Page 11 of Stone Cold Duke (Frigid Dukes #1)

Chapter Eleven

“ C ertainly not,” Diana whispered as they were led deeper into the house.

“The paintings in the hallway?” Matthew murmured in response.

She shook her head sharply. “The entire place. It cannot possibly suffice.”

“Indeed, on that, we can agree,” he replied, glancing around him with a strange look on his face.

But Diana could not help the expression on her own face as she looked from the artwork on the walls to the colors of those walls.

“This is the sitting room!” the voice ahead of them called, and she quickly schooled her features as she walked inside. But that movement caused her to brush lightly against Matthew in the cramped hallway. She flushed and he quickly stepped back as far as the walls would allow, but not before she saw the strange look in his eye.

Quickly, she averted her gaze and followed the owner into the room he had indicated. It was another poorly painted room. And this one was dull and dreary. “There are paintings here that were commissioned right after the construction of the house.”

The owner seemed proud of that fact, standing up as straight as his portly shape would allow, his eyes bright as he gazed fondly from one to the next. However, a glance at Matthew indicated that he agreed with Diana—it was certainly not a selling point. His lips twitched slightly as he glanced in her direction, and then he turned quickly to look around the room again.

When the owner continued on to the next room, Matthew cast another glance in Diana’s direction.

“This will never do. I have no interest in homes with no windows. And small suffocating rooms such as these make me feel closed in,” he admitted, stepping closer to the door and, by happenstance, herself as well.

“I always prefer natural light. And even with the curtains open, each of these rooms seems very dull. It would never do for me as well,” she agreed, though her gaze was fixed on him and just how close he had come to her. She could practically feel his breath lightly against her cheek and it was causing her heart to race.

But just as quickly he passed by her, striding out into the hallway to see what else the owner had to show them.

They finished the tour as quickly as possible, offering their praise to the owner before climbing into their carriage.

“Let us be away,” she said as soon as she was handed into the carriage.

Matthew gave a sharp nod to the driver. “On to the next,” he instructed, and they immediately set off, finding the next house easily.

“It appears … nice,” she said, looking at the house critically from the outside. “Though perhaps a little small. Does it have enough rooms to it?”

He gazed more carefully at the house himself and shook his head. “I do not know. We shall have to see.”

“Look at those lovely windows, though.”

“There are quite large windows across the entire front of the house though, which give it a more open look,” he agreed, assisting Diana down from the carriage so they could walk inside.

And as they began touring the house, it seemed to have promise.

The rooms were a decent size, and Diana was quite certain that she could host a ball here—if she could ever convince her husband to allow it. But then they entered the drawing room, and she crossed to the large window.

Her face fell immediately as she looked outside. The backyard was… small. There was a very small amount of green space, and there was no garden to speak of. A couple of small plants that looked like they had seen better days but nowhere near the beautiful gardens at Waterburry House, or even the smaller garden at the Duke’s house.

“What is it?” Matthew asked, noticing the look on her face.

“The house is lovely,” she said slowly.

His eyes narrowed on her. “Something does not please you. What is it?”

“The garden,” she sighed.

He glanced out the window as well. “There is no garden.” It took him a moment, and then he looked back at her again. “You require a garden?”

There was nothing accusatory in his tone. Nothing judgmental. It was simply a fact, and she managed a small smile.

“I often feel closed in when I am inside for too long. A garden is a place I can go to feel… relaxed. I enjoyed sitting in the gardens at home—at Waterburry House,” she corrected. “And even the gardens at your home.”

“My home is your home now,” Matthew replied, though they both knew that neither of them really thought of it that way.

“I also… well, I enjoy working in the gardens.”

He looked at her more closely now, and she wondered what he would think of that. A duchess working in the gardens like a servant.

“I know it’s not ladylike, and my mother has always said that it is unseemly, but I enjoy the work.”

“If a garden makes you happy, then we shall keep searching until we find a house with a garden,” Matthew declared.

Diana stared at him in surprise. Was it really that important to him that she was happy? It had not seemed that way before.

But now… today… things had been much different than she had expected.

“There is one more that we can see today,” he told her when it became apparent that she was not going to speak again.

And so they made their way back to the carriage, once again in silence, but there was something… comfortable about it this time.

“Tis quite dreary,” he stated as soon as they arrived outside the final house.

“Let us see it anyway,” she replied, moving quickly to get out of the carriage. It was not at all what Matthew would have expected. Even from the outside, and it was good that the driver was prepared to assist her, because he was not.

“Diana-“ He began, as he slowly climbed from the carriage himself, his hand reaching toward hers, but then the door opened as the owners exited the house and he was forced to follow her quietly for fear of offending them. But Diana seemed to be interested. Or at least, she seemed as though she wanted to go inside, so he said nothing as he followed her.

“Hello, Your Grace, you honor us by coming to our home.”

“The pleasure is ours,” Diana replied promptly and he managed a sharp nod as they entered.

“Dark and cramped,” he murmured to her as they walked down the hall.

She did not say anything. But the way that her lips pursed together he knew that she also didn’t like what she saw.

Still, they continued ,on and he followed her around, until they arrived at the first of the rooms, which nearly caused him to step right back out again.

“The rooms are musty as well,” he added and again her lips pursed.

But still she did not say anything.

Still she continued to follow the owners around the house to see the rest of the rooms.

“What are you about?” He asked quietly, brushing his hand against hers as they continued through the house, but she would not speak. Still, she jumped slightly at the light pressure of his hand and he could not deny the shock that went through him as well.

Finally, however, they had finished the tour and he led her back to the carriage, his brow furrowed as the owner waved and went back inside.

The fact that they had looked at three houses and none were what they wanted was disappointing, and he found himself frustrated. But still, there was something… comfortable about the way they were together. And he found he didn’t want this moment to end.

“Would you care to walk home?”

Diana looked at him in surprise, but he could also see that she was… happy. There was a smile on her face, and her shoulders were much more relaxed.

“We are not far, and it is a nice day,” he continued, and her smile brightened even more.

“That would be lovely.” This time, it sounded as though she actually meant the words.

And so he sent the carriage home and linked their arms, enjoying the feel of her beside him. His wife.

“It is unfortunate that none of the houses we saw today was sufficient,” he stated as they walked and could see the frown spread across her face.

“I had hoped …” she began, but she did not finish it. Still, he knew what she meant.

He had hoped as well.

“What did you not like of them?” He asked her, and she immediately began talking—something he was certainly not used to but he found that he welcomed it today.

“The first was quite dreary, as you had said. There was little light and it felt … dull. I was not comfortable there. Not in the least.”

“Indeed,” he agreed, glad that she had felt the same about it as he did.

“And the second … the second was lovely, but there was no garden.”

“And the garden is important to you.” It was not a question, but a statement of fact and she cast a quick glance in his direction.

“It is,” she agreed.

“And the third?”

Now she frowned and shook her head. “There was nothing that I truly liked in the third.”

“Then why spend so much time at it?” He asked, voicing the question he’d been wondering throughout the entire third tour. He stopped so he could get a better look at her as he waited for the answer and she flushed slightly but finally gave an answer that made sense.

“I was enjoying our day,” she admitted and he looked at her in surprise. “And you?”

“I have also enjoyed the day,” he agreed, though it felt strange to admit such a thing.

The smile that spread across her face, however, was worth the admission. It was worth the pang of concern that shot through him at being so vulnerable.

“And what did you enjoy best?” He asked. “What is important in the house that we choose?

“There was a lovely ballroom in the first house, though it was quite dark and dreary. We must have a large ballroom, after all.”

Matthew didn’t ask why, because he was certain that she still held onto the hope of being able to host parties at some point in the future, and he did not want to broach that topic just yet.

“It would be so lovely fitted up with deep green curtains and a lovely dark wood floor, perhaps a lovely mahogany. And large windows that we can open to get plenty of natural light. And we can decorate it with flowers from our gardens and with an array of beautiful watercolors—perhaps not all of them belonging to my sisters,” she added with a smile, and he couldn’t help but smile as well.

“Is the look of the ballroom so important to you?” he asked.

“The ballroom is one of the most important rooms in the house,” Diana replied. “Along with the receiving room. The receiving room is the first room that most will see in our home. A room with a beautiful view of the garden is perfect. And there, we can use even more florals. I do have some embroidery that could be used there as well.”

He nodded quietly and then voiced the question that had been bothering him for some time. “What is it that is so special about hosting balls and parties? Is it not enough to attend the ones hosted by others?”

“Do you attend the ones hosted by others?” she returned with a look that said she knew full well that he did not.

Matthew tilted his head to the side. “Ah, well, I often have other things to do. Attending social events… that is not a good way to spend my time.”

Diana stared at him a long while, and he wondered just what she was thinking. But finally, she began to speak again, and her voice was animated, excited.

“Hosting a ball is an endeavor. It requires me to be creative, to make people happy, to actually do something, when most of my days consist of just… existing. I used to help in running my father’s household, but there was much of the time when nothing needed to be done. When I was merely caring for my sisters. And it was… dull. Hosting parties was a way to pass the time and a way to enjoy myself.”

She seemed to be… brighter, lighter as she talked about hosting a ball, and he found himself caught up in her excitement, in her pleasure. And he wanted to do more for her. Wanted to make her happier.

“My parents passed unexpectedly some years ago,” Matthew revealed suddenly, and her face clouded over with sorrow. “From that time, schedules and routines became my way of life. A way to always be prepared and ensure that there were no surprises. A ball… it is unpredictable. It is noisy. Even attending them has become… difficult, let alone hosting one in my own home.”

There was something about the expression on Diana’s face, as though she was seeing him differently.

It wasn’t pity. But there was… something .

“I am sorry, Matthew. I did not know the reason for your aversion to such things.”

“However, if hosting a party is of such importance to you… I could consent to something small. Not a ball, but a small gathering. A few couples gathered in my home—in our home… that I could consent to.”

She positively beamed at him then, and he was even more caught up in the moment. Making her happy, even at the expense of his own happiness, was worth it.

“But I would like to know as early as possible so that I can be prepared,” he added. “If I know that such a thing is coming, I can feel more comfortable with it at the time. It will not be such a shock.”

“Of course,” she agreed, and there was something about the look on her face, something about… her.

His arm wrapped around her waist seemingly of its own accord, and he was suddenly drawing her closer, her face so near to his.

His eyes were drawn to her lips, and all he wanted was to know what they would feel like beneath his own. What it would be like to kiss her—to really kiss her. Not the brief kiss that had sealed their marriage vows, but something… romantic.

“Matthew?” she breathed as she stared up at him, her eyes wide.

Diana simply stood there. Waiting. Watching him. And for a long moment, he wanted to close those last couple of inches and press his lips to hers.

But that was preposterous.

Matthew quickly took a step back, releasing all but her arm so that they could continue down the path.

And if he felt disappointed in himself because he hadn’t kissed her… well, that was just something he would have to deal with.