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"You’re spoiling her, Anthony." She continued undeterred. "If you don’t curb this behavior, what will become of your estate? Slothfulness is not becoming of a duchess."

"Mother, I will thank you not to insult my wife."

"I am not insulting her but merely stating…"

He shot her a look that silenced her.

"I won’t say anything again."

"Mother…" Victoria tried. "I am sorry. It won’t happen again."

"Victoria…" Anthony starts but she shakes her head.

It would be to her detriment if she caused a fight between mother and son.

"I have an idea though that I will like to seek both your opinions on." She announced hoping the abruptness would kill the sour mood. "I am contemplating throwing a ball come autumn."

"That is a splendid idea. It’s been so long since these halls have seen a celebration." His mother admitted stunning her and even her son. "Have you drafted out anything yet?"

"N…Not yet but I will be doing so today."

The dowager duchess sniffed and rose from her seat but sent her a small smile.

"I will be expecting you then." She replied. "Don’t forget you are a duchess now and you would be hosting the upper echelons of society. I don’t expect a meagre affair and neither would the rest of theton. Do not embarrass us."

She swallowed deeply before she could reply but the woman was already out of the door before the words could escape her.

"I will do my best." She still said, verbally reassuring herself that the undertaking would be a grand one.

"I believe that you will." Anthony added softly.

She startled briefly because she had almost forgotten he was there.

"I thank you for your faith in me." She confessed. "But I am nervous. I know nothing about planning a ball and as your mother stated, you are a duke so much is expected of me."

He nodded.

"There is naught to worry about. Mary, the parlor maid, has been with my family for years. She can help you. And if you need any help, I may be able to offer some assistance."

"You would bother yourself with such trivial matters?" She asked eyes wide.

"It would not be a bother." He answered, rising from his seat. "Are you remiss to finishing breakfast alone? I have a lot I must attend to."

"Oh." She answered rising also. "I was hoping…never mind."

"What is it?" He asked.

His tone was inquisitive and not irritated and she couldn’t help but wonder at how soft he was being with her now, not that he had ever been hard or anything but usually he would have left her to breakfast alone.

"I was hoping perhaps we could talk." She said and noticing the panicked expression on his face, she hastily added. "It’s nothing serious, it’s just… there is a lot I still don’t know about you and I would like to correct that. I know you still don’t trust me considering how I forced you to marry me but I was hoping I could let you understand me a bit also."

He studied her briefly and then nodded, returning to his seat.

"I would expect you to begin since you proposed the idea."

She nodded and took a deep breath reclaiming her seat.

"I suppose I must start at the beginning." She started.