“I also… well, I enjoy working in the gardens.”
He looked at her more closely now, and she wondered what he would think of that. A duchess working in the gardens like a servant.
“I know it’s not ladylike, and my mother has always said that it is unseemly, but I enjoy the work.”
“If a garden makes you happy, then we shall keep searching until we find a house with a garden,” Matthew declared.
Diana stared at him in surprise. Was it really that important to him that she was happy? It had not seemed that way before.
But now… today… things had been much different than she had expected.
“There is one more that we can see today,” he told her when it became apparent that she was not going to speak again.
And so they made their way back to the carriage, once again in silence, but there was something… comfortable about it this time.
“Tis quite dreary,” he stated as soon as they arrived outside the final house.
“Let us see it anyway,” she replied, moving quickly to get out of the carriage. It was not at all what Matthew would have expected. Even from the outside, and it was good that the driver was prepared to assist her, because he was not.
“Diana-“ He began, as he slowly climbed from the carriage himself, his hand reaching toward hers, but then the door opened as the owners exited the house and he was forced to follow her quietly for fear of offending them. But Diana seemed to be interested. Or at least, she seemed as though she wanted to go inside, so he said nothing as he followed her.
“Hello, Your Grace, you honor us by coming to our home.”
“The pleasure is ours,” Diana replied promptly and he managed a sharp nod as they entered.
“Dark and cramped,” he murmured to her as they walked down the hall.
She did not say anything. But the way that her lips pursed together he knew that she also didn’t like what she saw.
Still, they continued ,on and he followed her around, until they arrived at the first of the rooms, which nearly caused him to step right back out again.
“The rooms are musty as well,” he added and again her lips pursed.
But still she did not say anything.
Still she continued to follow the owners around the house to see the rest of the rooms.
“What are you about?” He asked quietly, brushing his hand against hers as they continued through the house, but she would not speak. Still, she jumped slightly at the light pressure of his hand and he could not deny the shock that went through him as well.
Finally, however, they had finished the tour and he led her back to the carriage, his brow furrowed as the owner waved and went back inside.
The fact that they had looked at three houses and none were what they wanted was disappointing, and he found himself frustrated. But still, there was something… comfortable about the way they were together. And he found he didn’t want this moment to end.
“Would you care to walk home?”
Diana looked at him in surprise, but he could also see that she was… happy. There was a smile on her face, and her shoulders were much more relaxed.
“We are not far, and it is a nice day,” he continued, and her smile brightened even more.
“That would be lovely.” This time, it sounded as though she actually meant the words.
And so he sent the carriage home and linked their arms, enjoying the feel of her beside him. His wife.
“It is unfortunate that none of the houses we saw today was sufficient,” he stated as they walked and could see the frown spread across her face.
“I had hoped …” she began, but she did not finish it. Still, he knew what she meant.
He had hoped as well.
