Page 41 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride

“Do not give me any of that nonsense,” her mother cut over her. “The two of you are married, yes? So do not pretend that the topic of children is uncalled for. It is only right that you and His Grace begin the process – for it is not such an easy thing as you might think. Not everyone falls pregnant right away, so delaying it is foolish.”

Diana felt her cheeks flush. “We have Magnus’ nieces to contend with, for the moment. And I promised him that I would help raise them.”

“But not as your own,” her mother insisted rightly. “Honestly, Diana. Do you mean to sit there and tell me that you and His Grace have not once discussed the need to produce an heir? I find that impossible to believe!”

If you knew anything about mine and Magnus’ relationship, you would eat your own words, mother. Not only is it possible, but the likelihood of us discussing it at all is as unrealistic as Evelyn suddenly sprouting wings and flying.

That the topic had never even occurred to Diana spoke to the strangeness that now surrounded her relationship with her husband. Until yesterday, her sole focus had been concerned with the possibility that her husband hated her and what she might do to survive such a tumultuous relationship as that. Obviously, she now knew without a shadow of a doubt that he did not hate her...yesterday proved that. Not that this made things any simpler.

Magnus was a closed book. Even prodding him ever so gently about his past yesterday had caused him to leap to his feet and flee the room as if it was on fire. Diana could not imagine how he might react if she dared to ask him about children.

More to that point, she did not know how she felt about the matter either. Logically, she knew that she should want them, and where she was growing to love Josephine and Adeline well enough, they were not her own children, and they never would be. She was more of an aunt to them than a real mother, and that was how it should be.

Did that mean that she and the duke should have a child of their own? And would he even want such a thing?

The question aroused confusion inside of Diana and she came to decide that for now, it made little real difference. This marriage... it was still in its infancy, and she guessed that until her husband was able to speak to her about anything beyond the surface level, it would remain as such.

Did she want children? What she wanted was a husband who spoke to her as husbands were meant to do.

“Promise me you will speak to him,” her mother pressed. “Please, Diana. I know it is not any of my business, but it is important. Speak to your husband,” she pressed again, as if it was the easiest of things. “You might be surprised at what he says.”

Surprised at what he says? I would be surprised if he did not turn tale and flee.

Try as she might, Diana could not shake her mother’s question from her head. And where the need for an heir was an important conversation to have, still she reasoned that before she broached that topic with Magnus, she needed to improve the tenants of their relationship significantly.

As to how she planned on doing that? It was the following morning when an idea struck her.

The day was Saturday, and she and Magnus and Josephine and Adeline were breaking their fast together for the first time. The presence of the girls provided a comfort to the setting, as they were able to keep the conversation simple and without cause for alarm.

“I do not want to spend all day indoors learning,” Josephine opined as she poked at her plate of food. “It is sunny! I want to go outside.”

“Me too!” Adeline joined in. “Diana -- Lady Albury,” she corrected. “Can we? Can we, please?”

It was telling that she and Josephine looked to Diana for confirmation, clearly understanding that of she and Magnus, Diana was the one most likely to allow it. Diana caught Magnus eyeing her, no doubt wondering at what she would do.

If she was trying to impress Magnus, she might have curbed this idea and suggested that they do as they ought and spend the day with Miss Brooks. If she was trying to further win the girls to her side, she might have encouraged their disobedience – what was more, she was just a little curious to see if Magnus had come around to her way of thinking, willing to give her a chance at her own style of mothering, as he had promised.

In this, Diana realized there was a way to do both.

She clicked her tongue. “You really should spend the day on your studies...” She saw their faces drop, and she saw Magnus smile. “However,” she then said quickly. “I do not see why you can’t do both.”

The girls frowned.

“Diana...” Magnus began gently. “Is it such a good idea to disrupt their studies so regularly? Perhaps tomorrow they can play outside?”

“I plan on disrupting nothing,” she said as she looked at Magnus, raising her eyebrows in a way that was meant to say, ‘trust me.’

He frowned. “And how do you plan on not doing that?”

She held up a finger. “I will tell you only if you agree to join us. What do you say, girls?” She looked at them both and pumped her eyebrows. “Should your uncle join us?”

“Diana...” Magnus began again.

“Trust me,” she said quickly, turning on him again. She softened her expression, even pouting. “I know what I am doing.”

It said a lot about how far the two had come these past two days that she knew immediately that Magnus was going to relent. That hewantedto trust her. Ironically, they had not come far enough for her own liking. But then again, that was the entire point.

It was thus that ten minutes later the four of them found themselves standing in the middle of the garden. Diana chose the spot specifically, a patch of grass that stretched ten feet in each direction. On one side were hedges. On the other was a row of small trees. There were also benches and shrubs and even a fountain if one was to go far enough... if they got that far.

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