Chapter 6
Tuesday, April 29 dawned clear and bright in contrast to the day before, which had been cloudy and rainy. In fact, it had been that way for five whole days.
The sun streamed into the Leopold’s sleeping chamber as Otis pulled the curtains back.
“Rise and shine, Your Grace,� he called, turning around, “we finally have a beautiful sunny…� he stopped in mid sentence.
Leopold’s bed was empty. It was the first time in the three years that he lived here that his bed had not been slept in.
Otis smiled and shook his head. Kate McKay was not your average woman. It was as if she had appeared from nowhere, even though Leopold had assured him that she had been to the mansion once before.
He had never seen him so happy as he was last night at the ball. He had eyes only for her and no one else. They were inseparable, laughing and talking with one another with everyone whispering behind them, wondering who she was and where she had come from.
He had known that she had come from New York. Kate had mentioned that when she arrived at the mansion and a brief version of how they had met. She had told him that she was in love with Leopold and that she needed to tell him so. From that moment on, he was not only impressed with her looks but her intelligence as well. This woman, he thought, would be great for Leopold.
And so he had let her in. He hadn’t regretted it. The only thing that he thought he was going to regret was Uncle Millard’s wrath toward Kate later on that morning. He was wondering how he could talk Millard out of it when he spotted something on the floor. He bent down to pick it up and looked at it. It was the picture of Kate arriving at the ball. He smiled and placed it in the inside pocket of his suit. He’d give it to Leopold later when they were alone.
He had just closed the door to his room when he heard humming coming from the end of the house.
If fact, that was the side where all guests slept and this included Kate McKay.
“Your Grace,� he said, stopping him in mid song. “Please, tell me…�
Leopold stopped. He had a smile on his face wider than any smile Otis had ever seen.
“Please, Otis, stop calling me “Your Grace. You know that I never liked it.�
“And what would have me call you?�
Chapter 7
Leopold looked at him. “You can call me Leopold, Otis. And if you feel uncomfortable doing it in polite society, then you can refer to me as Your Grace.�
Otis looked at him. “Your Grace?�
Leopold laughed and shook his head. “It’s alright, Otis. I have a favor to ask of you. Please explain to the cook that I need the kitchen this fine morning. I would like to make breakfast for fiancée with my own hands. I have something in mind, if you would care to help me.�
Otis shook his head. “You know, your uncle is waiting for you, Leopold,� Otis said, trying it out.
“Yes, I expected that would happen. I am well prepared. Kate and I went over it this morning. I slept in her room last night.�
Otis smiled. “Yes, I thought that might have been where you disappeared to. I was already in your room.�
Leopold smiled. “And I was hoping to be there before you got to it.�
“I found something in your room, Leopold, and I wanted to give it to you before someone else gets a hold of it.� He reached into his jacket pocket and brought out the picture. He handed to Leopold.
“Where is she from, Your Grace, and how do you know her?�
Leopold looked at him. “Yes, I suppose an explanation is in order, Otis, and I promise that you will have one as I am making breakfast. Just try to keep my uncle away, will you?�
He turned to leave when Otis called him back. “By the way, Your Grace, just what was it that you were humming?�
Leopold smiled. “Something from the soundtrack of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, if I remember right. I believe the name of the piece is “Moon River.�