Part 4 (1/2)
Food was brought for her, more food than she could possibly eat. Each serving lad was urged by the dowager d.u.c.h.ess to add another spoonful to Lady Daniston's plate. Staring in dismay at the pile stacked in front of her, Regina was surprised when Lord Daniston put his hand over hers in her lap.
When she looked at him, he whispered beneath his grandmother's conversation with the footman, ”Humoring Grandmother is the first thing you must learn. She has her own ways, and no one gainsays her.”
”Not even you?”
”Only on a few occasions.” His eyes twinkled with what she guessed was the memory of past mischief.
The dowager d.u.c.h.ess's voice kept Regina from replying. ”This very morning, I shall arrange for the banns to be read in the church.”
”Is that necessary?” the duke asked, surprising Regina, for she had thought he was interested only in the eggs on the plate before him. ”They are legally married, Mother.”
”What is the purpose of doing something unless it is done right?” She stabbed a slab of b.u.t.ter and spread it across a biscuit. ”There shall be no question of the legality of this marriage when I am through with it. Now, as I was saying, I shall speak with Reverend Cavanaugh about posting the banns and having them read this very Sabbath.” Her smile became a frown when her grandson reached for his newspaper again. ”Marcus, do wait to read the news. There are so many things we need to discuss.”
”I leave all the facets of this wedding in your capable hands, Grandmother.” He flashed her a smile. ”It is apparent to me that you have the plans well underway.”
Wagging her finger at him, she chided, ”Do not try to fill me with that sap, young man. I shall not have Regina shoulder the burden of everything so you can flit off to enjoy yourself with-”
Regina froze as the old woman clamped her lips closed and the duke sucked in a deep breath. Looking from His Grace's suddenly gray face to the dowager d.u.c.h.ess's frown to Lord Daniston who was opening his newspaper, she instantly knew what had happened. The elderly woman had been about to say something that should be left unsaid.
Flit off to enjoy yourself with ...? With whom? The only answer was obvious. Her husband must be keeping a high flyer somewhere in Town.
Quickly she lowered her eyes. She should not be surprised. That her father had been loyal to the memory of his late wife for nearly two decades was not customary among the ton. Had this been what Papa had meant when he warned her to be careful of her heart in this marriage?
”I shall do my part to make this wedding ceremony what you wish,” Lord Daniston said coolly, ”but, Grandmother, even you, with your love of pomp and ceremony, must own that there is little for the groom to do save to arrive on time for the wedding.”
”It is your duty, Marcus, to introduce Regina to Le Beau Monde. You must host a soiree with her immediately.”
Regina could not keep from glancing at him. His hands clenched on the table, but as she watched his fingers slowly relaxed.
”That seems like an excellent idea, Grandmother.” His smile returned when he took Regina's hand and held it on the table. ”I know Regina will be anxious to help in any way she can.”
”Idle hands are troublesome,” announced the dowager d.u.c.h.ess as she reached for another biscuit. A footman, who never was far from her, lifted the basket from the table and held it out to her. Selecting one that was pocked with strawberries, she lathered it with b.u.t.ter.
”I agree,” Regina answered.
The dowager d.u.c.h.ess rewarded Regina with a broad smile. ”I thought you would, my dear. Marcus, I trust you are grateful that your father found you this singular jewel of a wife.”
Regina looked down at her untouched food as she heard Marcus say, ”Of course, Grandmother. I suspect Regina is quite unique.”
”Unique is in the eye of the beholder,” Regina returned, unable to remain silent at his veiled insult.
The duke slapped the table and chuckled. ”Well said, young lady. Marcus, you should be forewarned. A wife with a wit will keep you on your toes.”
”Upon his toes is not where a man wants to be when he thinks of his wife.”
”Marcus!” The dowager d.u.c.h.ess's mobile face fell into a frown. ”You are behaving in a positively beastly manner today. Make your apologies to Regina this instant!”
He folded her hand between his broader ones and said, ”If I have caused any upset to your delicacy of mind, madam, indulge me by accepting my apology.”
”I accept your demure hits for what they are,” she retorted.
When the dowager d.u.c.h.ess laughed, Lord Daniston's fingers closed more tightly over Regina's hand. Again she recalled his warning about his fierce temper. She was certain now that he had been cautioning her, but she refused to be daunted by a husband who was in a bad skin.
The duke began to read aloud from one of the columns in the Morning Chronicle. When she realized it dealt with an issue before the House of Commons, Regina leaned forward and listened intently. She disregarded the dowager d.u.c.h.ess's low urging to eat as she listened to an account of the debate on recent riots in Norfolk.
”Son, mat is hardly the proper topic for the breakfast table,” chided the dowager d.u.c.h.ess. ”You shall upset Regina.”
The duke lowered the paper. ”She looks very interested to me.”
”She has not eaten a bite.”
”Can you eat and listen at the same time, my dear?” the duke asked with a hopeful smile.
”Son,” said his mother before Regina could answer, ”you shall certainly upset my delicate digestion if you continue with this.”
He folded the newspaper and set it by his plate. ”Then I shall refrain from reading the news to you, Mother. If you wish to finish the article later, Regina, you must feel free.”
”Thank you.” Regina drew her hand from beneath Lord Daniston's and selected a fork to begin her breakfast. Although she was not hungry, she should make an effort to scale this mountain of food.
The dowager d.u.c.h.ess kept everyone's ears busy as she shared the society news from her newspaper. Trying to take note of the names, Regina hoped it would be simpler to keep the lords and ladies connected with their names when she met them. She smiled. Papa had taught her a few tricks about how to remember names, but she knew she would be wise to keep that to herself. Some of the a.s.sociations she might use could be less than flattering, although they would help her when she met a square full of strangers.
When Lord Daniston stood a half-hour later, Regina realized that no one else save the dowager d.u.c.h.ess had spoken during that time. She was startled, too, to discover that much of the food on her plate had vanished. Mayhap she had been hungrier than she had guessed.
She excused herself as Lord Daniston walked out of the room. If she had a chance to speak with him alone, she might discover some of what had been discussed last night. She could not ask those questions within earshot of his father and grandmother.
”My lord?” she called.
He paused in the middle of the corridor by a narrow table. Sunlight and shadow played across his face, emphasizing its sharp planes. No smile lessened its severity, but, she was relieved to see, he was not scowling either.
”Yes?”
”I thought we might have a moment to talk.”
”About what?”
”About what happened last night.”
He laughed. ”As you should recall, nothing happened last night.”
She closed the distance between them, refusing to let his caustic humor end this conversation. ”My lord, I ask only that you share with me what was discussed after you left my room.”
”Only that the door must remain locked.”
”Door? Which door?”
He took her hand and drew it within his arm while he strolled along the corridor. Reaching the stairs, he paused. ”With your curiosity, I would have guessed that you have peered into every nook of your rooms by now. Surely you noticed the locked door.”