Page 24 of The Heartless Duke's Bride
“I’d like a pastry,” she said.
“A pastry, Your Grace?”
“That’s right. And some hot chocolate.”
After all, the story was that she could have anything she liked. It was time to put that to the test. She intended to discover just how much power a duchess really had, and this would be an easy way to start. Could she really have anything she wanted sent up to her room at any time, day or night, without turning any heads? Would no one so much as comment on it?
Certainly, Violet wouldn’t. She nodded and moved toward the door. “I’ll fetch that for you at once, Your Grace,” she said. “And would you like the lamp to remain lit for now?”
“Yes, thank you,” Lydia replied. “I might stay up for a while and do some reading.”
“Whatever you’d like, Madam.”
Violet left the room to fetch Lydia the late night food and drink she had asked for, leaving Lydia to reflect that, if nothing else, she had gained more freedom in her life. She would never have dared to ask for chocolate late at night while living in her father’s house—he wouldn’t have liked it. She wouldn’t even have wanted to risk keeping the lamp lit late so she could read by it. Back at home, that would have led to complaints about wasting resources and admonitions to focus on getting more sleep.
But I’m not just my father’s daughter anymore. I’m a duchess now. I can do whatever pleases me.
She settled into her bed. It wasn’t the future she had always dreamed of, far from it. And she had no idea whether it would be able to make her happy in the long run. But, for now, she would try to feel happy about the hand she’d been dealt. It was better than being miserable, so she knew she had to embrace it as best she could.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Lydia couldn’t count on seeing her husband at meals—she learned that very quickly over the course of the first month. Margaret almost always joined her for dinner, but she was usually on her own at breakfast time. It was very rare to have Edward sit down with her, and when he did, it was usually with a look of extreme preoccupation, as if they happened to be in the same place at the same time but only by coincidence. Usually, he said nothing to her.
It bothered her at first. For the first week or so, she took it personally. After that, it began to feel like a challenge. Could she get him to react to her if their paths crossed? How determined was he to ignore her? How far out of his way would he go to avoid having to exchange a word?
“The new stallions are arriving today,” she told him one morning, a month into their marriage.
He had been seated at the breakfast table when she arrived in the dining room, his attention already fixed on some papers, and she knew perfectly well that he wouldn’t so much as look up from them unless she said something.
She was excited about the new stallions. She’d always loved horses, and the stable at Westfrey had struck her as rather small from the moment she’d arrived. So, today was a big day, regardless of how Edward felt about it. But at the same time, she did recognize an opportunity to provoke some kind of response from him here. As far as she was aware, he hadn’t known that new stallions were coming. She’d had no opportunity before today to let him know about this latest purchase.
Maybe this will be the thing that finally breaks the tension between us. Maybe this will be the day he tells me I’m taking advantage of my role as Duchess, and I’ve got to stop.
She had to admit, a part of her was longing for that moment. Shewantedhim to get angry. She wanted him to tell her that she was overstepping, that she had no right to do the things she was doing. It wasn’t that she enjoyed being yelled at, but it would be preferable to being ignored.
He lowered his papers and looked up at her. “Stallions?”
Her heart beat faster. She had done it—she had finally gotten his attention!
“That’s right,” she said, struggling to keep her voice even.
“What stallions are we talking about?”
“I purchased three of them. There was room for three additional horses in the stables, and I thought we ought to have some nice ones.”
“And who’s going to take care of these horses?” Edward asked. “I only have one stable hand. Three new horses will double his work. Will he be able to keep it up?”
“I’ve hired him an apprentice,” she replied.
“You have, haven’t you?”
“Well,” she amended, “I allowed him to hire his own apprentice because I thought he would know better than I what skills were needed, and he would make a more informed choice.”
Surely this would anger Edward, that she had dared to hire someone without so much as talking to him beforehand about it.
“The young man has been in the position for a week now, preparing for the arrival of the new horses and learning all about how things are done here.”
“Who is this fellow?” Edward asked, his brow furrowed. “You can’t simply hire anyone off the street to come and work at Westfrey, you know. It’s a distinguished position, serving in this house.”
