Page 29 of The Duke's Indecent Match
“Come in.”
Pushing her book to the side, Kalina rearranged herself on her bed to be comfortable.The door opened, and her mother stepped through, smiling.
“I did not think you would be asleep,” she said, closing the door behind her.
“I was trying to read, but not making much headway,” Kalina admitted as her mother made her way over to sit on the bed.Like Kalina, she was wearing a fresh day dress, though hers was a pretty blue and yellow floral, while Kalina had chosen a pink sprigged muslin.“My thoughts are whirling about too much.”
“How were the ruins?”
“Beautiful.Very atmospheric.Though not as old as I hoped.”Kalina shrugged.“I still enjoyed seeing them.”
“And the Duke of Montagu?”Her mother raised one eyebrow.
“Very charming.”She smiled.“Very gentlemanly as well.I enjoyed his company.”
There was a beat of silence, as though her mother was thinking, hesitating to say something, then she leaned forward to lay her hand over Kalina’s.
“I know your father hopes to be reunited with his family, but I do not want you to think that the responsibility rests entirely on your shoulders,” her mother said gently, giving Kalina’s fingers a squeeze.“Regardless of whether you marry a duke, your father and I both love you.More than anything, we want you to be happy.”
“There is no reason I cannot be happily married to a duke,” Kalina replied.She appreciated her mother’s reassurances, but she also knew how disappointed her father would be if he did not have the chance to reconcile with his own father and the rest of his family.
Having experienced the cut direct firsthand from her father’s siblings and their children, there was a part of her that also wanted to force them to acknowledge her.To be able to force those who had seen her and turned up their noses to curtsy to her because she was no longer beneath them but in a position where they could not ignore her.Did she particularly like the part of her that felt vindicated at the thought?No.But she was too honest to deny that it would be satisfying.Gratifying even.
Her mother laughed.
“There is no reason, but marrying a duke is also not a guarantee of happiness.Unless… have you already developed an affection for the Duke of Montagu?”
No, the Duke of Hereford.
But she could not admit that when it was Montagu who she had spent time with today.
“I… like him.”That was the truth.“If he were to offer for me, I would seriously consider it.”
Her mother relaxed, as if she was relieved to hear that Kalina would not accept immediately, but the truth was, Kalina was not sure she and Christian would make a good match.While she did enjoy his company, his constant self-deprecation would drive her batty after a while, and he seemed torn on whether he appreciated or hated her responses to it.
Also, she was not sure she could be happy with him when she had such strong reactions to the Duke of Hereford.Yet if Montagu were the one to offer…
Yes.She would need to think very seriously on whether she would accept.
“He seems a nice enough young man.Perhaps I will try to get to know him better.”
“That is what we are here for.”Kalina smiled ruefully.
Noise outside her window drew both of their attention, and they got up from the bed as one to see what was happening outside.A new carriage had just pulled up in front of the house, with the Blackstone crest on its side.
“That must be the matchmaker,” Kalina’s mother murmured.A footman came down to open the door, holding out his hand to the woman inside.
Kalina’s eyes widened.That was no Englishwoman.Unless she was mistaken, the style of the woman’s outfit was Chinese, her skirt designed in the elaborate pleats of the mamian style under her robe.The fabric was a dark forest green; the embroidery decorating it made good use of what appeared to be emerald-green, gold, and cream thread.Though Kalina could not pick out the particular embroidery design from such a distance, she was certain it was gorgeous, and she would love to take a closer look.
She turned to help another, older woman out of the carriage.Clad much in the same style, though her robe and skirt were dark grey with green decoration, the older woman appeared to have some difficulty coming down from the steps.She was very petite, even more so than the first woman, who Kalina assumed was Mei, the granddaughter.
They watched as the footmen unloaded the carriage under her direction, at which point Lady Astrid arrived on the scene to greet the women.Despite the distance and the inability to hear what was going on, it was clear that she was delighted to see both of them.Despite the difference in their stations, she greeted both with the English cheek kisses reserved for close friends.
“Well.This afternoon should be very interesting indeed.”Kalina’s mother put her hand on Kalina’s shoulder.“Perhaps the matchmaker will have some insights.The Duchess of Clarence mentioned to me that she had heard of a matchmaker with a knack for making matches that was almost magical.”
Watching Lady Astrid and the matchmaker walking up the stairs, arm in arm, before they disappeared from her view, Kalina nodded.If nothing else, she could ask the matchmaker what she thought of Kalina and the Duke of Montagu.
Perhaps, if they were able to get a private enough moment together, she could also ask the woman’s opinion of the Duke of Hereford.
