“I feel regret that there was a need for one,” Isabelle replied. “That he resorted to such means and believed that we would be accepting of such deception. But we do not regret ceasing contact with him when what he had done became clear. Matthew never deserved such treatment.”
“And I never wanted the duchy in the first place,” John added, “let alone to inherit it through such means. I am perfectly happy being replaced in the line of succession by your child.”
“And I am grateful that I have the both of you to rely on. That I have no reason to doubt your care for me,” Matthew acknowledged.
“Never,” John promised.
When the two siblings had walked away, Diana turned toward Matthew again.
“Do you believe that your uncle is truly gone now?”
“I do not know. But I do believe he will never try such a thing again. And even if he does, we will not allow him back into our home. Not even with John and Isabelle.”
His confidence was certainly inspiring, and she could not help but lean closer to him.
“What is wrong?” Matthew asked.
Diana looked up at him, startled. “Whatever do you mean?”
“You are still worried about something. I can sense it in your bearing.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied.
“Diana, you cannot lie to me. I know you better than you think. And I will know what it is that is bothering you,” he insisted, turning to face her.
She frowned at him. “You shall not order me about, Duke,” she snapped.
“Ah, Duchess,” he shot back, “I believe that your stubbornness betrays you.”
“We are hosting a party. And I shall enjoy it,” she declared, before quickly striding away from him and toward her sisters.
“A baby, Diana! It is so exciting!” Valery exclaimed.
“I can’t believe it!” Arabella squealed.
“And to think, not that long ago, you were so unhappy to marry him,” Marigold added.
“Ah, I seem to remember thatyouwere quite unhappy to marry him.”
“Well… that I was,” Marigold admitted. “But you were not so happy to take my place.”
Diana smiled as she thought back to it.
Had it really been so short a time since then? Since she had thought her life was entirely over because she was to be wed? And to be wed to the man she had thought Matthew to be?
“To be sure, he is just as obstinate and stubborn as the rumors say. But as for the rest…” She smiled softly in Matthew’s direction. He was conversing with John yet again.
As if he could sense her gaze, he turned toward her and gave her a smile before she returned to her sisters.
“I am glad that he was not the horrid man we had thought him to be,” Marigold told her, clutching her hands and staring into her eyes earnestly. “I felt dreadful that I had caused you to be married to such a man… and that I was the cause of all of your future misery.”
“You may rest assured, Marigold, that I bear you no ill will. In fact, quite the opposite. I owe you all of my happiness. And all of my future happiness as well.”
“He seems… much changed from when we first saw him,” Arabella acknowledged.
“Oh, he certainly is,” Isabelle agreed, walking up to their group. “He was always friendly enough with John and me, but even then he was not so… so open as he is now. We have you to thank for that,” she added, turning to smile at Diana.
“I am glad to have done so. But this person was always in there. It was only that he had been taught for so long to ignore these feelings and hide away his true thoughts. It only took a little effort to bring it out.”
