But when he saw her later he could not help commenting.
“I did not see you at breakfast.”
“I have not seen you at breakfast since I arrived,” she replied and he acknowledged that with an incline of his head.
“I had not considered that you may wish for a companion at the table,” he replied and the look on her face grew somewhat serious though he could not quite decipher it.
“I have been eating breakfast in my rooms with Margaret,” she replied finally.
“Margaret is …” he did not think he knew the woman she referred to, but then again he knew that she had come with a single lady’s maid from her home.
“My ladies’ maid. We have our breakfast together when we eat in my rooms.” The way she held her head and the look in her eye said she was waiting for him to challenge her on this. Perhaps comment on the propriety of eating with her lady’s maid but he had no qualms with it, save that it meant she did not come down to breakfast.
“Shall you be down for lunch?” he asked, trying to find something that they could converse on, but it was obvious he had none of the conversational skills that his cousins did. John would have had no trouble with having someone new in his household. Isabelle perhaps even less. But for Matthew …
“I shall,” she agreed and he nodded yet again, determining what else he should say, but in the end he simply turned and hurried away.
Still, he found himself wanting to speak with her, though he had no idea just what he would say if he did.
In the end, it was inane things. Like commenting on the weather when they would pass in the hall. Or even just nodding in acknowledgement when she passed.
Even still, he found himself wanting to do more.
And so Matthew sent for his valet. “Send someone to Waterburry House to learn more about the Duchess.”
“Your Grace?” Henry turned toward him with a confused look.
“I want to know what her favorite foods are and what she enjoys doing. Tell the man you send to learn whatever he can discreetly. I’ll not have it talked about all over London.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Henry replied with a short bow before leaving the room.
That would handle it, then. And in a short time, it did.
Within two days, the man had returned with not only information but recipes as well, which Matthew passed on to his cook immediately so that for supper that night, they could have one of Diana’s favorite dishes.
And then he sent her a formal invitation to dinner, which she accepted.
Though if he were being honest, it would have been difficult for her to decline the invitation. But it had still seemed the proper way. And now, it was no matter, because she was there, at the table, when he arrived, and she seemed to be reserving judgment as she looked up at him with a strange expression on her face.
“How have you found the house?” he managed to ask. , catching the frown from his cook as she glanced in at them from the doorway.
“It is lovely,” Diana replied, but there was nothing in her voice that suggested that she really found it so.
It was a platitude that people said, and he knew it. But he was determined to get something out of her. He’d dealt with more stubborn businessmen, after all.
“And how have you amused yourself since arriving?”
“I haven’t,” was her reply as she met his gaze steadily.
Matthew hadn’t been prepared for such blatant honesty. Though he knew she had been bored since she had arrived and hadn’t been engaging in much of anything, save for redecorating his house, he had expected her to say something. Still, the fact that she was being completely honest with him about her unhappiness was somewhat refreshing.
It also made things difficult because he was unsure what to say next.
“I am sorry that you have not found my home to your liking. Is there something you would like to engage in that I can assist you with?”
She tilted her head to the side as if appraising him. “I believe not, Duke.”
At that moment, dessert was brought to the table, and she seemed even more startled as she looked down at it.
