Page 23 of The Duke's Tempting Bride

Chapter 12

Diana took a nice deep breath as she walked to the village. It had been a while since she’d taken this walk at a leisurely pace without needing to be in a hurry to reach the village and return home once more to continue with the housework for the day.

The day was warm, and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. She smiled for the first time in a long while without having the need to do so in front of someone. Diana was smiling freely and openly, thinking that the weight of the world had finally been taken off her shoulders.

As the Duke had promised, he’d sent a reasonable sum of money to her father. With the funds, they were able to pay back all their debts and purchase the things they needed the most.

Since they were all preparing to move into the Duke’s home after the wedding, they didn’t worry about furnishing their small abode once more. Instead, they paid Mrs Merriweather and Cook the money they deserved and allowed a few of the Duke’s servants to help them out until after the wedding.

Diana was doing her best to realize that she needed to start relying on the Duke for her needs now. She was so used to relying on her own knowledge and intelligence of numbers and resources that it was almost overwhelming to have all her needs and wants suddenly met by someone else so easily.

It was part of the reason she had decided to walk to the village instead of taking the barouche the Duke had lent her family for their travelling needs. She wanted to have a sense of freedom and control when she felt like her control had been given to the Duke.

However, Diana didn’t feel trapped by the Duke and this marriage she was entering into. She was sure she would still have freedoms if not control like she used to over the ledger and the family’s finances. Honestly, it was a relief not to have to worry about those things ever again. She trusted the Duke with the knowledge that she had about the man’s true character. He was honest, kind, and obviously very generous. She needed to remind herself to relax, that this was all the natural process of becoming a duchess. Yet, it was the joy of enjoying a simple walk to the village that helped her to remember that no matter what, she would still be the person she always knew. No amount of money could ever change her character and what she deemed to be morally right and wrong.

The sound of the village met her ears as Diana rounded a corner in the lane and headed up the main road that led through the village. There were plenty of people walking about as they took care of their business. She saw many familiar faces of people she’d grown up with. She even took the time to speak with many families simply to see how they were doing. And of course, everyone commented to her on her upcoming marriage.

“To be quite honest, Miss Casey,” said Mrs Daniels, the wife of a local farmer, “I had almost completely forgotten that the Duke was even in the neighbourhood because no one has heard from him in years. He only writes to his tenants and never goes to visit them anymore.”

“I too was quite surprised by the arranged marriage, but I’ve truly come to know the man. I think I’ll speak to him about his tenants and how people would love to actually see him.”

“My word, how delightful would that be? I’m sure any man who gets to marry a good girl like you will turn out for the better.”

“You are too kind, Mrs Daniels. I do hope you enjoy the rest of your day.”

As Diana parted from the woman and her three children that hung onto her skirt, she wondered if becoming Duchess also meant that she’d be given certain responsibilities. What was going to be expected of her? Would she need to visit the tenants and tend to their needs if they had any? After all, the Duke’s fortune rested upon the welfare of his tenants.

Diana was lost in her thoughts of everything she wanted to speak to the Duke that evening about when an unfamiliar voice called out to her. She stopped in her progress towards the seamstresses’ shop and turned to see who had called out to her. On the other side of the dirt road she saw a very beautiful woman with bright red hair waving at her. The woman looked both ways before crossing the street and lifted up the hem of her dark green silk gown to make her way over to her. Diana had never seen this woman in her life and was sure she would remember such a woman because she was so strikingly beautiful.

“I was wondering when I was going to run into you,” the woman said cheerfully.

“Forgive me, madam, but I fear we are unfamiliar with one another. Have you mistaken me for someone else?” Diana asked.

“Based on your description, I’m confident I’ve mistaken you for Miss Diana Casey,” the woman said with a smirk. It appeared she was enjoying herself and her play on words.

“Well, it appears as though you are familiar with me. But it still stands that I don’t have any idea who you are?”

“Really? Fitz hasn’t mentioned anything about me?” she asked with that same smirk on her face. To hear this woman use the Duke’s informal name told Diana that this woman must be personally acquainted with her intended.

“No madam. His Grace has not mentioned anything about you. Therefore, would you care to introduce yourself?” Diana narrowed her eyes at the woman, wondering what game she was trying to play.

“Well then, if my longest friend in life hasn’t taken the time, then perhaps I shall. My name is Lady Natale Gunther. Marian was my sister,” she finally explained. Diana quickly realized who the woman was that was standing in front of her and why she would refer to the Duke in such a way. After all, they were practically family.

“The Duke said that he had no remaining family left. He never spoke of a sister-in-law,” Diana said in her defence.

“Well, isn’t that just lovely,” Lady Gunther said as she laughed in a way that made Diana cringe. She was becoming leerier of this woman with every passing moment. “My sister is probably rolling in her grave at the mention of her dear sister not being considered family any more by her husband.”

“You speak as though your sister is still alive.”

“I keep my sister’s memory very much alive, just like I know Fitz does,” Lady Gunther said as her tone of voice lowered and became very stern. “I visited Fitz just yesterday morning, in fact.” Diana didn’t know how to react to that fact. The Duke hadn’t mentioned it to her, yet there would have been no reason to. They weren’t married yet, and it wouldn’t be the Duke’s responsibility to explain to her the type of company he kept each day.

“Why have you approached me, Lady Gunther?” Diana then asked, wanting to know why the woman would even want to talk to her.

“You are disgracing my sister’s memory by agreeing to marry Fitz. You should know better as a proper lady.” Diana’s first reaction was to argue that statement, but she was doing her best to keep her emotions from controlling her words. Instead, Diana decided to stick with the facts of the matter.

“’Tis an arranged marriage. I had no choice in the matter,” Diana finally replied.

“You still have a choice of whether you say ‘I do’,” Lady Gunther said in a patronizing voice. “And I will give you the choice to break off the engagement in return for five thousand pounds a year to you and your family for doing so.”

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