by Abby Ayles
Margaret looked away in uncertainty. There was nothing to be said to that point. Thea knew she had found the point that none could argue with. If the duke was such a wonderful man, how was he unable to even communicate with his wife?
It had to be a result of his own pride, or perhaps the fact that he saw her as less than him, after all. That was what Thea had always expected and he had done little to prove otherwise.
She looked at Margaret as if her friend should say something to refute the point but was satisfied with the fact that nothing more could be said. Thea had won the argument.
“Do you wonder if, perhaps, he leaves you alone because you have made it so clear to him that that is exactly what you wish?” Margaret suggested cautiously, as if recognizing that she might be causing a problem by suggesting such a thing.
Thea looked at her with surprise. She had not anticipated her friend to speak to honestly as that to her.
“Whatever do you mean?” she questioned.
“Well, you told me what happened at the dance. And you have not gone out of your way to speak with him. Perhaps he believes this is what you would prefer,” Margaret said.
Before Thea could reply, a knock on the door announced that Mrs. Markley had returned.
The tray of sweets was a shocking sight to both young women. Four silver tiers on a small cart rolled in, stacked with treats the likes of which neither of them had ever seen before.
They thanked Mrs. Markley and asked her to pass their gratitude to the kitchen staff. She closed the door behind herself and the two took a break from their discussion to simply indulge in the delights before them.
“Did you try this one?” Margaret asked, holding up a cream-filled puff.
“Not yet, but I’ve eaten three of these,” Thea laughed, holding another frosted treat to her lips.
The break from their serious discussion was much needed. Both girls appreciated the moment to relax and be at peace without worrying what the other might be thinking or any argument that could possibly ensue once they were finished.
But when the top tier and half the second were empty, they realized their appetites could not sustain the rest of the indulgences.
“I will ask Mrs. Markley if it is alright to have it sent with you. Could you share some with my family as well as your own?” Thea asked.
“Of course. I should be delighted,” Margaret giggled.
Thea wondered if this would appease her friend enough to leave off the discussion for the rest of the day. But she was not so fortunate as that and Margaret soon brought it up again.
“So, what do you think about my idea? That perhaps the duke is only quiet with you because that is what you have asked of him,” she prompted.
Thea sighed. “I suppose it could be an aspect of it. But I don’t really see how. I mean, the duke has had every opportunity to speak to me if he wishes. This is his home. But even at mealtimes, we scarcely interact for more than a sentence or two, commenting on the food, typically.”
“Yes, well, when you have shown such a disliking, then he is bound to hesitate to approach you,” Margaret pointed out.
“Why are you being such a bore on this? Can you not simply agree with me that he has made no effort?” Thea asked.
“No, I cannot agree. I see that he has outfitted you with a room for the things that interest you. I see that he has made sure you are well looked after, provided for. How can you say that is no effort?” Margaret asked.
“Because that’s not what I’m speaking of. Yes, he has given me much. But he remains silent. He has given me gifts of all sorts, but I have yet to understand anything of who he really is. What do all these things mean to me if I am alone?” Thea asked.
“Perhaps these things he has given to you are his way of trying to open up,” Margaret suggested.
“My goodness, I would think that you were his dearest friend rather than mine for how you dote on him so,” Thea mumbled.
“Do not be petulant, Thea. I am trying. We all are. We want to see you happy, but you seem too stubbornly determined to remain against this marriage. Will you ever make an effort in your own part rather than complaining that he has made none?” Margaret challenged.
Thea thought about what she had done in return for the duke’s generosity. Beyond the fact that she had looked into the empty rooms and imagine what they might come to look like once she had them furnished, she could not remember much. She had done little to express her gratitude to the duke.
He had defended her from his mother’s bite and had lavished her with beautiful things. It was true that she ought to show more appreciation. But she had been so lonely and frustrated by the Dowager Duchess. Thea was hesitant to show any part of herself to the duke that might make him think she was growing comfortable.
Her stubbornness was truly getting the best of her. No wonder people thought she was being spoiled and petulant.
“You did make a promise. To me, to your sister. You said you would try to give him a chance to show you who he is,” Margaret reminded her.
“Yes, I suppose I ought to,” she replied sullenly.
“You have said that before. Now I would like to know exactly how you intend to do it. How will you show him that you are trying? How will you appreciate him?” Margaret challenged.
Thea sighed. “I suppose I ought to thank him for defending me against that harpy mother of his,” she said grudgingly.
“That is a start,” Margaret laughed.
“And I could try to start a conversation at dinner. Perhaps ask him how his day was?” she considered.
“Yes, that as well is a wise idea. You see? You are capable of being a good wife. You simply need to allow yourself to let go of the resentment you have for the fact that he and your father arranged the marriage without your say,” her friend pointed out.
“But they did…” Thea pushed.
“Yes. They did. And it is unfortunate that we females get very little say in the matter sometimes. But it is done. You cannot go on punishing him forever,” Margaret said.
Thea considered the truth of her friend’s words. She could not punish her new husband forever. No matter how frustrated she was by the fact that he and her father had determined her future without her say, she would have to push through it and be willing to forgive him.
A better life might lay ahead for them if she was willing to release her bitterness. It was difficult, but it had to be done.
“I am very glad you came,” Thea said to Margaret.
“As am I. After all, I never would have been able to eat all these things had I not,” Margaret laughed.
Once her friend had gone, Thea sat alone made her way to the library where she opened a volume that might distract her. She had plans to be kind to the duke that evening. But she knew well that it would challenge her usual behavior.
However it went over, she hoped that it might open a new door for the two of them.
Chapter 16
It had been a long day, but the duke finally arrived at his estate. He had gone to meet with his friend the Duke of Arborshire and visit Mr. Cotswold, his new business partner, to learn how things were progressing with his investment.
So far, they had already begun to see returns. The duke was quite excited, particularly considering the fact that he had not anticipated such good news so soon after becoming involved in this trade business.
But reaching his home, he was glad that the day was over. Exhausted by the travel he had had to make between his estate, Cambridge, and another small town, he was ready to eat his dinner and settle in for the night.
Greeted by Mrs. Markley who took his jacket, the Duke of Sandon smiled. He asked where his wife was at and confirmed that she had eaten and was well.
“Indeed, Your Grace. Her little friend came from the town as she had mentioned to you. What a sweet child she was! The dear seemed so much younger than she really is, I can tell you that much,” Mrs. Markley prattled.
Typically, the duke did not mind
hearing the woman go on with her words, but in his state, he did not have quite the stamina he typically posed.
“Well that is all very well. Is my wife in her room?” he asked, knowing that if she was not, he needed to find her and greet her.
“No, Your Grace. I believe she is still in the library. She has spent most of her day in there, in fact. We even brought her lunch there,” Mrs. Markley admitted, not entirely sure if the duke would be alright with that arrangement.
“Very well,” he replied with a sigh. “I am glad you have looked after her.”
With that, the Duke of Sandon made his way towards the library to greet Thea before he might change and be ready for dinner.
When he opened the door to the library, he found her intently invested in a volume that he had never read.
His wife was halfway through the book from the looks of things and he was amazed at her interest. The door he had opened was quiet, but not silent. His footsteps left only the faintest sound, but he found it deafening in the quiet of the room.
The way the light fell upon her hair and her delicate fingers clenched the book were all sudden and new distractions for the duke. He didn’t think he had ever seen anyone so lovely in all his life. The sudden remembrance that this was his wife made him entirely satisfied.
And yet the duchess seemed not to hear even the slightest approach from him. Her eyes remained on the words of the page as if she were the only person in the entire estate. Or perhaps it was rather that she was no longer here. She had been transported to within the pages.
Finally, when he was very near, the duke cleared his throat.
His wife’s head jolted upright, and she looked at him, startled.
“Oh, Your Grace!” she exclaimed. “Forgive me. I did not know you were there.”
“Yes, I did not mean to startle you, but I could see that you were not hearing the other signs of my presence,” he said with a small chuckle.
“I was rather enjoying the book,” she defended with a smile.
“Well then, I shall not distract you from it,” the duke said, pausing for a moment before turning to leave.
“I do not mind,” his wife then said, taking him by surprise.
The Duke of Sandon turned back and waited for her to proceed.
“You are welcome to stay. I should like to know about your day,” she said, swallowing nervously after she spoke the words.
He smiled at her again and made himself comfortable in the large chair beside her. He had not anticipated this from his new wife. She had seemed so cold and unwilling in the majority of their time together, but on occasion, she would surprise him with this polite side of herself.
“My day?” he asked.
“Indeed. I should like to know more about what it is that you do with your time,” she said.
The duke felt a swelling of pride at her sudden interest. He wondered what had prompted it but was primarily concerned with impressing her with his response.
“I met with a colleague of mine and we had a business meeting with a man we are working with. We have a trade business growing and thriving under our watch. It is quite thrilling to see products from the Orient making their way to England,” he said, hoping it sounded intriguing to her.
His wife smiled but seemed unsure of what to say next.
“Well that is grand, to be sure. I am glad that you had a productive day,” she commented.
“And yours? How was your time with your friend?” he asked, trying to show her that he was interested.
“It was very dear,” the duchess replied with a hint of sadness in her eyes. “I am glad to have had the time to speak with her.”
“Yes, it is good that you did. Please know that you are welcome to have your friends and family come by at any time,” he urged.
“I shall, thank you. My family has said they will not come until we have been married for two weeks. But perhaps after that I will call for them to visit,” she replied.
“Yes, you must. We will have a great feast prepared for them. Be sure that they know this. I should very much like to spend time with them and with your father. He is a good man,” the duke complimented, pressing upon his wife that he cared for her concerns.
“Thank you for saying so,” she said.
“And what else has occupied your day?” he asked, curious.
His wife looked at the book in her hands.
“I suppose I had intended to do a bit of sewing. I had begun before Margaret arrived but after she left, I decided to come in here,” she confessed with an embarrassed laugh.
“You have been reading the whole day?” he asked.
“Well, since a little before noon I suppose,” his wife replied.
“And how do you find the book?” he asked, genuinely interested in her thoughts.
“It is brilliant. It is prose, but it reads like poetry. I am delighted by the author’s use of language. I find that I can hardly glance away from it,” she admitted.
“The sign of a truly great work,” the duke replied.
“Indeed. And I am thankful to you for having so much available to me. I do not think I could last very long in a home without reading,” she told him, gazing at all the books with a sense of hope.
“What is it you love most about reading? The characters? The story?” the duke inquired.
The duchess thought for a moment. “Well, I do not think I can pin it down to any one thing. And it is not only fiction that I enjoy, to be sure. I love history. I love to read about the world. Books are not merely an avenue for entertainment, they are an avenue for learning,” she answered him.
“Yes, that is quite true,” he said quietly.
The duke thought about the way she spoke so passionately of reading and learning. He had thought her to be spoiled in many ways, as shallow and vain as many young women her age.
He had assumed that, while she had so little interest in him, she was happy to marry someone who could give her such material wealth.
And yet, here she was. The duchess was not wearing a gown, primping and doing her hair. She was in her same old dress, reading a book, trying to expand her mind.
“What should you like to do tomorrow?” he asked her.
His wife smiled to herself. “What should I like to do? Why, I should like to continue reading. But first I must finish taking in those gowns. I have waited long enough. And beyond that, it is important that I write to my family. Especially my sister, Delia. She will be missing me. We have always been very close,” she answered him.
“Yes, I could see that the two of you have a very close friendship in addition to being sisters,” the duke noted.
“Indeed, Your Grace,” she replied.
The duke paused for a moment and wondered how she might take his next thought.
“Pardon me, but, seeing as how we are now married,” he began, “perhaps you no longer need to refer to me so formally when we are in our home.”
“Oh?” she asked, unsure of his meaning.
“Well, what does your mother call your father? Does she call him by his first name?” he asked.
“Oh no, Your-no. She does not. She calls him Mr. Caulfield, of course,” his wife replied, expressing that her family held itself to proper esteem.
“Well then, perhaps in the home, you might call me Mr. Tyndale?” he suggested.
“I do not know if that is proper. You are nobility,” she said, uncomfortable.
“Yes, but you are my wife. I should very much like for us to call one another this way. I am Mr. Tyndale and you are Mrs. Tyndale. For purposes at home, I mean,” he explained.
“As you wish, Mr. Tyndale,” she conceded, not looking him in the eye.
“I can see that it makes you uncomfortable,” he said cautiously.
“Only it is that I am unaccustomed to speaking with nobility at all. To address one as my equal seems to me a great manner of disrespect,” she explained.
“But you are now my equal. I know that it will take time to
come to terms with that, but it is the case. And I can see that my wife is intelligent, respectful, and wise. What more does she have to do to prove herself worthy of the attentions of society?” he asked.
His wife smiled. “Mr. Tyndale, I fear that you have never been on such an end of society as I have. I shall have to do a great deal more than marry nobility to prove myself worthy of such a match.”
“And I shall have to do a great deal for my part proving myself worthy of a young woman who is so much more than just her beauty. Perhaps we both have our work set before us,” he added charmingly.
