Page 48 of The Duke's Tempting Bride

Chapter 22

Diana was pleasantly surprised when she pulled the servants’ cord and Mrs Merriweather answered the call. Diana turned from the looking glass where she had begun to pull the pins out of her hair to let her long brown hair flow freely. She turned to her old housekeeper with a bright smile upon her face, excited to see an old friend.

“Mrs Merriweather, are you filling in for my lady’s maid?” Diana asked as she approached the older woman who smiled kindly at her.

“It’s been a short while since we’ve had a moment to talk together. We went from relying on each other each day to allowing all these servants to do everything for us,” Mrs Merriweather said with a rich chuckle to follow.

“I know. It all seems quite surreal to think that only a few weeks ago we were trying to figure out how to purchase more meat from the butcher without spending ever less copper. Now, we have everything we could ever want,” Diana added.

“Well, I wanted you to know that your parents are faring this transition very well.” Mrs Merriweather then gestured for Diana to turn around so she could help her out of her beautiful blue gown. “I think they have been more active as of late, more so than any other time in the last few years. It does my heart good to see them so happy.”

“I’ve been thinking the very same thing,” Diana replied as she stepped out of her gown once Mrs Merriweather had finished undoing it. “I just hope that all of these festivities won’t wear them out considerably that they don’t feel up to the wedding itself.” The ladies laughed together as Mrs Merriweather collected Diana’s nightwear from the wardrobe.

“It is good to see them with the grandchildren. I’ve been with your family for many years, Miss Casey, and never have I seen your father so doting as he is with those little ones.”

“Really? Father has always been so kind and considerate to me that I always thought that was how he treated everyone,” Diana reasoned.

“Your father’s heart softened in his old age. There was a time, when your eldest brother was still very young and you only a babe, that your father was very focused on earning the highest fortune as quickly as possible. He spent many days away from the house for matters of business. It is a shame that after all those years of chasing after money that he lost it all in the end,” Mrs Merriweather explained.

Diana was surprised to hear all of this because she’d never been told that her father was anyone other than what she’d known him to be. He’d always been kind and considerate to her, but when she was the last child in the home, it was easy to see why she became the main focus of her parents. And when her father was almost completely financially ruined and lacking in the good health to continue working hard for the family, Diana had been willing to step up and help out in any way possible. After all, her father’s lack of income was also her problem.

“It seems I have more than one reason to be thankful that the Duke chose me over his other options,” Diana mumbled as she readied for bed.

“I like to think that we can all put the past behind us as you are married to the Duke, but it seems these last few days have only proved that there is still a divide between Lord Casey and his children. I fear they still resent him for all those years of hard work and little time with his family.”

“It just doesn’t make sense to me, Mrs Merriweather. My father paid a great fortune when my sisters were married, and even helped my eldest brothers invest in their own business adventures. It’s not like he ever withheld his money from them,” Diana retorted.

“That may be true, Miss Casey. But money doesn’t help fill up the hole in the heart that is created from never really being loved by a father,” she replied. “After my own husband passed away at a young age, I never remarried, and I never had any children of my own. I threw myself into my work and did my best to serve your family. I was happy to be that parent to your older siblings, but it was never enough.”

“They have families of their own now,” Diana said as she looked out the window of her bedchamber. “Surely they are happy with the life they’ve all chosen for themselves.”

“We both know how easy it is for people to wear a mask. We can only hope that they are happy.”

“And would they be happier if they had more money?” Diana asked, turning back to look at her former housekeeper. She stood by her bedchamber door, holding a candlestick in her hand that held five candles. Diana was still amazed at how easy it was to have candles remain lit in the grand house when she hadn’t been able to afford new candles not that long ago.

“I don’t think it’s money that can make a person happy, though it often makes you sad when you don’t have any. I think what truly makes a person happy is the experience of life and choosing to enjoy it with good people,” Mrs Merriweather said in a soft voice. “Now get some rest, Miss Casey. There is still tomorrow to content with.”

Diana nodded and gave the older woman a smile as she left her room. Diana walked about the large space, taking her time snuffing out all the candles till it was dark in her room and only the moonlight was available to guide her way over to her bed. She crawled underneath the covers, thinking that each time she got into bed it was still a heavenly experience.

She laid her head down on the soft pillows filled with goose feathers. Diana closed her eyes, wondering what her older siblings truly thought of their father and perhaps even her? Did they think she had been favourited and perhaps that’s the only reason she’d been able to marry a Duke?

A part of her thought that had to be a portion of the reason they all seemed standoffish towards her and her parents. They rather sat together, and her father’s main focus had been the grandchildren. How could she find a way to mend the hearts of so many and perhaps come to enjoy her family once more?

At some point in the night, Diana was woken to the sound of her bedchamber door clicking open and shutting once again. It startled Diana, forcing her to sit up quickly in the hopes of spotting who had come into her room. She listened as footsteps approached her bed, causing her to scramble back in the bed till her back was pressed up against the wall.

“Who is there?” she asked, her voice shaky with fear.

“Don’t be afraid, Diana. It is only me,” came Fitz’s voice at the end of her bed.

“Dear Lord, Fitz. You scared me half to death,” Diana said as she pressed her hand to her beating heart and did her best to calm her nerves. “Has something happened? Why are you here?”

“I didn’t think I could be away from you anymore,” Fitz confessed. “I’ve been tossing and turning all night and wanted to seek comfort from the only person I’d ever allow myself to be with for the rest of my life.”

Diana was moved by his words and decided to have compassion on him since she’d been busy with her own thoughts as well. After all, they were about to be wed in two days, and it wouldn’t hurt to be alone together like this. Perhaps it would even prepare her for what it would feel like to be together on their wedding night to consummate the marriage.

“Come lay down with me, Fitz. You shall lay upon the blankets and I underneath so that way we are not tempted to go any further,” Diana reasoned as she slid back down underneath the covers. She felt Fitz’s weight as he made his way onto the bed and laid down next to her, wrapping his arm around her waist as he snuggled his face into her neck.

“I have thought of little else since seeing you in that gorgeous gown this evening. The moment I felt the silk fabric of your gown as you sat next to me in the drawing room, I imagined what it would feel like to bunch that gown in my hands, rising it up over your hips so I could feast upon your most sensitive parts,” Fitz whispered into her ear, his hot breath sending shocks of pleasure all over her body. It wasn’t long before she felt unbearably hot and was pushing away the covers and turning to face Fitz.

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