“Oh, we have always had a great deal of fun. The two of us and Matthew. But it is not the same as having sisters, I think.”
“No, a brother is not the same as a sister,” Diana agreed, thinking of all the times she and her sisters had engaged Philip in their play and how it had always been different. Even though they had fun, it just was not the same to have him join.
It was in the midst of her musing that the door opened again and Bess, one of the other maids, stepped forward with a large tray that she quickly passed over to Margaret.
“Tea time already?” Diana glanced at the clock, amazed to find out that so much time had passed while she laughed and spoke with Isabelle.
“Indeed, Your Grace,” Bess replied, setting the things out.
“So,” Isabelle began as the maid left the room and they each picked up their cups. “Just what do you think of Matthew?”
“Oh…” Diana paused, not sure just how much she should really say.
What would Isabelle say to Matthew if she were honest? And should she be honest with this lady, whom she’d only just met anyway? Even if she felt so close to Isabelle already?
“I know that he can be difficult,” Isabelle added. “Quite difficult in some cases.”
“It has… not been easy,” Diana admitted.
Isabelle laughed. “That sounds like Matthew.”
It made Diana feel a little easier as she smiled and continued. “He… does not like change. And he does not seem to like me at all.”
“What makes you say that?” Isabelle asked, her brow furrowed in concern.
“He ignores me for the most part. I see him very little. And when I do…”
Diana remembered their argument about the furniture. She had riled him some, and the little smile on her face must have broken through.
“What is it? What happened?” Isabelle asked, immediately interested.
Diana hesitated for a moment but then told her what had happened with the furniture. She wasn’t entirely sure how Isabelle would react, but her loud laugh was certainly not what she had expected.
“Ah, you have bested him. No wonder I have not heard of it. But I did notice that dreadful green sofa is gone.” Isabelle glanced around the room. “It does look much nicer in here.”
“Thank you,” Diana replied with a bright smile, both at Isabelle’s laughter and approval.
“And so Matthew was certainly not pleased. But you won that one. That is something, for sure. He does not often lose. I certainly approve. He needs that. I think you shall be good for him.”
“Matthew.” Matthew glanced up sharply at the address.
He’d been in his study for the last hour and had been reviewing some of the decisions that he had made along with his uncle and John. But Isabelle did not often come into his study alone and unannounced.
John, on the other hand, would come here all the time to bother him. But Isabelle did not. And she also didn’t tend to come and see him with such a serious look on her face.
“What is it?”
“It’s about your wife.”
“Is she ill?” he asked distractedly, glancing back down at his work.
Though Isabelle was unlikely to be the one to come and inform him if Diana wasill. Likely his wife’s lady’s maid would do that. Or perhaps Miss Jenkins if she were notified of it.
“No, Matthew. She’s not ill. This is about taking care of your wife.”
Immediately, he stiffened. So, Isabelle was going to be another person to tell him that he was treating his wife poorly and that she deserved better. His lips pressed into a thin line as he looked up slowly and waited for her to speak.
It wouldn’t do to send her away, after all. She would speak her mind no matter what he said. It was best to get this thing over with, then.
