Thomas was struck silent by her refusal and fled the room.

“Jenny! What are you doing?” Helena cried out, falling on her knees in front of Jenny. “Are you totally out of your mind? You just refused marriage to Thomas Haddington, the Duke of Pemberton? He just offered for you to be his duchess. What are you thinking?!”

Jenny was frozen with her mouth open and unable to speak. Her eyes were glazed, and she just seemed to be staring out into space. Helena had to take her by the shoulders and violently shake her.

Jenny suddenly snapped out of her daze and looked at Helena. “What just happened?” she asked in the voice of a child.

Helena was quiet and said firmly, “Thomas just asked you to marry him, and you refused.”

“I did?” she asked putting her hands to the side of her head.

“Why?” Helena asked.

“I have no idea. Everything went blank. I could not hear anything. I could not understand what anyone was saying.” She paused and looked intently at her friend. “Thomas asked me to marry him? Is that true? He did that?”

“Yes, yes, yes, Jenny. And he just rushed out when you refused him. Shall I call him back? He cannot have left yet.”

And, of course, she changed her mind. Or rather, Helena helped her to reconsider.

After scrambling outdoors in her dressing gown, Helena caught hold of Thomas’s sleeve just as he was about to mount his horse.

“Thomas, dear friend, come back inside—please. Do not run away.”

He turned and stared at her. “But she refused me, Helena. My dearest Jenny said no.”

“Come,” she pleaded, pulling at his sleeve again. “I think this can be sorted out. What you need is a nice cup of tea.”

Thomas came hesitantly back into Helena’s room and stood facing Jenny.

“Did you remember what I asked you?” Thomas asked.

“No. Tell me again.” Jenny said standing straight and unmoving.

“Jenny Barnett, will you marry me and be my wife?”

She did not answer for the longest time and then said, “Yes, I think I would like that. If you really mean it.”

“I do mean it, Jenny Barnett, I really do.”

Jenny rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck and leaned forward and they kissed—gently, lovingly, and then passionately.

“Woah,” Helena cried out. “There is far too much heat in this room.”

Jenny took a step backward and said to Thomas, “I have been waiting to do what I thought would never be possible. Thank you, dearest Thomas.”

Thomas and Jenny stood side by side in front of Grandmamma. The tea tray had been taken away, and she was still seated in the same chair by the fire working on her needlepoint.

“Oh, hello Miss Jenny,” Augusta said, then she asked Thomas, “And did you complete your important errand? An errand so important you ran away without finishing your tea?”

“I did. And I promised I would tell you what it was when I was done.”

“Very well. Then I should like to hear,” she said putting her needlepoint in her lap.

Thomas smiled broadly. “Grandmamma, I would like to introduce you to the next Duchess of Pemberton.”

Augusta gave a quirky shake of her head. “I do not understand. Where is she?”

Thomas took Jenny’s hand and held it up. “Right here. Miss Jenny Barnett is to be my wife. I asked her, and she has agreed to marry me.”

Augusta gave that quick little shake of her head again. “Seriously?”

“Very seriously,” Thomas responded.

“But… but… she is a pastry cook.”

“And a very good one. I am certain she will become known as the pastry duchess, as I have promised her she can continue to make pastries in our kitchen from time to time.

Grandmamma studied Jenny for several moments, “I am sorry to say this Miss Jenny but,” then turned to Thomas and said, “Thomas, you know this cannot be. She is not of the nobility and she brings absolutely nothing of value to the marriage.”

“Oh, but she does.”

“I am unaware that a baker could provide anything.”

“Beauty, an open heart, intelligence, talent, and love. Are these not more valuable than coin?”

Grandmamma looked down and fiddled with her needlepoint, and then said to Thomas, “You know the financial situation the family is in… and with Wilcox… You are not being responsible. And it is just not done.”

Thomas insisted, “But it is. I can name you any number of “unsuitable” ladies who became very successful duchesses. In any case, dear Grandmamma…” he said, going over and kneeling before her and taking her hand. “I will marry her. And I know that with her by my side, George and I will build a most successful business and right the poor finances of the estate. Please, give us your blessing.”

Grandmamma looked up at Jenny, taking several moments before she spoke. “Come, my dear,” she finally said, extending her hand to Jenny.

Jenny went over to her and took her hand.

“Against my better judgement, I will accept Thomas’s judgement—for my heart tells me you are worthy and true. Welcome to our family, Jenny.” She smiled and then became quite businesslike. “Now. We have a lot of work to do to make you ready to become the Duchess of Pemberton.”

It was to be a May wedding—or rather two weddings, as Thomas and Jenny, and George and Helena had decided to get married on the same day, in the same church, at the same hour.

But that was still many months away, and Thomas and George were busy establishing their business. Lord Comerford, relieved of the burden of defending himself in court, gladly agreed to become their final investor.

It had been decided to enter the two elder horses—one at Cheltenham, and the other at Lingfield Park—both events held in March.

Thomas, George, and Barnstable leaned on the railings at the finish line of the track as Robert pushed Siren the last five hundred yards to where they were standing. Barnstable had been watching the time on his pocket watch.

“Second best time,” he said. “But I think that is all for today.”

Robert rode Siren over to them and asked, “How was that?”

“Not too bad,” Thomas said, “Off by only a second or two.”

Robert said, “He had a moment of hesitation on the second turn. A rabbit ran across the track and distracted him,” Robert said.

“Distractions—we need to work on that. Once we are on a track with thousands of people nearby and other horses, and who knows what all… we need to address that,” Barnstable said.

“That’s good, Robert. That will be all for today. Take him back and cool him down.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” Robert said and turned the horse and headed for the track exit.

Thomas watched the lad as he took the horse back toward the stable. “He’s turned out to be a natural.”

“And he is soon to be your brother-in-law. We may need to give him a raise.” George said, only partially joking.

“But only if he wins,” Thomas said with a wry smile.

Augusta had enlisted Helena to help prepare Jenny to be a duchess, and she was more than willing to help.

“How is Sally coming along with the pastries?” Helena asked Jenny, as they sorted through Jenny’s wardrobe looking to see what she might be able to take with her to Pemberton.

“She is doing very well. But she still has a way to go,” Jenny replied.

“Just like you do to become a duchess,” Helena teased.

Jenny sat on her bed and sighed. “Oh, please, do not remind me. Grandmamma Augusta has been stuffing my head with all sorts of facts about the family, about the peerage, about customs and traditions—and my head is just spinning.”

Helena turned from the wardrobe and pulling out the gown Thomas had given her all that time ago, said, “This is all you have you can take with you. I am sorry to have to say this, my dear, but as a duchess, you are going to need an entirely new wardrobe. There is no way you can wear these other dresses at Pemberton.”

“Not even if I am baking?”

Helena was aghast, “You intend to bake at Pemberton?”

“Of course, why not? Did I not say I always wanted to bake in a grand house one day? Now I can.”

“And he will allow you to do that?”

“He promised I could—on special occasions. But we shall see—I am certain he will do as I tell him.”

Helena laughed. “Wrapping him around your little finger already, are you?”

“But I would never do anything we did not both agree upon.”

Helena sighed. “But this does not solve the problem of your clothing. Something must be done.”

Jenny was still sitting on the edge of her bed, and she pointed to her dresser. “Over there… there should be an envelope.”

Helena went over, found it, picked it up, and asked, “This?”

“Yes. Give it to me.”

Helena handed it to her. Jenny opened it up and took out a large amount of cash.

“Grandmamma Augusta gave me this and told me to have you help me select a new wardrobe. Can you do that for me?”

Helena took the money and counted it. “You and I need to take a trip to London, Your Grace. We have some shopping to do.”

It was one week before the wedding. And it was the last day that Jenny would be with her family before she was to be picked up and taken to Pemberton. Grandmother Augusta insisted the final preparations take place where she could oversee all the details of preparing Jenny to become Thomas’s bride.

It was a very quiet and somber family breakfast.

“Cheer up everyone. It is a wedding not a funeral,” Claudia insisted, clapping her hands and trying to instill some liveliness in the morose family gathering.

Mama began crying and got up from the table and retreated to the kitchen to have a good cry.

Papa lamented, “Robert gone, now Jenny, and Claudia you are likely to be next when your Jeremiah finally graduates.”

“Papa, I have already told you, that is still some time away.”

“But how likely is it your husband will find a parish nearby? We are going to lose you eventually.”

Jenny stood up at the table. “Stop, stop, stop. I am only going a few miles away. And both Thomas and I want you to think of Pemberton as your second home. You can all come and visit at any time. Stay as long as you like and be happy that I am marrying well.”

“But we cannot just leave the bakery to stay for a week at your new home.”

“Papa,” Jenny said, “I have explained to you many times, it will not be necessary for you to work so hard. Thomas and George have done so well with their business. They have new horses and people are using their breeding services. They have won or placed in many of the races they have entered. And I have talked to Thomas about providing the family a good living without ever needing to bake again.”

Mama came back from the kitchen, drying her tears. “Jenny, Jenny, duchess or not, remember where you come from. We are bakers, have always been bakers, and will always be bakers. Our customers depend upon us. Who would feed this village if not for us?”

Jenny laughed. “Yes, Mama, I understand. I will not ask you to give up baking forever, just ease up. Work four or five days a week. Take a week off now and then. Our customers will understand.”

Mama reached out and took her daughter’s hand. “Promise me you will not become high and mighty and forget all about us with your balls and trips to London and all that fancy goings on.”

“I promise, Mama.” Jenny then addressed the entire table, “Now, are you all ready for the wedding? Any last-minute wardrobe issues? Claudia, Sally, do you know what you are to do with your hair? Papa, has your dress suit been pressed?”

It was a glorious May wedding day. The ceremony was to be performed a little unconventionally—but who could be surprised, knowing the principals involved.

Firstly, the wedding was to be performed outside in a beautiful grove of trees not far from Pemberton House. It was possible for all the guests to walk there with little effort. Even Grandmamma walked on Jenny’s mother’s arm, and they sat in the front row together.

Secondly, it was not the grooms who were to wait at the altar, but the brides, standing with their fathers. It had been decided that the grooms would ride up on a pair of their finest racers—to celebrate the success of their many wins—and dismount and walk up the aisle to their brides.

As George and Thomas approached, George whispered to Thomas, “Which bride is mine? They are both so lovely I can barely tell. Want to switch?”

Thomas quietly replied, “Never in a thousand years. I already had a chance at your bride and passed on that, remember,” he said with a chuckle.

The glade where the ceremony was taking place was so beautifully decorated. Many garlands of flowers had been strung amongst the trees and a small orchestra was to the side playing a Handel entrance march as the grooms came forward and stood before their brides.

Grandmamma whispered to Jenny’s mother, “Your daughter is so beautiful, you must be very happy.”

Mama took out her handkerchief, blew her nose and wiped her eyes. “I guess I am.”

Claudia took her mother’s arm and said, “Mama, our Jenny is about to become a Duchess. What do you think about that?”

“Oh, dear, what are we to call our Jenny—Your Grace?”

“No. I think Jenny will be just fine.”