by Abby Ayles
“It bothers you that my wife is not using me for my finances as yours uses you?” the Duke laughed, wondering at the idiocy of such a comment.
“Absolutely. It’s not natural for a woman to be married to a man and care about absolutely nothing for him. It makes me wonder about what could keep her coming back to you. Or do you think she might come home when she has no intention to?” Lord Shrewbury asked rudely.
“What are you implying?” the Duke seethed, putting his face directly in the other man’s. He clenched his fists in disgust at Lord Shrewbury, wondering how such a horrible man could have a position like he did in society.
It was unfair that a man like that would be born into wealth and a woman like Thea would be born into poverty. He simply could not reconcile it in his mind.
The Duke pushed away from Lord Shrewbury, unable to stand his presence any longer.
“Oh what’s he gone and done now?” asked the Duke of Richmont.
“It doesn’t matter. I should be going,” the Duke said, grumbling under his breath.
“The poor little duke,” Lord Shrewbury mocked. “He can’t accept the truth even when it’s right in front of his face!”
“How much have you had to drink?” Lord Kensburg asked the man. The whole room was annoyed by his antics. He was known for being brash, but never quite like this.
“Not quite enough,” Lord Shrewbury said in reply.
“You had best leave. We don’t want you here if you’re going to behave this way,” the Duke of Richmont warned.
“Send him away. He’s leaving after all, isn’t he? He’s just angry because his wife doesn’t love him and everybody knows it. He’s stuck in a loveless marriage worse than the rest of our loveless marriages,” the man continued to tease.
By this point, his state of drunkenness had become more apparent and the Duke of Richmont called for his butler and a few others escort the man out of his home.
The Duke of Sandon appreciated that his friends were choosing to defend him, but he was still entirely embarrassed by the whole ordeal. It was shameful that his marriage should bring this sorry state of embarrassment because of his decisions. It was shameful that he and Thea should have to deal with this nonsense and that her lack of love for him would be a point of humiliation.
Lord Shrewbury was led out of the house, laughing on his way.
“We are utterly sorry that you had to deal with such a display,” Lord Kensburg apologized.
“It’s alright. I had best be on my way,” the Duke said.
“You do know why he said it, don’t you?” asked the Duke of Richmont.
“I can only think that he considers ill of me for being married to her. He would hardly be the first to think poorly of me,” the Duke replied.
“No, no. It’s because he’s just gone and lost all his own money. He doesn’t care about investing and being involved in business, but he’s lost his own,” Lord Kensburg explained.
The Duke rubbed his forehead. He didn’t care about all this. Earlier they had been having a grand time fencing and now all of the sudden the man had decided to come after him.
He had shown no signs before of being upset or anxious in any way, so why was he suddenly behaving thus?
The Duke sighed and nodded his head to all the men.
“Well, thank you all for a lovely afternoon. Lord Kensburg, I shall send you a card for Mr. Cotswold. Enjoy the rest of your day,” he said, leaving the room quickly and going to his coach.
It was horrible to know that everyone was aware of his loveless marriage. And the Duke could not allow anyone to see how desperately sad he was about that. He wanted Thea to love him, he truly did. And while he knew he was growing to care for her, he didn’t love her either.
He wanted that as well. He wanted to be the sort of husband that didn’t just notice his wife’s beauty, but deeply loved her. In many ways, the Duke felt that he was growing towards that, but he was not there yet.
It would be a great deal of time before the two of them could ever reach a consensus nearing love. He trusted that it could, indeed, happen. But not any time soon.
Thea was away at her friend’s home. Away for at least three more days. It would be so difficult to wait for her return before he could speak to her about it all.
But he made a firm decision that he would not make it easy for her to refuse him when he tried to woo her once more. No, this time, he would follow the advice of the Reverend Augustus Rogers. He would make every effort to love his wife.
And eventually, he prayed, it might come to be real.
With that, knowing he had a few more days to put his plan into motion, the Duke began to consider all that he might do win her over. And with each idea, he grew more and more satisfied that he had made the right decision in marrying Thea.
The people of society could think whatever they wanted. He didn’t need to know anymore. He needed only to consider his wife and how he might go about proving to her that he was a better man than she ever thought him to be.
For the next two days, he readied the home, and on the third, the Duke of Sandon went out for a meeting.
He could hardly wait to return.
Chapter 29
Thea sat in the coach feeling refreshed but also overwhelmed. She was returning to the Duke’s estate and was not quite certain what might come of it. Knowing that he wanted to talk with her, to discuss everything, she considered how their conversation might go.
It was not going to be easy, that was for sure. She would have to tell him that her time away had been good for her. That it had been better than her time at the estate ever was.
Thea didn’t wish to hurt the Duke, but she could not lie to him if he wanted to know what was really in her heart. If he wanted honesty between them, she would have to give him honesty.
The coach came to a stop in front of the estate and Thea got out, this time feeling like she was back in a place that was supposed to be home despite the cold loneliness. She was not looking forward to the quiet.
But Thea tried to make due. The coachman offered to take her bag in ahead of her so that she would not be disturbed once she got in the house. Thea considered this a strange thing for him to offer but accepted and he bolted ahead of her.
Alone in the yard as dark was beginning to descend over the sky, Thea stepped forward and made her way to the entrance.
The door had closed behind the coachman and she threw her weight into the heaviness of it to open it wide.
Behind the door was a sight to behold. A sight that Thea could never have imagined.
All along the walls and up the stairwell were roses of every color. Red, yellow, orange, the sort that looked like wallpaper grown old and cracked. Each one giving off an aroma of exquisite delight.
Along with the roses, a row of books and candles lined each side of the staircase. The candles lit the path and the books were all titles that she had never before seen in the library.
The whole display must have cost the Duke quite a fortune.
Breathless, Thea followed it all up the stairs and to the wing where her room was. The books and roses continued in a trail that led to her door.
Thea reached her door and opened it to reveal at least a dozen gowns. They were a variety of colors and fabrics, but all of them had something unique or different to make her stand out when she wore them. On one, there was a cabbage rose made of velvet at the waste. Another had a strand of intricate lace along the neck.
The gowns were the epitome of richness. The luxurious feel of each of them captivated Thea. She had never thought herself so drawn in by the things of fashion, but what she had here at her disposal was more stunning than any garment she had seen before.
“Forgive me for intruding, Your Grace,” Mrs. Markley said, standing at the door.
Thea turned to her, unable to hide the smile that had spread over her entire face.
“His Grace asked me to give you this letter upon your return. I think he should very much like f
or you to read it as soon as possible,” Mrs. Markley said. “I will be up again shortly with an assortment of desserts the Duke requested we make available to you.”
Thea nodded silently, still unable to speak.
“He also wished me to tell you that the books are yours. They will not belong to the library, although you are welcome to store them there. But they are yours and yours alone to do with as you please,” Mrs. Markley informed her.
Thea nodded again, still uncertain how she could proceed further.
When Mrs. Markley had gone, Thea sat on her bed and slowly opened the letter from the Duke.
My Dearest Mrs. Tyndale,
I understand that I have been the bearer of a great many mistakes of late. I understand that I have wounded you in ways I cannot undo. But I also wish for you to know that I shall make every effort to spend the rest of our time together proving that I was wrong and that I am well aware of my error.
On the day of our wedding, the Reverend, Mr. Rogers, gave me a good deal of guidance. He assured me that if I committed one small act of my own inconvenience per day, on your behalf, I would be certain to see our love grow and flourish.
You can imagine, that as we did not have anything akin to love between us at that point, I thought him mad and ignored his advice. However, I have learned in these last days how grateful I am for your presence in my life.
While our marriage may not be what either of us had anticipated for years of hearing of the importance of matrimony, I should like it to be something new. I should like for us to care about one another.
And as I have done no small inconveniences for you as yet, allow this to make up for all the days I ignored. Allow this grand gesture to be my promise for what lies ahead for us. Know that I will not reject you or be suspicious of you again.
Enjoy the books. Each one of them was selected by myself. There are no others in the library like them. They are yours.
Enjoy the roses. Smell them as often as you are able. You may place them in your room, in the parlor, leave them on the stairs. Whatever you please, you may do. Remember that this is your home as well and I would delight to see you enjoy it as such.
Enjoy the dresses. If you wish any changes to be made, inform Mrs. Markley and she will have it done. If you do not like a single one of them, they shall all be sent back until you have found what you desire.
And, Mrs. Tyndale, please enjoy the hope that I have for our future. Enjoy the possibility that we might grow to care for one another in a new and grand way. If we have faith that this can come to pass, we shall prove to the world that all their prejudices where wrong. None more so than our own.
Yours Always,
Joseph
Thea read the letter again. And a third time. She could hardly believe the words. Had this truly been written by the Duke? Was he such a poet as this?
She was amazed by him. All over again she found herself wishing that she had given him a chance sooner. It was not too late, of course. She could turn herself around as well. She could be a good wife. She could tell him how deeply she appreciated this wondrous gesture.
The Duke had amazed her and left her at a loss for words.
Thea sat on her bed a while longer before she went out and collected the books. It took multiple trips to bring them all to her room where she created six stacks along the wall.
After that, she brought in bunches of the flowers, blowing out the candles as she went to ensure that nothing caught on fire. She had always been frightened of such a thing occurring and there were so many beautiful candles here now that she didn’t want to risk it.
After her room was filled with flowers, she moved others to her parlor. Thea rearranged the remaining and dared to go into the Duke’s study to leave some there and others in the library.
When there was only a single bouquet of twelve roses left, Thea went to the Duke’s bedroom door and lined them along the base of it. She hoped that he would appreciate the gesture.
“Mrs. Markley,” she asked, finding the housekeeper in the kitchen arranging an immaculate display of cakes and cookies.
“Yes, Your Grace?” she asked, turning happily to Thea.
“Where is the Duke? I mean, I understand that he is not here, but when will he be arriving home?” she asked.
“I believe he will be gone all evening. He had a rather important meeting to attend to. But don’t worry, I am certain that you will have a chance to speak with him tomorrow,” Mrs. Markley said.
Thea’s heart seemed to sink in her chest.
She had come too late. The Duke had gone and she might not see him that evening.
Thea was determined. She had to wait up, all night if it was required. She wished to see him and to thank him for everything that he had done for her and for all that was written in the letter. She considered writing one in reply, but knew her words could not do justice to his.
Returning to her room, Thea tried on a few of the dresses, trying to decide what she should like to be wearing when the Duke returned from his meeting. It was soon after that Mrs. Markley knocked on her door and brought in the cakes.
“They are all ready for you now, Your Grace,” she said through her smile.
“Thank you, Mrs. Markley. Although I must confess that I worry as I am to wear these beautiful dresses. Surely, after I indulge in that display I’ll not be able to fit,” Thea laughed.
Mrs. Markley nodded. “Quite right, you had better be wise in how much you enjoy them.”
“Have you had any?” Thea asked.
Mrs. Markley looked at her as if she was being tested. “Have I had any? Of course not! You think I would take them from you?” she asked in offense.
“Mrs. Markley, I am not accusing you,” Thea laughed. “I am offering you some. Please, I cannot eat all of this alone and it would be a shame to waste them.”
The housekeeper looked at her hesitantly as if it were still a test.
“Please! Take some for yourself and the others as well. It would bring me great joy to share them,” she said.
Slowly reaching out her aged hand, Mrs. Markley took three of the small cakes.
“I said you must share them. Take more than that,” Thea urged.
Soon Mrs. Markley had all she was able to carry without dropping and left the room to distribute the sweets to those working in the house. Thea was delighted to have contributed something to the staff and hoped they might be able to indulge a little more often now that she was here.
Thea ate more of the cakes and continued to try on the dresses. Finally she settled on a pale pink gown with little flowers embroidered into the fabric. Grabbing one of the books that had grasped her interest the most, Thea made her way from her room to the library.
Once she was there, she sat in the comfortable chair and closed her eyes.
The Duke was a good man. Not for all the gifts, although she had never been lavished upon and this was certainly a delight. But he was a good man for all he’d said in the letter.
Thea had brought that with the book and she read it once more before folding up the paper again. She flipped the cover of the book so she could start it.
She had heard the name of the author before but had never read anything by him. It was a gripping tale from the first page and Thea was thankful for it.
Yes, the Duke had observed her well. She knew that the dresses were not a gift to say that he thought she was flippant. They were an outward sign of her position and that was something she seemed to sorely need of late as she was still facing the challenges of her inferior birth.
It had all been a grand, romantic gesture and the letter was the truly wonderful part of it all. Thea was delighted and could not wait to thank the Duke. In the meantime, she would try to read. It was difficult when she was so entirely distracted.
Her eyes kept finding the clock on the mantle and wondering exactly how late he would be. She wanted deeply to be awake when he arrived, but her eyes were growing heavy.
Thea stood and
moved around a little, trying to stay awake after ten o’clock had struck. She drank another cup of tea, hoping it would provide her with sufficient energy, and sat back down in the chair.
Forcing herself to remain awake, she moved on with the book she was reading and tried to stay focused.
It was a good book and soon her interest was held. The characters had much to say about who she herself was and it helped her remain intrigued.
