“Ah, it took more than just a little effort, or else John and I would have done so long ago. It tookyou, and everything that you are to him.”
Diana could only smile and blush even harder at the high praise, not certain she really deserved it. But Isabelle seemed to believe that she did. And Isabelle was one of the people who knew Matthew best.
“Are you happy here, Diana?” Valery asked.
Diana nodded immediately. “I am happy. So very happy.”
She had the house of her dreams. The husband she had never even dared to dream of. And she was about to have a child.
She frowned slightly at that thought, a motion that was almost imperceptible. In fact, her sisters did not notice it. But she could tell that Matthew had noticed it from across the room. And he wasn’t about to let it go.
Still, for the next several hours, she stayed with her sisters and even spoke to her parents for a few moments, though that went about as she had expected.
“Such wonderful news that the Duke shall have an heir.”
“I never would have expected less from our daughter,” the Countess crowed.
“Yes, I am very happy to be having a child,” Diana told them, trying not to sound too frustrated with their blatant lack of concern for her or their future grandchild.
“Of course, dear,” her mother continued. “To be giving the Duke a child so quickly… it is excellent. And it will not be long, I am sure, before you’re popping out more.”
“Perhaps I should wait until I’ve had this one first,” Diana retorted dryly.
“Diana, do not be impertinent.”
“Of course not, Mother. It is not as if you care more for the heir to the duchy than you do for your own daughter.”
“It is all one and the same,” her mother replied.
Diana shook her head. “It is not. You do not care that the child I carry is your grandchild. You only care that the Duke shall havea child. That your daughter has given the Duke a child and you may then brag to all the members of the ton as you see fit. I have no interest in it,” she told them, before quickly striding away so she could find someone, anyone, that could make her feel better.
“There you are, Diana.” John approached her slowly, as though he were still uncertain whether he was welcome in her home.
“John, you must know by now that we bear you no ill will.”
“I-I feel bad because I knew that he was up to something, but… I never would have imagined…”
“None of us would have. And that is how he was able to get away with it for so long. Do not fret. You have nothing to fear from us.”
“You have been good to Matthew,” he told her. “And I’m not just saying that to get myself off the hook.” He grinned.
“I am glad. Because I feel that I am good to Matthew as well. Though not nearly as much as he has been to me.”
“You saw Matthew before your influence. Do you really think he wouldn’t be bad?” There was a sparkle in his eyes that said he was certainly enjoying this, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Ah, well, I can attest to the fact that he was not pleasant when he arrived to claim Marigold.”
“And yet you decided to claim him for yourself,” he teased.
Matthew walked over to them just then, sliding an arm around Diana’s waist. “It has proved fortuitous,” he replied.
He did not attempt to ask her about what was wrong when they were with John, but once their guests had departed, he cornered her again.
“You shall not escape me this time, Diana. What is it that you are hiding from me? What is bothering you?”
For a moment, Diana considered arguing. Telling him that it was nothing. But that was doing neither of them any good, so she sighed and sank down into a chair in the sitting room, where he had found her.
“I am scared, Matthew,” she admitted.
