“If you wish for things to change, then you must be the one to initiate the change, Your Grace. Nothing will change if nothing changes.”
“I do not need you to speak in riddles, Margaret,” Diana shot back as Margaret began to fasten the buttons on her gown.
“If you continue to mope about the house, His Grace will not change the rules. He will not change the limitations that he has placed on you. The two of you will only continue to clash each time you meet. You will be frustrated, and he will be confused, and you will both react poorly.”
“And what would you have me do instead?”
“How did you go about making the changes you wished for in Waterburry House?”
“I introduced them slowly so that Mother and Father barely noticed.”
“Indeed. And that subtle approach may have allowed you to gain more of what you wished for, but it also nearly led to Marigold being married off to a man not well suited for her.”
“The very man that I now find myself married to,” Diana muttered wryly.
“Indeed, Your Grace. But the subtle attempt that you are making now will also lead to similar misfortune.”
“Then what would you have me do?”
She was curious now. If Margaret was not telling her to keep the peace, then whatwasshe saying?
“You will need to disturb the waters a bit, Your Grace.”
“You wish me to… go against my husband’s wishes?”
That was even more shocking. And certainly not something she would have expected Margaret to say.
“Indeed, Your Grace. This is your home. And you have no need to ask for permission to do the things that you feel necessary to care for it.”
Diana stared at her lady’s maid for a long moment. This was certainly not the Margaret that she was used to. But then perhaps she was right.
“Perhaps I shall,” Diana replied slowly, her mind suddenly whirling as she tried to determine just what she would do first.
“Your Grace?”
“Yes, Miss Jenkins?” Matthew asked, looking up briefly as the housekeeper brought in a tray with treats and a teapot. The same one that his mother had always used. Miss Jenkins had continued to use it to serve him tea, despite it being more suited for Diana, without saying a word about it.
He had never noticed it before. But now…
“Your tea, Your Grace. I thought you might like to know that Her Grace has decided to take a ride today. She took out one of the horses this morning after breakfast and has not yet returned.”
“Very well. Thank you, Miss Jenkins.”
“Also, it seems there is more artwork throughout the house. It started with half a dozen small pieces, and yet… it seems there are considerably more now.”
Matthew was not entirely sure that Miss Jenkins approved of the artwork. Though he was confused that more had been added. He had specifically told Diana that she could put up her sisters’ watercolors. Surely she was not going behind his back to purchase anything new.
He had not thought to give her any money or any access to his accounts, but his name and marriage were, of course, well known. It was possible that the local shopkeepers sold her artwork on credit. But then he should have received some form of bill.
Rather than enjoy his tea, he stood up and strode through the house, taking in the different rooms and halls and each of the pieces that had been placed around. Yes, there was certainly a great deal more of them than there had been not so long ago.
“Diana,” he called out as she suddenly appeared at the end of the hall.
“Yes, Duke?”
“What is the meaning of this?”
“The meaning of what?” she asked, her head held high and her eyes narrowed as she stared back at him.
