Page 92 of A Virgin for the Ton's Wolf

“You will do just wonderfully as the Duchess, my dear,” his mother reassured her with a gentle pat on her hands. “Besides, I am not leaving right at this moment. Probably in three days.”

“That is still not enough time for me to learn everything.”

Hudson watched the scene before him with great interest. The two ladies seemed completely oblivious to his existence. The picture they painted was one of such maternal love and filial piety that it seemed more like a newly married daughter bidding her mother goodbye, rather than her mother-in-law.

“Oh, you will learn to appreciate my departure.” His mother laughed. “After all, newlyweds like yourselves would want to have their privacy, no?”

His mother was woefully incorrect on that account. Fortunately, Scarlett did not move to correct her.

“Oakview is quite near,” she continued. “And you can call on me anytime you wish. My residence will always be open for my children—and grandchildren,” she added with a pointed look at Hudson, who chose to ignore her comment.

Scarlett, however, turned as red as the blooming roses in the vase.

Sadly, Hudson would have to disappoint his mother in that aspect. There would be no children for him and Scarlett.

The thought sent a pang of bitterness through his chest, but he knew better—he made for a poor husband already. He would only make an even worse father.

Scarlett closed the last of the books and looked up to find the twinkling brown eyes of the Dowager Duchess—no,Diana. The older woman—her mother-in-law—smiled proudly at her.

“That is the last of it,” she said, biting her lower lip. “I am not certain I did a good enough job of it, though?—”

She was cut off with a light finger to her lips.

“Hush, child. You have done exceptionally well—far better than I did when I first became Duchess, I assure you. Your mama has taught you well. You should both be proud of yourselves.”

Yes, Scarlett was certain that her mama was quite proud of her for marrying a duke, and now her mama was no doubt putting all her efforts into getting Alexander settled down. Scarlett smiled a little at that. Perhaps her brother should get a taste of his own medicine after he tried to meddle withherbetrothal.

“Mama has always said that I was abysmal at numbers,” she confided. “That my talents perhaps lay… elsewhere.”

Wherever that elsewhere was, her mama had long since given up on finding it. Perhaps it was one of the reasons she agreed to her betrothal to Lord Colton—she had given up that anyone would ever take Scarlett seriously and marry her.

“Well, perhaps I should be pleased that whatever those talents your dear mother presumed to be, they have all led you here.” Diana smiled brightly. “Wolverton has needed someone like you for so long.”

Wolverton the estate or the man? Scarlett dared not hazard a guess.

“Now that my work here is accomplished, I shall set off for Oakview tomorrow,” the older woman continued. She reachedfor Scarlett’s hand and patted it affectionately. “No need to look so glum, my dear. My son has assured me that your mother and your friends are welcome to visit at any time, and if he ever gives you any trouble—” She gave Scarlett a warning look. “Oakview is not too far.”

Scarlett laughed and threw her arms around her mother-in-law. “Thank you so much, Yo—Diana,” she amended. “I do not know what I would have done without you.”

“Oh, it has been my greatest pleasure, my dear!” The Dowager Duchess returned her hug. She pulled back and smiled at Scarlett. “I have always wanted a daughter, you see, but I was blessed with two sons, and after Hudson…” she trailed off sadly. “Thankfully, he has managed to give me a daughter by marrying you.”

Scarlett smiled softly at the older lady. She was young, but she remembered the whole ton speaking about the tragic riding accident that took Hudson’s brother’s life for days. But why couldn’t Diana have a daughter as well?

She shook her head. Despite her words, Scarlett could see the love shining in those bright brown eyes whenever the woman spoke of her son.

Hudson was very fortunate in that regard.

“I shall make sure he keeps that in mind.” Scarlett winked at her mother-in-law.

As for how she was going to accomplish that, she had absolutely no idea.

The past three days, it seemed that Hudson had taken great pains to avoid her. He had even changed the locks in the door to his tower, and whenever she inquired after him, she was always met with just one answer.

“I am busy, Scarlett.”

Hogwash, she would call it. A busy man was simply one who was avoiding something, and for Hudson, that something was hiswife.

One of these days, he would need to talk to her—whether it was because he found the pot roast much too salty or the coffee not to his liking. She would wait for him until then.

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