Diana looked like she wanted to speak again but then decided against it, drawing in a deep breath and giving a sharp nod.
Matthew assumed that meant the conversation was finished and he could continue on with their tour.
“Your rooms are this way.” He gestured toward the East wing of the house, before opening the door to the bedroom that he had asked Miss Jenkins to prepare for her. “These rooms, you may do with as you wish. Fill them with flowers and art and anything else you choose.” He meant it to be a compromise of sorts, but his tone did not come out as friendly as he intended.
Diana gave another sharp nod, but she didn’t look at him. Instead, she was looking around the room with a critical eye, and he found himself actually concerned that she would find fault in something there.
His gaze swept over every inch of the space, but he could find nothing to be displeased with.
The room was neat and clean. Everything was in its place. The bed was made. It looked exactly as it should.
“Will this suffice?” he asked, and she finally turned to look at him.
“Yes, this will do quite nicely.”
It was perhaps the nicest thing she’d said since they returned to Waterburry House after the ceremony, and it surprised him slightly. But he simply looked around the room once more and made for the next door.
“There is a sitting room here. You can enter from your own room or the hallway should you have visitors you wish to meet with in private or should you like to have tea brought up to your rooms.”
“Thank you,” she managed to get out, and he stepped back yet again.
“The dining hall is just down this way.”
He led her through the rest of the house and showed her the main dining room, where the meals would be served.
By the time they had finished touring the house, it was quite late, and Matthew led her back to her rooms again.
“Well… good night,” he muttered.
“Good night.”
Her tone was slightly less icy now, though he attributed that to her being tired and ready to be done with the day. He certainly was. And as he made his way back to his rooms, he wondered just what might be in store for him.
This woman, who was now his wife, was certainly strong-willed. And she had no trouble standing up to him and demanding whatever she wanted. The fact that he had given in to one of her requests would not bode well for the future, and yet he could not help but feel… pleased.
There was something about his wife that he liked. Perhaps something that reminded him a bit of Isabelle, whom he had always cared for and admired as an excellent example of the fairer sex.
But also, there was something about his wife that was distinctly…her.
The next morning, he did not see Diana for breakfast. However, he was up and ready to leave the house early. With work toattend to, there was no reason to delay, so he headed to his uncle’s townhouse.
“Ah, Matthew, there you are. Isabelle said we couldn’t come to see you for some time, as this is your honeymoon and all,” John teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Matthew rolled his eyes. “I had wondered where you disappeared. I don’t think you’ve left me in peace this long in your entire life,” he retorted.
John laughed even more. “And just how is the honeymoon going? Is your new bride everything that you had hoped she would be?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Matthew shook his head. “I’m not telling you anything about what’s happening in my home.”
“Oh, come now, surely you have something to tell your best friend.”
“And who might that be?” Matthew shot back.
John pressed his hands to his heart in mock hurt. “Am I not your best friend? Who else could possibly put up with your moods as I do?”
“What need have I for a best friend anyway?”
“You need someone who will actually put up with you. And I don’t seem to see a line of people ready to do so.”
