Page 81 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
“He is not what I expected,” Verity murmured. “Even though he must be supporting her, he somehow manages to make it look like he is not.”
“He is good at that sort of thing.” Rowen touched a hand to her necklace. “He makes caring look effortless.”
A gentleman asked Verity to dance before she could say anything, and Rowen motioned for her to go. She watched as herfriends twirled across the dance floor, feeling her heart ache as she saw Tobias laugh and talk with Cora.
“You seem rather pleased with yourself, daughter,” a cold voice said from behind her.
Rowen recognized the slight sneer even before she turned around.
Priscilla Jenkins, the Duchess of Hillcroft, was staring up at her. Her nose was wrinkled as though she smelled something unpleasant, and her grey eyes were cool. It made the curl of her lips seem more like a threat than a smile.
“Mother, I did not expect to see you here.” Rowen forced her shoulders to relax.
“Did you think you were the only one who could have an extended mourning period?” Her mother gave a smile that was more reproachful than kind.
She is goading me.
“We have waited a suitable amount of time, and this gown is more than appropriate for half-mourning.” Rowen realized that she was shrinking down and forced herself to straighten.
I am not a child.
“I have done nothing improper.”
“Is that truly what you think?” Her mother’s laugh was so cold it made ice seem warm. “How little you cared for propriety when you neglected to invite me and your father to your wedding.”
“Our marriage coincided with your annual trip to the Lake District. I know how important the trip is to your health, and I did not wish to disturb your peace.”
And I was glad not to have you and Father there.
Rowen tried to keep her thoughts off her face, forcing herself to smile and hoping it would appease her mother. “Besides, you would not have been able to make it in time anyway.”
“Do not pretend you care about my health, Rowen.” Her mother flicked her fingers in irritation. “You have always been too stubborn and selfish, and I have had to pay the price.”
“I did not think an invitation would serve any purpose other than to aggravate you. The trip would take too long, and it is my second marriage, after all.” Rowen clenched her hands into fists.
How does she make me feel so small when she is so much shorter than me?
Her mother snorted. “That is immaterial, Rowen. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was for us to find out about your engagement in the papers? And then to snub us by not eveninviting us—I could not show my face at the book club for weeks!”
“I apologize, Mother. I did what I thought best at the time. It was all rather rushed and—” Rowen began.
“And as usual, you did it without a care for how it might affect others.” Her mother shook her head. “It is only a pity that your brother, God rest his soul, needed to die for you to overcome your stubbornness. I always said his charity did more harm than good.”
Rowen recoiled from those words. “His kindness kept me and my children safe for years. Without it, we would have been destitute.”
“Only because you insisted on remaining a widow.” Her mother brushed her cheeks with her fingers. “All that beauty, and you spent years letting it waste away simply because you wanted to prove you could do it on your own.”
Rowen shook her head, her anger flaring.
How dare she speak to me like this?
She felt venomous words itching to break free, the urge to lash out at the woman before her.
“I suppose I should be thankful that you have come to your senses. And you have even managed to find yourself a duke!Quite the achievement. But now, you must make sure you do not waste the opportunity. But not to worry, I will help you. We will just need to…” Her mother’s words faded into the background as Rowen let them wash over her.
She always does this.
How often had her mother said that to her? How often had she swooped in to tell Rowen what she should and should not do?
