplies.’

‘It is nothing my lady. You have always been kind to the servant folk. His Grace is a fair and decent man.’

‘I was thinking we should see what grows best and we can sell the surplus in the market or trade it for other supplies,’ Madison suggested.

‘Within a month we will have plenty to start with my lady.’

‘There is an abundance of fruit here already,’ Madison plucked a green pear hanging low from one of the trees. She wiped it down on her skirt and bit into it. ‘Mmm it is delicious. We shall pack some of them in trays for the market. ‘Beth and I can make some jam from the apricots, figs and berries.’

‘I am going to make a paddock my lady. His Grace is bringing some chickens and a few goats for milk and cheese.

‘We need a washing line Buttons,’ Madison removed the gold coin from her pocket. ‘Perhaps you can get some steel and poles and whatever else you may need,’ she offered him the coin.

‘Let me see if I can find the material first,’ Buttons refused to accept the money. ‘I will let you know,’ he shifted away.

‘I want to do some chores inside, we will talk later then. Madison wanted to scrub the sitting room and the kitchen floors. There were beautiful wild flowers and lavender growing close to the fence. She would put those into a bowl in the sitting groom and in their chamber.

'Sir what about these invitations?’ Carlton waved the stack of invitations to balls; soirees; supper and tea parties that had been flooding in since Chadwick became the ninth Duke of d’Angerville.

‘Send each one of them my sincerest apologies,’ Chadwick smiled wickedly.

‘I beg your pardon sir?’ Carlton thought Chadwick had taken leave of his senses. Surely now was the opportune time to assert his position as the next Duke of d’Angerville.

‘Tell them I am still mourning my father’s death,’ Chadwick stood up impatiently.

‘Very well sir,’ Carlton bowed sarcastically. ‘As you wish sir,’ he hurried out.

When Chadwick entered the cottage, he was pleasantly surprised. It smelt fresh and clean. Something also smelt heavenly in the kitchen. He had been looking forward to coming home to his wife. The whole day he could not stop thinking about her. He had stopped at the market and bought her a bouquet of posies. Some evil force convinced him not to spoil his wife. He had subsequently thrown it out off the carriage.

‘Chadwick you’re home,’ Madison rushed into his arms. She loved that unique male scent of her husband. She was happy he was home. She had been counting the hours till she could be with him again. ‘I missed you,’ she whispered.

The same evil force influenced Chadwick to be wise and not to show his wife too much of affection. In fact he had wanted to keep her at arm’s length, but when she rushed into his arms, and lifted her full delectable lips to him so expectantly, all he could do was return the favour.

‘Madison,’ he crushed her in his arms, kissing her hungrily. ‘I am looking forward to tonight,’ he whispered in her ear.

Madison blushed. She led him to the kitchen. On their way into the kitchen, Chadwick noticed the bouquet of lavender and daisies in a bowl. He had caught the whiff of lavender, the second he had walked into the house.

‘Something smells lovely,’ Chadwick sniffed into the air appreciatively.

‘I have made Shepherd’s pie and vegetable soup for our supper,’ Madison informed him happily.

‘Let me wash my hands,’ he smiled and hurried to the bath chamber.

‘Did you enjoy your day?’ he asked over his shoulder.

‘Yes thank you and I did not leave the premises,’ she smiled.

‘Thank you,’ he walked to her, cupped her face. ‘I would like my wife to be here when I return each day.’

‘I will be here,’ she promised.

Chadwick had thoroughly enjoyed his wife’s first home cooked meal. He was surprised that she had not fired a million questions at him, demanding to know where he had been the entire day. He brushed away the stab of disappointment that she had not enquired about his day. After the pleasantly consumed meal, guilt enveloped him that whilst she had made every effort to please him with a delicious meal, he had cruelly discarded the bouquet of flowers his wife was definitely deserving off.

‘Why don’t we invite a few people to supper one of the evenings?’ Madison suggested as she served Chadwick fresh garden fruit and cream for pudding.

‘People?’ Chadwick questioned with his spoon midway to his mouth.

‘You must know some folk around here,’ Madison helped herself to some pudding. ‘I would like to be introduced to some of our neighbours?’

‘Oh are you expecting to be introduced at the newest Duchess of d’Angerville?’ he accused angrily. ‘It did not take very long for your true colours to unmask now did it Lady Madison?’

Disappointment and shame engulfed her. She lowered her head. It seemed he still judged her for her earlier stupidity of choosing rank over true love. Has she not proved herself to him yet? Hadn’t she chosen to live with him as a commoner in this servant’s style house over Earl Rankin’s Swain’s much better looking estate? Her appetite deserting her, Madison pushed the bowl away.

‘I was not inferring that you extend invitations to the elite of the ton’s polite society,’ she murmured. ‘I was merely referring to our immediate neighbours,’ she stood up. ‘I shall bring the coffee in,’ she walked to the kitchen.

Chadwick felt vile, for the insensitive cad that he was. He could not let her meet the neighbours. Of course she could not meet the neighbours. He had seen the hurt in her eyes before she tried to hide it. She had not even challenged him. How could he have been so insensitive? Hadn’t she come to him without a dowry? He had informed her they would be living from hand to mouth and she had unblinkingly accepted it. Was that not punishment enough for a lady of polite society who was accustomed to all of life’s luxuries.

When Madison returned with the coffee tray, she had a polite smile on her face. Their earlier altercation seemed to have been forgotten.

‘Beth and I are going to make jams from the figs and apricots,’ she smiled. Buttons shall take it to the marketplace.’

‘Do you have enough jars?’ he accepted the olive branch. ‘I can bring some back tomorrow evening.’

‘We do have sufficient, thank you,’ she declined.

‘Are you not having coffee?’ he asked seeing only the one cup on the tray.

If she sacrificed her evening coffee, there would be sufficient milk for Chadwick’s coffee tomorrow morning.

‘No thank you,’ she offered him a polite smile. ‘I may have some tea a little later, just before we retire to bed.’ She could have tea without milk.

‘Would you like to go for a walk my lady?’ Chadwick invited as he finished his coffee. He did not want to retire just yet. He wanted to spend more time in her company.

‘Yes please,’ Madison exclaimed excitedly. She had desperately wanted to explore her surroundings. Too afraid to risk his wrath, she had refrained from asking.