Page 78 of The Duke's Indecent Match

“Anything I should be worried about?Especially when it comes to ensuring my wife faces no more attitudes like the Galbraiths?”

“Nah, Your Grace, no need to worry.Like I said, most of us know what’s what.It’s done us far more good than bad, and the bad has not been truly bad.Just youthful mischief.Honestly, we’d all rather keep them than the Galbraiths.Like you said, he didn’t lift a finger to help with the harvest.”Daniel chuckled.

“Is there another dressmaker available?”Nathanial thought he remembered there being one, but he was not entirely sure.

Thankfully, Daniel nodded.

“Mrs.Collins will have them handled.And the Galbraiths cannot even complain overly much.Mrs.Collins used to be Abigail Pritchard.”Daniel grinned.

Nathanial vaguely remembered the Pritchards and their daughter from his childhood, when he’d visited the village far more often.It was good that she’d come back.And, as an Englishwoman and a former local, she probably got under the Galbraiths’ skin more than if she’d been from outside of the country, giving them less of an excuse to complain about a competing shop.

“That’s good.Thank you, Daniel.Now.Let’s talk about hiring.”Which would certainly include quite a few people in the village, likely many whom Mr.Galbraith would find objectionable.Which was just fine with Nathanial.Without them, and without the dukedom’s backing, the village could just as easily have died out.

Now that he had the money to give more support to the village, that included those who had saved it.No, they had not lived here for generations, but they would for generations to come if he had anything to say about it.

Just like his family.

By the time he and Daniel were done talking through the possible local hires and had made a list of positions they would still need to fill, he heard the sound of the ladies returning.It was hard to miss since Fiona came into the house shrieking his name—only the joy in her voice kept him from jumping up and panicking.

Exchanging an amused glance with Daniel, he got to his feet and went to greet his sisters.

He had not realized how much he would enjoy seeing them properly outfitted.His wife hung back, allowing his sisters to have their moment under his gaze.Fiona was dancing around with pure happiness, Julianna was beaming, and even Emma was standing a little straighter and preening.

Though the gowns were not perfectly fitted to them, they were more than acceptable for general day dresses around the Hall.They looked more like sisters of a duke now.

“Beautiful,” he said as Fiona twirled for him, smiling widely at her.

“Thank you!I am glad we got them from Mrs.Collins.Mrs.Galbraith was mean.”Fiona twirled again as Nathanial blinked.“I’m going to go show Telemachus!”

Before he could respond, she’d run off again.He looked over at the others.Emma was saying something to his wife, so he did not think they’d heard what Fiona had said, but Julianna obviously had.She made a face.

“I’m glad you all had such a good outing,” he said, tilting his head in the direction of his study.“Julianna, can I speak with you for a minute?”

Neither his wife nor Emma seemed to see anything amiss with his request as they glanced up to smile at Julianna.He led his sister down the hall, very curious as to what she would have to say.

By the time she’d finished her recounting of the day, Nathanial was fuming and wishing he’d gotten the full story before Mr.Galbraith had had the temerity to appear at his door.If he’d known…

Well.It seemed his wife had handled the situation on her own, and he had been smart enough to see through Mr.Galbraith’s hedging.If the Galbraiths wanted the support of the Hereford Duke and Duchess, they were going to need to apologizeabjectly.

And Nathanial would do what he could to help the attitudes of anyone else in the village who needed a correction.

No one was going to be allowed to disrespect his wife.

29

Kalina

The second night of her marriage was very much like the first.

Tossing.Turning.

Wondering if her husband would come.

Wondering if she’d detected a slight softening in his attitude toward her after today’s shopping trip with his sisters.Certainly, Julianna and Emma were warmer with her now than they had been before today.But she was not sure if her perception that Hereford might be following suit was nothing more than hopeful imaginings.

As she began to finally drift off, the door between their rooms opened.She rolled over onto her back, breathless.

Eager.