“Which we shall change,” Caroline assured her. “Oh, I know that Hudson is a grumpy sort. And his moods are legendary. I have found myself caught in more than my fair share, let me tell you that.”
“Yes...” Florentia’s frown deepened. “I have heard there is a softer side to him, also.”
She shrugged. “I suppose there is. Even knives have handles.”
Florentia said nothing to that. This woman...Florentia could not decide how she felt about her. She seemed kind enough, that was true. Energetic, eager, a little peculiar also, but she would not hold that against her. It was more the way she spoke about the duke that Florentia found to be a concern. Compliments with one hand, backhands with the other.
“But you and His Grace are close?” Florentia asked.
“Very. He is like a son to me.”
“That is good,” she said. “How long were you and the late duke married? If I might ask.”
“Well, you have already asked, dear, so you cannot take it back now.” She tittered but there was something behind her eyes that suggested she was nowhere near as amused by the question as she seemed. “Many years,” she said simply.
“And you had no children of your own?” Florentia asked before she could stop herself.
She knew right away that it was the wrong question to ask. A noticeable shift occurred in the woman seated across from her. Her smile faded. Her expression darkened. Her posture stiffened. And her hands turned to balls on her lap. For a second, she stared ahead, past Florentia, a memory taking her that clearly caused great agony.
“I am so sorry,” Florentia hurried. “I did not mean?—”
“Oh, it is quite alright.” She gave her head a shake and exhaled, forcing the smile back. “I was thinking about something else—nothing to do with your question, dear.” She laughed but it sounded pained. “And no, His Grace and I never had children. We did not see the need, you know? With Hudson and Elias already turning into young men, in need of a mother as all boys are, I thought it best to focus on their upbringing rather than wasting time with a child of...” She swallowed. “Of my own.”
“And you have done a wonderful job with them,” Florentia hurried, sensing the pain in the woman’s words, the clear lie as she told it—as she forced herself to believe it. “The duke especially, he is something else.”
“Yes, he is, is he not? I am sure that the two of you will be very happy.”
The mood had shifted and there was no need to guess why. Florentia cursed herself inwardly, partly because she could sense the tension and was made extremely uncomfortable by it. And partly because she had wanted to ask Caroline if she knew of His Grace’s aspirations toward starting a family, a possible insight into whether this was something he would want. Now, however, Florentia would have rather walked home barefoot than raise the topic of children again.
Best to keep things light, I think. As nice as this woman seems, I sense that there is a dark side to her that I might not wish to find myself on the wrong side of.
“So, Caroline, tell me of yourself,” Florentia began pleasantly.
“What would you like to know, dear?” She brightened immediately, casting away that shadow as if it had not been.
“Everything,” Florentia said. “We have all day, so we might as well start at the beginning, yes?”
“Wonderful idea.” Caroline reached across and took Florentia by the hand. “On one condition.”
“Which is...” Florentia braced herself for the worst.
“That you do the same for me.” She flashed her eyes with excitement. “You are part of the family now, and I wish to know everything I can about my future daughter-in-law. Not that I would question Hudson’s decision making, mind you. Even if that man does have a tendency toward what some call bold but many call foolish.”
There it was again. The backhand aimed at the duke’s face.Yes, there is more here than she is letting on. And I wonder now how His Grace would feel if he learned that we had spent the day together. Likely, not as pleased as she seems to think.
Nonetheless, Florentia smiled and forced herself to relax. She was in this now, nowhere to go, and with a full day ahead of her, the least she could do was try and make a new friend. And if she was lucky, perhaps learn a thing or two about the duke while she was at it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The day of the wedding arrived quickly, which seemed to be a theme in Florentia’s life so far, so she tried not to let that worry her. What did worry her, what frustrated her to no end, was the behavior of her soon-to-be husband.
“Have you seen His Grace?” she asked her mother as the two women waited for the ceremony to begin. They were sequestered in a small antechamber behind the chapel, double checking Florentia’s wedding gown and make-up and doing what they could to pass the time as guests arrived.
“I have,” her mother said as she fussed about with Florentia’s hair; it was worn in a tight bun with ringlets falling over her brow to frame her face, the way these ringlets were falling being what occupied her mother’s attention. “He and your father were seen speaking just before I found you here.”
“Did you speak with him?”
“I made sure to greet him of course—will you hold still!” her mother sighed, grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her to face the mirror. “Or do you wish to look like you just rolled out of bed?”
