Page 13 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride

“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.

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