Chapter 328: Chapter Three Hundred And Twenty Eight
"Careful," Mr. Simmons said loudly, holding his hand up in the air. "Careful with that trunk. It contains Her Grace’s new silk dresses. Do not scratch the dark leather against the iron rails."
The driveway of Hamilton House was very busy. The bright sun shone down on the cobblestones. Two large, sturdy carriages, strapped to each other, were parked in front of the wide stone steps.
The first was a smaller luggage carriage, meant only for carrying their bags. The second was the Duke’s private traveling carriage, decorated with the silver Hamilton family crest.
Mr. Simmons stood firmly on the driveway. He watched the strong footmen with sharp, observant eyes. He directed their every single movement.
"Place the trunks at the very bottom," Mr. Simmons commanded clearly, pointing his white-gloved finger. "Yes, exactly there. Now, bring the smaller hat boxes. Secure them completely with the thick leather straps. We cannot have them shifting around when the carriage hits a bump on the country roads. And make sure the Duke’s writing case is placed inside the main carriage, not with the heavy luggage."
The footmen moved quickly and efficiently under the butler’s strict commands. They strapped the trunks tightly. They arranged the delicate boxes inside carefully. They ensured absolutely everything was perfectly prepared for the long journey.
Inside the cool, quiet foyer, away from the busy noise of the driveway, Rowan and Delaney were preparing themselves to leave.
Rowan stood directly in front of his wife.
Delaney was wearing a beautiful, light blue traveling dress made of soft wool. It was perfect for the cool afternoon air. Rowan held her small right hand gently in his large hands. He was helping her put on her soft, white gloves.
He moved his fingers slowly. He carefully worked the soft leather over her delicate fingers, smoothing the fabric completely over her knuckles. He fastened the tiny pearl buttons at her wrist with surprising gentleness.
"There," Rowan murmured softly, looking down at her hand. He lifted her left hand and repeated the exact same careful process, making sure the glove fit perfectly.
When her gloves were securely on, Rowan reached his hands up to her head. Delaney was wearing a matching light blue bonnet to protect her face from the sun. The silk ribbons of the bonnet were hanging loose around her neck.
Rowan took the two blue silk ribbons in his fingers. He pulled them gently under her chin. With slow focused movements, he tied the ribbons into a neat, perfect bow. He smoothed the edges of the ribbon so they sat flat against the soft collar of her dress.
Delaney stood perfectly still. She looked up at his concentrated face.
"Thank you," Delaney whispered softly, a warm smile touching her pink lips.
Rowan lowered his hands. He looked at her beautiful face framed by the blue bonnet.
"You look beautiful, my Duchess," Rowan replied, his deep voice a low,affectionate rumble.
Just as he spoke, the front doors opened slightly wider. Mr. Simmons walked into the foyer. He stopped a respectful distance away from the couple and offered a very deep, polite bow.
"Your Graces," Mr. Simmons said calmly, raising his head. "Everything is completely ready for your departure. The luggage is fully secured, and the horses are rested."
Rowan turned his body to face the butler. He stood tall, returning to his serious, commanding posture.
"Thank you very much, Simmons," Rowan spoke clearly. His voice carried a deep, genuine respect for the older man’s hard work. "I trust absolutely everything will be in good hands while we are away."
Mr. Simmons offered a small, highly reassuring smile.
"You do not need to worry about a single thing, Your Grace," Mr. Simmons promised firmly. "I will take care of everything here at Hamilton House. I will manage the servants and keep the accounts in order. If there is something highly important that needs your attention urgently, I will send a fast letter to the cottage."
Rowan nodded his head slowly. He completely trusted the butler.
"Very well then," Rowan agreed. He turned his head back to Delaney and offered her a soft, warm smile. "We best be leaving now, my love. The sun is already moving lower."
Delaney nodded her head happily. She was ready to go.
Rowan offered her his right arm. Delaney reached out and placed her gloved hand securely over his dark sleeve. Together, they walked out of the quiet foyer and stepped out onto the bright stone steps.
The footman opened the door of the carriage and pulled down the small metal steps.
Rowan stopped near the carriage door. He let go of Delaney’s arm. He placed his large hands firmly on her waist to support her.
Delaney reached down with one hand and gently raised the front of her skirt, making sure she did not trip on the hem. She stepped carefully up the metal steps and climbed inside the spacious carriage.
Rowan followed her immediately. He sat down right beside her on the velvet seat.
The footman closed the carriage door with a solid, firm click.
"Walk on!" the driver called out from the high seat.
The carriage shook gently as the strong horses stepped forward. The wooden wheels began to turn smoothly over the cobblestones. They drove slowly out of the grand iron gates of Hamilton House and joined the busy streets of London.
It was already the middle of the afternoon. The city was loud and crowded. Merchants were shouting, people were walking on the sidewalks, and other carriages were rushing past them.
However, after a long hour of driving, the scenery completely began to change.
The tall, crowded brick buildings of London slowly faded away. The loud noises of the city were replaced by the quiet, peaceful sounds of nature. The carriage turned onto a smooth, wide dirt road. The air coming through the open carriage window suddenly smelled fresh, clean, and full of green trees and wild grass.
They were finally entering the quiet, peaceful countryside.
Inside the carriage, the mood was far from quiet.
Delaney was bouncing with bright, endless energy. She had spent the entire week dealing with formal wedding guests and strict society rules. Now, she was finally free. She felt exactly like a small bird let out of a cage. She turned in her seat so she could face Rowan completely.
She immediately began asking a long series of rapid, curious questions.
"How long will it take to get there?" Delaney asked eagerly, her hazel eyes shining brightly.
Rowan smiled. He completely loved her lively energy. He leaned back comfortably against the velvet seat, crossing his long legs.
"Only about two more hours," Rowan answered smoothly. "The horses are very fast, and the road is completely clear today."
Delaney nodded quickly, accepting the answer. She did not pause for a single second before asking her next question.
"Does the cottage have a large garden?" Delaney asked, tilting her head. "I really love to see flowers in the morning."
He reached over and gently took her hand in his.
"It has a beautiful garden," Rowan promised her. "It is filled with wild pink roses, tall green trees, and there is even a small, quiet pond right behind the house. You can walk anywhere you want."
Delaney smiled a very wide, happy smile. "Are there any neighbors nearby? Will we have to dress up for formal dinners with other lords?"
Rowan let out a soft chuckle and shook his head.
"Absolutely no neighbors," Rowan replied firmly. "The nearest house is over five miles away. There are no lords, no society ladies, and absolutely no formal dinners. You do not even have to wear your shoes if you do not want to."
Delaney giggled softly at the idea of walking barefoot. She squeezed his hand tightly.
"How long are we staying there?" Delaney asked her next question. She really hoped it would not be a short trip. She wanted to stay in their private world for a very long time.
Rowan looked deeply into her eyes. He wanted her to know exactly how important this time was to him.
"A month," Rowan replied clearly. "We will stay there for one month."
