“I would not have you speak of my wife in that way,” Matthew warned, his voice sharp and dark.
He never spoke to his uncle like this, but something needed to be done.
While he knew Diana to be many of the things that his uncle had said, the way his uncle stated them made it clear that he did not see them as benefits to Diana or Matthew as her husband. And that he saw Diana more as an embarrassment to the family than anything else.
“You will see that this woman is not good for you. She will bring ruin on this family, and all because you felt that the bride I had selected for you was not good enough?”
“Marigold is too young, not only in age but in temperament, and when I met her, it became clear that she would not do,” Matthew argued, still trying to keep his voice even.
“And so you chose another one of the sisters. But not one that would serve you well as a wife. Instead, you chose the sister who is least disposed to be a good wife to you.”
“I will not have you insult my wife. And especially not in her own home.”
“You mark my words, Matthew, you will regret bringing that woman into your household and giving her your last name. You will regret throwing in your lot withher.”
“And what would you have me do, Uncle? You would have me throw my wife out onto the streets because you do not approve of her? I would think a divorce would be even worse for our family name.”
“We would find a way to resolve this… issue. An annulment, perhaps.”
But Matthew scoffed and shook his head. “She is my wife, and she has been for nearly a month now. There shall be no divorce, no annulment, no throwing her out onto the street or shuttingher away. She is my wife, and she is the mistress of this house. As such, you are the one who is welcome to leave.”
His voice was firm, strong, and he stared steadily at his uncle. But then the man simply turned on his heel and strode out of the study, down the stairs, and out the front door while Matthew watched from the doorway.
For a moment, he wondered if he had made a mistake. If perhaps he should have listened a little more to what his uncle had to say. To hear him out before sending him away because of his rudeness. That abrupt way of speaking had never bothered him before.
And then he chanced a look down the stairs and saw her. Diana.
Standing at the bottom of the stairs in her gorgeous gown. Her face bright with a smile that seemed to make her lovelier still. Her body soft and gentle. Her stance confident.
And as his gaze met hers, it was all he could do to keep walking slowly rather than racing to her side, drawn by something he couldn’t explain.
But he knew that whatever it was, he could never turn her away.
This woman … whatever it was that he felt for her it seemed to only be growing stronger. Grudging acceptance and admiration at first. Turning into something like regard and now … well, hewas not certain what it was that he felt. Only that he greatly enjoyed her company. Far more than he would have expected.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Diana?” He asked, just to be able to say her name once again, and perhaps to have her look at him with that easy smile that he had grown to like so much.
“I am. And have you concluded your business for the evening? Are you free to enjoy yourself now?”
“Perhaps attending to business was the enjoyable part of my evening,” he returned, though the conversation he’d just had with his uncle was certainly not pleasant. She did not need to know the topic of any of it.
“Well then, for the next party I shall endeavor to have something better to keep your attention and ensure you are more entertained than you are at business.”
“For the next party, you say. And who, pray tell, has given you leave to host another party?”
“I do not believe I shall wait on the formalities, Your Grace,” she teased, “Perhaps I shall simply send out the invitations for myself and you shall have to wait and see.”
He couldn’t help the smile that burst forth at her words. At her manner. At …her.
“We shall see if you are allowed another party,” he teased back and saw the way her eyes flashed, but not with anger. There was pleasure there, though he knew not what it was that pleased her so.
“We shall see ifyouare allowed to stop me,” she replied and the laugh that broke through was a surprise to them both.
Chapter Fourteen
“What do you think of this deep burgundy for the curtains?” She asked, gesturing toward the color. “Or is the blue best?”
“Both are lovely, but perhaps blue is the better color to go with. After all, this room had some nice light, but the burgundy is a tad bit dark for the room, do you think?” Margaret replied.
