“You have yet to see either of them dance just yet, perhaps do not be too excited before you do.”
Diana could not help but laugh even as John put on a wounded expression and Mathew ruefully shook his head. Her sisters joined in the laughter as the entire party made their way out of the dining room and after her.
Matthew seemed to be enjoying himself well enough, and there was reason to hope that he might allow for a larger party the next time.
“Has it been as bad as you feared?” Diana asked Mathew as he led her from the room.
“Worse,” he replied but the slight upturn of his lips as he said it gave voice to his true thoughts on the matter. And seemed to endear him to her even more.
Things were going well.
Quite well, actually.
It was clear that Diana was having a good time. That she was pleased with the way everything had turned out and that she was enjoying the time with her family.
She was even spending some time with John and Isabelle, who seemed to truly like her as well. And Matthew was greatly pleased with that because it meant that his cousins could again be welcomed into his home. Though perhaps he should ask John to send a note rather than simply bursting in whenever he chose. Not that he thought it would do any good.
As for himself… well, it was noisy, and the endless chatter grated somewhat on his nerves, but he was trying to ignore that and have as good of a time as possible as well.
It wasn’t quite as difficult as he had thought.
“You seem to be doing quite well,” John told him as they gathered for a moment in the ballroom. “I know that these parties have never been your favorite part of being a part of the ton.”
“It has been… better than I expected,” Matthew admitted.
John grinned at him. “So does this mean we can expect more parties?”
“Be content with this one for now,” Matthew retorted.
John sighed, shaking his head. “You truly need to—” But he was cut off as his father strode over to them, barely concealed fury evident on his face.
“Matthew, we have something to discuss.”
“Of course, Uncle,” Matthew replied immediately, though he was confused as to what was so urgent that needed to be discussed right now. “Shall we go to my study?”
Whatever it was that his uncle wanted, it did not look like it was a pleasant subject. Perhaps it would be best to get out of the way so as not to ruin Diana’s party. Matthew wanted it to go exactly the way she had hoped, after all.
His uncle turned on his heel and stalked out of the room, and Matthew glanced after him then over at John.
“Keep the others entertained, would you? And if Diana looks for me, let her know I’ve stepped out for just a moment with Uncle.”
“Of course,” John agreed, though he too looked confused as Matthew strode out of the room.
The instant the door to the study had closed behind them, his uncle rounded on him.
“That woman was never meant to be your wife,” he snapped.
Matthew was surprised thatthiswas what the anger in his uncle’s eyes was all about.
“Diana? She is a much better match than her sister,” he replied calmly, attempting to cool his uncle’s anger. “I wonder at her being left out of consideration in the first place. She was surely a more eligible young lady.”
“There was a valid reason for leaving her off the list. Her age may make her suitable, but her temperament doesnot.Marigold Venton is well known for her beauty and her mild temperament. She is a sweet, innocent young girl who comes from a good family with a solid name.”
“And Diana comes from the same family, and she is lovely enough,” Matthew countered.
But his uncle was clearly not finished. And not pleased with his summation.
“There are reasons that she was not considered. Her temperament, as I stated. She is known to be headstrong, spirited, and opinionated. She often behaves like a man, speaking her mind when it is not warranted and forcing her will on those around her. She is not suitable as a wife and certainly not to you. How dare you tarnish our family name by marrying such a woman?”
