And so he stalked through the house to find her. But what he found along the way was more furniture. New pieces he had not commissioned in nearly every room of the house.
Not all of the furniture was being removed, but at least something in each room. And then there were the rugs. And the artworks.
“What have you done?” he snapped as he finally strode into the room he found her in.
Diana turned, calmly, from where she was directing two workmen on where to place a chair so that she could face him.
“Ah, Matthew, how nice to see you.”
Her tone certainly did not sound conciliatory. Nor even the least bit concerned. Rather, she looked steadfast. Defiant.
“What have you done?” he repeated, his eyes blazing as he stared around the room.
“I have made a few changes in the house. Things that needed updating and such. Not to worry, I’ve told them to put everything that is being removed into the spare room at the back of the house. If there is anything that is of importance to you, that is where you will find it, and it can be moved to the country estate.”
All of that, she said with that same calm tone, while Matthew could feel his blood beginning to boil. Still, he waited as the two workmen quickly hurried out of the room before he continued.
It was not that anything held special significance. In fact, his father had always taught him not to put value in items like that. But the very idea of her moving things about…
“I informed you that you would need to get permission from Miss Jenkins or myself before making any changes to my house. Miss Jenkins is beside herself with these changes, which means she did not authorize them. And you certainly did not speak to me.”
“And how could I, when you are never about?” Diana asked mildly. “You are never available for me to ask anything of you. And as this ismyhouse too, I felt it prudent to make the changes that needed to be made. If you are going to host here, whether for business or pleasure, as the Duke, you must have an elegant home.”
“My home is precisely what it needs to be,” he retorted. “You were requested to leave things as they were.”
“You cannot actually expect me to simply sit back and do nothing within my own home. When there are things that need doing,” Diana scoffed. “And you cannot expect me to blindly obey your rules when they are nonsensical. You will not always get your way, Matthew.”
“This is ridiculous,” he told her, his anger still simmering as he thought of everything that she had changed in so short a time. And when he explicitly told her not to do so.
“That it is,” she agreed. “And yet I have listened to your request. You did not care to make the house impractical, and so I have ensured that everything in the house is just as practical as ever. The artwork does not detract from that. And the new furniture is as functional as the old but more in fashion.”
That defiant streak in her… it was infuriating him beyond belief. And yet there was nothing that he could really say because her argument was valid. At least, on that point.
“You are my wife. You are to do what I tell you to do.”
“Iamyour wife. But I amnotyour servant. And I will not be treated as such,” she retorted, and he scowled in response. “It will not do for us to continue on this way.”
“In what way?” he snapped back.
Although he had seen many others quake with fear at his sharp tone, it elicited no reaction from her.
“With both of us griping and sniping at one another. It will only continue to cause us both headaches moving forward. And is this really what you wish for, for the rest of your life?”
It was not. Not at all.
And yet… what would it mean to acquiesce and find some form of compromise with this woman?
“And just what solution did you have in mind?” he managed to get out, his jaw still somewhat clenched, but at least he was feeling less angry.
“Perhaps we should start with you treating me as an equal instead of as a servant.”
Little as he wanted to admit it, hehadstripped her of her authority in this house. Just after he had told her that it was her home and she should enjoy the place.
It was a contradiction of the worst order.
“And give you free rein to terrorize the rest of the place?” he couldn’t resist shooting back, and she scowled in response.
“It is my home as well,Your Grace, and I should be able to ‘terrorize it’ as I see fit. If I believe that the house needs new drapes or new sofas, I should be able to do as I please to see that they are replaced. I should not have to getpermissionfrom anyone to do so. Would your own mother have done such a thing?”
