55. The Grand Duke -- the carriage ride

Really, this is very humiliating. Playing the part of a servant. Me. I'm a Duke. But here I am, driving around the country at the feet of women. I have had thrust in my face the dirty, smelling feet of pig farmers. I hate feet. Smelly, disgusting things. And only a handful have had the decency to clean their feet before trying on the slipper. I have had to clean out fragments of mud and dirt and even some dead skin after one truly horrid woman. This is an awful business.

But the king ordered it, so I will carry out his plan. 

I have been at this since before the sun rose. I have visited nearly every home in town. And before now I have escorted only four women to the Viscount's study. And now three in one household. This is truly most remarkable. It is also most awkward. 

I expected these three girls to be excited and chatty. The others were. But, no, they haven't spoken a word since we left Sir Eccles estate. And my, what they say about his library is true. It is most exquisite. Never have I seen so many volumes in one place. Even my untrained eye could see the value of some of the works he had collected. One could spend weeks in there. It has to be one of the greatest stores of knowledge in the kingdom. Even the Viscount of Bellamy would be jealous.

These girls are most strange. They do make me so uncomfortable. The older one sits with an air of triumph, as if she is the ruler of this little pack. I suppose she is. She looks as if she would kill her own mother to get ahead in life. My, how she reminds me of my lady duchess. 

The younger lady cowers in a corner as if she were frightened of the idea of the Viscount. And we'll she may be. I know I was when I first met him. What a surprise it will be for her when she finds it is the prince she will meet instead of the Viscount. She looks green enough now,  I fear she will faint at sight of the prince.

And then there is the maid. I cannot decide what to make of her silence. Is it fear of the Viscount? Respect for her ladies? Worry about her Mistress's demand that she stay? What was that woman thinking, pulling at her in such a way. She is just a serving girl. Even my lady duchess can be without a maid for a day. Our Bessie left us for a week not long ago to tend to her dying mother and my lady duchess was fine. There are always other maids to serve her. But they did seem to treat this one differently. She wasn't quartered with the other maids when they tried the slipper on. I wonder why that is. Maybe she is ill-tempered? No, that cannot be. She has only shown respect and deference to her lady. Not that Madame Eccles deserved it. Her behavior was most unbecoming. Perhaps I will offer her a place among my own maids when this business is ended.

Ahh, the Viscount's manor. Here I leave them and off I go to find more ladies for His Highness. I hate feet.