Page 4 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride (Duchesses of Convenience #7)

Chapter Four

“I still cannot believe it,” Evelyn said for what had to be the hundredth time in the last five days. “You. Engaged. To a duke! It defies belief.”

“I am glad you find the fact that I have found a husband so unbelievable. How comforting.”

“Oh, I do not mean it like that, Diana. And you know it.” Evelyn held tightly into Diana’s arm as the two ladies walked together. “I am simply surprised, is all.”

“Yes, you have said that.”

“Not to be taken negatively,” she hurried to explain. “It is just... well, it is all rather sudden! Surely, you can see that.”

“It has been five days, Evelyn,” Diana said rightly. “At what point will it begin to feel less sudden?”

“A few years' time, perhaps,” Evelyn said as if serious. “Ask me again when you are fifty.”

“You are being ridiculous.”

“That is true,” Evelyn agreed. “But at least we can both agree that when compared to your mother, my behavior is the height of sanity.”

As one, the two women looked across the grounds and toward the manor. Although they could not see through the walls, they could both picture Diana’s mother behaving as a tempest might were it to find itself somehow trapped between four walls. Destruction. Mayhem. Chaos! She was, for all intents and purposes, the very embodiment of the word frantic.

That was why the two ladies found themselves walking the grounds. Nothing to do with how sunny a day it was, how blue the sky, how the birds sung from the treetops in a way that was highly pleasant. No, no. It was simply to escape Diana’s mother.

For five days now, she had been much the same. Besotted with the idea that her daughter was to marry a duke – another one! -- she had taken it upon herself to organize a wedding befitting of the occasion. Everything had to be perfect. Everything had to be right. No room for error, it was times like this where her mother’s temperament toward control truly exploded.

Oh, how sorry I feel for the staff. Such is my mother’s state that I would not be surprised to find at least one of them murdered by the time we make it back inside.

At least her mother’s insistence on taking over allowed for Diana to take a back seat when it came to the wedding's organization. A good thing too for even five days later she was still not entirely sure how she felt about her decision.

“I have done a little research of my own, you know,” Evelyn continued as they walked at a relaxed pace.

“Meaning?”

“Regarding your soon-to-be husband, the duke. I know you did not ask it, but I have put my feelers out so that we might have an idea of who the man is that you are set to marry.”

“Evelyn,” Diana sighed. “There was no need for that.”

“And yet I have done it anyway!” Out the corner of her eyes, she caught Evelyn looking at her expectantly.

“Go on then,” she said, knowing there was no sense in trying to tell her otherwise. “What have you learned?”

“Honestly, not as much as I might have liked to. It is strange, because a man with a position such as the duke has, one would think that if he was to so much breathe, half the ton would know about it. But I had to dig harder than I would have liked.”

“Meaning...”

“Well, the reason for all the mystery is that he left the country for the Americas when he was a young man. Fled, more like. Something to do with his father, although I could not ascertain what exactly. From what people say, he made quite a reputation for himself while in the Americas too.”

“What sort of reputation?”

She grimaced. “Not a good one. Although everyone I spoke to assured me that he is an adept businessman, they were also right to point out that this came with a cost. He is...” She clicked her tongue. “Said to be a bit rough around the edges.”

“What does that mean? Speak clearly, Evelyn.”

“He is mean,” she said flatly. “Intimidating. Not above flexing himself and pushing others around to get what he wants. Some even referred to him as wicked.”

Diana snorted. “He sounds like most men I know.”

Evelyn came to a stop. “I am being serious, Diana. These were not warnings given lightly. He has a temper, one honed from years of getting what he wants and acting out when he does not. I do not tell it to frighten you, but to warn you.” Her expression softened. “I care about you, is why. And I would hate for something bad to happen.”

Diana’s initial reaction was to be dismissive of her cousin. She thought back to her few brief interactions with the duke, and nothing that had occurred between them suggested the man to be the monster her cousin was implying. And indeed, she had given him every reason to show this side of himself. More than once.

In fact, the more Diana had thought of the duke, she would say she’d had the opposite impression. He seemed kind by her estimation. Even gentle – careful not to say the wrong thing or come across as aggressive. Had he been playing her the whole time? Was her cousin correct? And what did this even mean?

Honestly, it meant little, and that was what Diana decided upon. If she was marrying the man out of love or had been forced into it, the conversation might be difference. But she wasn’t, so it was not.

“I appreciate it, Evelyn.” Diana took her cousin by the arm and the two began to walk again. “I hope you know that. But I am not going to let rumor poison my future husband’s name without any proof.”

“And if the rumor proves to be true?”

She shrugged. “To be fair, I am not exactly so easy to deal with myself. If he tries anything on me...” She winked. “Let us see just how wicked he thinks he is.”

The two women giggled together, and she could feel Evelyn relax.

“At least he is not Lord Herrod,” Evelyn agreed eventually. “Rumor says that he is not happy at all with what has happened. Furious, they say.”

Diana rolled her eyes. “You and rumor.”

“It is true!”

“Good,” Diana said, meaning it. “I hope he cries himself to sleep every night.”

To that, she could see her cousin grinning stupidly. “Which will be a far cry in difference to how you shall be going to sleep each night.”

“What does that mean?” Diana frowned.

Evelyn pumped her eyebrows. “You and the duke. Married . For all the rumors I have heard of the duke, there is another that caught my interest as much as it should catch yours.”

“Yes...”

“They say that he is quite... how shall I put this delicately. His has an affinity for horses. Stallions , as it is. And they say, or rumor does, that he shares more in common with them than what most men do.” She raised both eyebrows at Diana.

It took Diana a moment to understand what her cousin meant. Stallions? What on earth is she.... “Evelyn!” Diana cried when she understood. “That is... I do not believe... who have you been speaking with!” She felt her cheeks flush bright pink and her chest turn hot.

Evelyn pumped her eyebrows. “I will never tell, you lucky woman.”

Diana tried to shake it off, forcing herself to look away from her cousin’s suggestive stare. Although despite her efforts at keeping her mind elsewhere, now there was little she could do but think about the duke’s... um... what was she saying?

That was the other piece of this most confusing puzzle. One that Diana still did not fully understand. If this was an ordinary marriage, she would obviously be expected to bed the duke and produce children. That was what a wife was for, was it not? But the duke had been at pains to assure her that this was a marriage of convenience only. As to what that would entail, that was where her mind wandered often.

Diana found the duke attractive. There was no use in denying it. She just did not know if he felt the same about her. Again, what did he expect? And what could she expect? Was she to treat him as a wife would her husband? Was she to... to go to bed with him whenever he asked? And did she want to?

It was all very confusing, which was why she hadn’t told anyone of this arrangement. Even Evelyn assumed the duke wished for a normal marriage. Hence, her mentioning of his... well, yes. That.

“Oh no,” Evelyn sighed suddenly, and Diana felt her body sag. “What now?”

Diana perked up, glad for the distraction, only to see one of the household staff rushing their way. No doubt her mother was sending for her, which meant the afternoon promised to be a very long one indeed.

“Miss Goldsmith!” the servant cried out. “I am so sorry to disturb.”

“What does she wish for now,” Diana said with a sigh. “Let me guess, my mother has again changed her mind on what dress I shall wear. Tell her --”

“Oh, no, Miss Goldsmith. It is not your mother. It is the Dowager Duchess of Albury. She arrived not a minute ago and wishes to speak with you.”

Diana blinked. “Albury... the duke’s grandmother?”

“The very same, Miss Goldsmith.”

“What does she want?” Evelyn asked.

It was a good question. One that Diana would have an answer to shortly, she was sure. Not that she was looking forward to this answer. Somehow, she sensed any fears she might have had about the duke were about to be realized. That this marriage of convenience was about to become very real.