Page 5 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride (Duchesses of Convenience #7)

Chapter Five

D iana found her mother and the dowager duchess sitting together in the drawing room, sharing tea. It was, unexpectedly, a strange sight.

Growing up, Diana had always thought of her mother as an all-powerful being. Indomitable in her presence. Unimpeachable in her righteousness. The kind of woman that mountains would move out of the way for, because to try and stop her once she was on the path was foolhardy and not worth the drama it caused.

Seeing her with the dowager duchess shattered this reality.

The Dowager Duchess of Albury was indeed much older than her mother. Smaller too, both in size and stature. Withered, was how one might describe her. With her greying hair and winkled skin and frail limbs, she looked as if a stiff breeze would blow her over. And yet there was a power that radiated from her very presence. A regency that was all-consuming, one that Diana felt trapped in the moment the elderly woman turned and saw her coming.

Even Diana’s mother seemed powerless against her. Oh sure, she sat up straight, she presented herself well, and this was her home, her kingdom of sorts. But Diana could tell how hard her mother was working to retain some semblance of control, as if desperate to prove to the dowager duchess that she was worth taking seriously.

“Ah, there she is,” Diana’s mother said with a little too much relief. “Diana, we were wondering what had kept you.”

“I am so sorry,” Diana said cautiously, edging her way into the room. The dowager duchess watched her closely but said nothing; judging her, it felt like. “Evelyn and I were across the garden. It took some time to come this far.”

“I told you to stay close, did I not.” She sighed and looked at the dowager duchess for support. “I tell you, it will be a relief to see this one finally made somebody else’s problem. I hope His Grace is up to the task.”

The dowager duchess said nothing. She sipped at her tea, still eyeing Diana closely.

“Yes, well...” Her mother cleared her throat nervously. “I shall have another saucer fetched. We were just discussing --”

“Alone, I think,” the dowager duchess spoke finally. Her voice was low, but it cut through Diana’s mother like a whip. “I wish to speak to my future daughter-in-law alone.”

“Oh...” Her mother blinked, taken aback by the request. “Are you quite sure? I am not busy, if that is your concern.”

“It is not.”

Diana held her breath, expecting her mother to assert her own authority, as she was wont to do. But she seemed to think better of it, choosing to bow her head and offer a smile. “Of course,” she said. “I... I have just remembered, I have a few tasks that are in need or urgent attention. This wedding!” She pretended to act flustered. “It will be my undoing.”

“Quite.”

Her mother narrowed her eyes quickly at the dowager duchess, then offered her a smile. “Please, make sure to call for me before you leave. And it has been a pleasure.”

“I do hope so.”

Another narrowing of the eyes and then her mother was on Diana. Surprisingly, she sighed and shook her head, as if to say, ‘Good luck.’ Then she hurried from the room, leaving the two alone.

Again, that sense that there was a force behind the elderly woman took hold and Diana felt herself being pulled closer. The chair across from the dowager duchess was available but Diana hesitated taking it. As if to commit might be the end of her.

“Well?” the dowager duchess said. “Do not gawk, dear. It is unbecoming.”

“Yes. Sorry.” Diana sat quickly.

Nothing was said for a few minutes. The dowager duchess sipped at her tea as she assessed Diana closely. Her eyes were fiercely intelligent, and like a storm in a teacup, Diana could sense something brewing behind them. She shifted nervously, feeling like a child about to be scorned by a parent.

“So,” she begam finally. Another sip of her tea and she put the saucer down. “You intend to marry my grandson. Is that the way of things?”

“Y -- yes,” she stammered and then cleared her throat. “I very much hope to.”

“And you are ready for such an undertaking?”

“I... I think I am?”

“You think you are?” she tilted her head. “Or you are? There can be no in-between.”

“I am,” Diana said, feeling herself begin to sweat. “I am ready.”

“And you know of what this entails?”

“Yes?”

“Is that a question? And please, sit up dear. Do not slouch.”

Diana hadn’t even realized that she was! She sat herself up and held out her chin, trying to present some sense that she was crumbling inside. “Yes,” she said again. “I am aware.”

The dowager duchess raised an eyebrow in question.

“Oh...” Diana blinked. “I assumed it was like any other marriage.” She waited for a confirmation but got nothing. “Admittedly, I have not been married before, but that should be seen as a boon, surely?” Again, she paused, and again she was given nothing. “I am eager to learn, however. Eager to... to please your grandson. As said, I am new at this, but I believe that given the chance, I can make him happy.” She tried for a smile and again got nothing.

This is going about as well as I could have hoped. That is to say, not very well at all.

“Of course, there is much to learn,” Diana continued, feeling the need to speak. “And your grandson --”

“His Grace,” she corrected.

“Yes. His Grace...” Diana cleared her throat. “He has told me of his nieces, and how he will need a hand in raising them.”

“Do you have any experience with children?”

“Oh. No, I do not – but I was one once, you know,” she joked, which fell terribly flat. “My meaning is, I am willing to learn. I believe that all marriages are different....” She cleared her throat, feeling herself run hot. “But I also believe that your grandson – His Grace,” she corrected before being reprimanded. “I believe he chose me for a good reason.”

“And that reason is?”

“Ah...” Diana swallowed the lump in her throat. “I... I am... he likes me?”

“Is that a question? Or are you implying that my grandson would ask to marry a woman he did not like? Well?”

Diana was visibly sweating now. And shaking. The old woman barely spoke, but the words she chose seemed designed to unsettle. She was colder than Diana had expected. Calculating, too. Was this a test? Or did she simply enjoy putting Diana on edge like this?

Truthfully, as nervous as Diana was feeling, she was also finding herself growing angry. The fact that she was the one justifying this marriage – as if she was the one who sought it! It should have been the duke who was explaining himself, not her. He should have been sat across from her mother answering ridiculous questions like this.

Despite her best efforts, that anger began to boil...

“His Grace chose me,” she said as calmly as she could. “And I would hope that his judgement would be enough to justify this marriage. Anything I say might be seen to undercut or second guess his assurances that I am the woman whom he wishes to wed.”

The dowager duchess smirked slightly. “So, you intend to follow where he leads?”

“I did not say that.”

“So, you intend to wait on his beck and call like a common maid?”

“I did not say that either.”

“You say a lot,” she said. “And somehow manage to say so little. You must choose your words more carefully. As a soon-to-be duchess, every word spoken counts. I wonder if you understand the seriousness of the position my grandson had thrust upon you.”

“There was no thrusting,” Diana snapped before she could help herself. “I will remind you that your grandson – my soon-to-be husband, was the one who sought me out. He chose me. And if that is not good enough for you then...” She shrugged and looked flatly at the elderly woman. “Frankly, how you feel about the matter is of little concern to me.” Diana’s eyes widened the moment she stopped speaking.

Oh no...

Of course she had put her foot in it. Of course she had let her temper get the better of her. The dowager duchess must have been expecting it, baiting her, likely wanting to see her break so she could go back to the duke and tell him this marriage was cancelled.

“I did not mean --”

“Yes, you did,” the dowager duchess cut her off. Only most strangely, she was smiling now. “And quite frankly, it is about time.”

“Excuse me?”

She shook her head and chuckled to herself. “My grandson told me that he had found for himself a strong-willed stalwart of a woman to make his bride. One who would not let others, two young girls especially, run rampart over her. I was beginning to worry that he had misjudged.”

“He... he did?”

“Why do you think I am here?” she said with amusement. “To see what sort of woman my grandson has picked. Or better, to see what sort of woman would be raising my two great-nieces. Not to mention taming my grandson while she is at it.”

“I...” Diana grimaced, still not entirely sure what was going on. “I have a habit of speaking without thinking.”

“No, no,” she corrected. “You have a habit of saying what needs to be said.” She nodded rightly. “Which is a trait you will need if you are to become a duchess.” She winked. “Trust me. You are about to enter a life of people wishing to use you for no other reason than they think they can get something out of it. A crown to put atop their heads and tell the world they are its rulers. A weakling is the last thing you should be.”

“I am not a weakling.”

“That, you are not,” she said with another wink. “Nor is my grandson, as I am sure that you have seen. Together... why, dare I say that this marriage might just work.”

The marriage might have been one of convenience, but she couldn’t help but smile at the compliment. Part relief, part gratitude because the elderly dowager wasn’t at all what she expected.

Further to that point, Diana felt a small flush when she pictured the duke speaking such nice things about her. Because that’s what they were. Some might interpret them as something else, but she had been chosen for a reason and this was it. Clearly, it was exactly what he wanted too.

“You think so?”

“I don’t know, you tell me,” she said with a wink.

Diana laughed. “Your grandson is clearly a man who is used to getting his own way. Something tells me that I might have to changes this.”

“And the girls?”

“I...” Diana grimaced. “To be honest with you, that I am not certain of. His Grace told me of them, and I am eager to help where I can. I agree, girls need a mother. But I am not going to lie to you and claim that I am something I am not. I was not raised that way.”

“And nor will they be.”

“Did he say anything else?” Diana asked, feigning being casual. “About...” She cleared her throat. “About me...”

The dowager wagged her finger. “Careful, I cannot reveal all my grandson's secrets. Some, you will have to learn for yourself. No doubt you have done some digging of your own.”

“Only a little.”

“And what have you heard?”

Diana thought about what Evelyn had just told her. “Nothing I am worried about.”

The dowager snorted. “Liar. My grandson has a reputation, that is true. Some of it is entirely accurate. But what you should know is that he is proud, and intelligent to boot. He will not take insolence or stupidity lightly. And he prefers a woman who speaks her mind.” She smirked. “At least I have always thought so.”

“Noted,” Diana said with a grin.

“You are entering a new world,” she continued. “When I married my grandson’s father, I was not as I am now. I was scared. A timid thing...” She sighed and shook her head. “It took me years before I found myself. I suggest you not take quite so long as that.”

“I only worry His Grace doesn’t know quite what he is in for.”

“Oh, I think he does.”

A pang of guilt struck Diana suddenly, because it was clear to her that the dowager had no idea the true arrangement of this marriage. Likely, she thought it was standard fair and that it would be treated as such. Clearly, that wasn’t to be the case.

It was a strange thing but for a moment, Diana almost felt regretful that she was entering into this marriage under the preconceived notion of convenience, and she wondered what it might be like if things were different. A silly thing to think, as then the marriage wouldn’t be happening at all.

All she could do was be as the dowager suggested, herself, and hope that sufficed. It would simply have to do.

“Now, about my grandson...” the dowager shuffled forward. “A few tips, perhaps? Ways of dealing with him when he is in one of his moods.”

“Oh.” Diana shuffled forward too. “Yes please.”

The dowager’s eyes flashed menace and Diana could not keep herself from giggling. It was early days. Still, she could not imagine what was to come. But she felt that she had found an ally in the dowager and she felt all the better for it.

Maybe this marriage would not be such a bad thing after all?