“Why, my sisters, of course,” Diana replied, surprised that was even a question.
“Perhaps instead we shall choose from amongst the ladies of the ton. This is an excellent opportunity to build stronger connections with several ladies and families.”
“I would choose my sisters over any other,” Diana insisted.
Her mother frowned and shook her head. “Your sisters will understand that you are to be a duchess. As such, you will need to forge the right connections with the right families. Perhaps Lady Angleton. And Lady Hearst?—”
“I have said, Mother, that I shall have my sisters stand beside me. I shall not have ladies of the ton that I know little of when I have sisters who are more dear to me than anything else,” she replied firmly.
“Diana, you do not understand the way the world works,” her mother began, exasperated, “Your wedding is the perfect opportunity?—”
“It is not an opportunity to build connections or anything else that you have stated. It shall, instead, be an opportunity for me to share with my family and those I care about. I care nothing for Lady Angleton and Lady Hearst.” Or at least, Diana was quitecertain she cared nothing for them, as she did not even know who they were.
“You must think rationally about this.”
“I am thinking quite rationally. And I have determined that I shall carry out everything in the way that I see fit.”
“And the wedding breakfast?” her mother asked, displeasure already evident on her face. “What shall you have for that?”
It was clear she did not truly want to know, but Diana held her tongue for a moment at least so she could gather her thoughts and respond as politely as possible, which was when her father entered the room.
“Ah, are the wedding plans coming along well?”
“It has been… informative, to say the least,” the Countess replied stiffly. “We have been discussing the wedding breakfast.”
“Wonderful. We shall of course have veal and sausage,” the Earl announced.
Diana wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “No, Father. I do not care for either.”
“What?” He turned to her in surprise, as if he couldn’t believe she was even speaking.
“I do not care for veal and sausage. Instead, we shall have roast fowl and lamb.”
“For the wedding breakfast of a duke and duchess?” He seemed startled, and she inclined her head.
“Indeed.”
“And what about dessert? We shall have a lovely cake, of course. It shall be large, elaborate and?—”
“No, it needs fresh flowers!” Valery announced.
“Berries!” Marigold chimed in.
Once again, Diana found herself overwhelmed. It was bad enough when she was arguing against her mother. But arguing against everyone at once…
“Well—” she began, but it was impossible to make herself heard while everyone began to speak at once.
“Oh! And pastries!” Marigold piped up again, and Diana could not help but smile. “Sugar biscuits, of course.”
“Sugar biscuits are for tea,” the Countess stated disapprovingly, but Diana was firm on this one as well.
“We all like them, and it shall be my last occasion to have them before I shall leave this house forever.”
That seemed to sober everyone. Even the Countess looked slightly uncertain at the announcement. But then, with a slight nod, she noted down sugar biscuits on the wedding breakfast menu.
“Now, as to the wedding cake, I should prefer to have flowers on the cake rather than anything too large and elaborate. I enjoy fresh flowers more than anything and I believe they will be beautiful for our decorations.”
“Flowers are lovely for setting on tables,” her mother agreed, “but they are not for decorating a wedding cake.”
