Page 44 of The Viscount's Diamond Bride
Perhaps last night was not about me at all. Men have needs, do they not? They have desires and outlets which are forbidden women. Perhaps that is all I was. An opportunity. An outlet.
This was not a pleasant thought. Ursula was still mulling it over when a knock came on the door.
“Only me, your ladyship!” came Ruthie’s muffled voice. “Can I come in?”
“Of course,” Ursula called back, pulling herself into a sitting position against the headboard and pulling the quilt up to her chin. Ruthie bustled in, bearing a breakfast-tray.
“The usual hour for breakfast is over, and Mr. Richards was going to keep it ready for you, but his lordship said that we should bring you breakfast in bed instead,” Ruthie explained, carefully setting down the tray-legs on either side of Ursula’s knees. “He said that married women ought to be taking breakfast in bed.”
Ursula said nothing, staring unseeingly down at the spread waiting for her. Why had Graham said such a thing? Was it a form of congratulations? Did he mean to say that after last night, the matrimony had been effectively consummated and thus she was a wife?
Or perhaps he simply wanted to eat breakfast alone. Perhaps it was neither of these possibilities, and he only said the easiest thing.
“I added a cup of chocolate,” Ruthie pointed out, beaming hopefully. “I hope you like it. Cook doesn’t often make chocolate, on account of his lordship and the dowager not drinking it.”
Ursula flashed a smile up at her maid. “It all looks delicious, Ruthie. Mm, and this chocolate is divine! Do give my compliments to cook.”
Ruthie beamed wider. “I’m so very pleased, your ladyship!”
She busied herself with straightening the covers and bustling around the room while Ursula meditatively sipped her chocolate.
“So, you say that the dowager does not drink chocolate?” Ursula remarked slowly. “She must stay here a good deal for you to know her preferences.”
“Oh, she isalwayshere, your ladyship. Mrs. Richards said once that it seemed thatshewas Lord Sinclair, not…” Ruthie trailed off, paling, and shot an apologetic glance at Ursula. “Forgive me, your ladyship, I shouldn’t have said that. I can never keep my mouth closed. Have I offended you?”
Ursula blinked, a little surprised. “Offended? No, Ruthie, I am not offended. Of course, it won’t do you or cook any good to repeat such a thing about Lord Sinclair and his mother, but I never want you to feel that you cannot be honest with me. I value honesty a great deal, and I don’t believe that anybody should have to temper their opinions too strongly.”
Ruthie looked a little relieved at that, nodding and bobbing a quick curtsey.
“It isn’t that Lord Sinclair is a weak man, or overly attached to his mother or in that sense,” she quavered, twisting the hem of her apron into a thin roll between her fingers. “It’s just seems that he’s too tired to argue with her. Everything with the Dowager is a battle, as you can well imagine.”
“Yes, I can believe that,” Ursula murmured. “I am pleased you told me, Ruthie, and I’d like to make something clear. You can speak of it amongst the other servants, if you wish.Iam the mistress of this house, not the Dowager Lady Sinclair. I have the greatest respect for my mother-in-law, but this is not her house. If she gives you orders which contradict mine, hers are to be disregarded. And if I discover that I have been disobeyed, then there shall be consequences. I have to… I have tobea viscountess, Ruthie. If not, I’ll be swallowed up alive, upon my word.”
Ruthie nodded slowly. “I… I do believe I understand, your ladyship.”
“Thank you. That means a good deal to me.”
Ursula finished her chocolate and placed her delicate cup on the tray. It was hardly a surprise to learn that her mother-in-law had previously ran the house as if she were its mistress. With Graham needing to take the responsibility of viscount and running the estate, he would have had little time to care for his own house. His mother’s help had probably been welcome.
But she won’t give up that power so easily,Ursula thought.She would command a great deal more status as an acting Lady Sinclair, and considerably less as the Dowager. If he’d wedded Lady Annabella, or a similarly pliable woman, thenMargaret would have been able to control her quite nicely and therefore retain her status. She would remain head of the household.
But he took me as his wife instead.
Ursula clenched her jaw. She was determined to pry Margaret’s claws off the household and away from Graham. Her mother-in-law was welcome in their household, but only if she would stop trying to turn every interaction into a battle.
If I can keep Graham on my side about this, we can both face her,Ursula thought.That reminds me, I had better consult with him about last night, too. No more misunderstandings. No more awkwardness. We will discuss it frankly, like a pair of adults and a wedded couple.
With a newfound strong determination, she glanced over at Ruthie.
“Once I’ve breakfasted and gotten dressed, I wish to speak with Lord Sinclair. Tell me, where I can find him?”
Ruthie glanced up from folding a pile of linens.
“Oh, didn’t I inform you, your ladyship? Lord Sinclair went out directly after breakfast. He said he won’t be home until supper.”
***
“My mother is complaining of dampness in her cottage, or something or something to that effect.” Graham said heavily,swirling his brandy around in the glass. It was entirely too early for brandy, but he had awoken with an aching head and a sensation that he had not slept enough. In short, he felt rather ill. The brandy would not help, but for the moment it was giving him a much-needed rush of energy.
