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Chapter 7
Diana sat before the small looking glass in her room as Mrs Merriweather stood behind her, teasing her long brown hair into a design for the dinner party. Diana was simply focusing on her breathing, watching the way her chest rose and fell in her gown. She’d chosen the only silk gown in her possession since all the others were day gowns to work in.
This one was coloured a deep emerald, much like her eyes. Her sister, Vivian, had purchased it for her to wear to her wedding, stating that her family had to look their best for her special occasion. Diana hadn’t argued with the decision, and now was thankful to have such a nice gown that still fit her perfectly.
“You’re a vision,” Mrs Merriweather said as she took a step back, having finished the task of finishing her hairstyle for the evening. Diana turned her head from side to side to see the curls and pins in the mirror. Normally Diana simply pulled her hair back from her face or put it into a simple braid. She couldn’t think of the last time her hair had been styled and thought it looked nice.
“Thank you, Mrs Merriweather. I couldn’t have done it without you,” Diana replied as she stood from the wooden chair and turned to face the housekeeper.
Diana was very nervous and wondered what she was going to do about her nerves. A part of her wanted to stay home, to fake sick and allow her parents to gain a sense of opinion of the Duke first. But Diana knew that she would only grow more curious about the man she was about to marry and wouldn’t be able to handle missing this opportunity. After all, she needed to make a good first impression and be there in case her parents needed anything.
“I’m going to make sure the master and madam are ready as well,” Mrs Merriweather said as she dipped her head and left the room, giving Diana a moment alone in her bedchamber. She looked around the room for a moment, remembering how it used to be designed. It was so bare now, only the most needed things remained. She knew that some day soon she’d have a completely different room in the Duke’s home and could possibly decorate it any way she cared.
Pushing all thoughts from her mind, Diana squared her shoulders and straightened her posture before stepping out of her room. She made her way down the hallway and to the foyer to wait for her parents. She was eager to get on with the evening, to see the Duke for herself, and to discover what type of man he truly was.
“My goodness, you are such a sight to behold,” came Lord Casey’s voice as he descended the stairs with his wife on his arm. Diana smiled up at her parents, a genuine smile for once. It was nice to be complimented on for her beauty.
“Thank you, Father. I suppose I should thank my handsome parents for my good looks,” Diana teased. The older couple chuckled as Mrs Merriweather came forward to open the door for them.
“Have a pleasant evening,” Mrs Merriweather said as she curtsied. Lord Casey dipped his head to her, and Lady Casey placed her hand on her shoulder. The two older women shared a particular look, as though comforting one another before the couple stepped out of the house. Diana smiled at the housekeeper before following her parents.
Out on the lane was the Duke’s carriage that Diana had spotted before. Now, two footmen stood at the ready, holding lanterns out from their bodies to shed as much light as possible all around. They reminded Diana of two sentinels, standing outside a gate where no one was allowed to enter. They appeared so dutiful that it made Diana wonder about the demeanour of their master.
As they neared, one of the footmen held open the carriage door and was ready to assist them up into the carriage. Diana was grateful for the assistance because she knew that her parents were getting older and would need that special attention as they aged. Once they were all settled inside, the footman shut the door, and Diana could listen to the sound of the men climbing onto the carriage in preparation for their departure. Lord Casey knocked his knuckles on the side of the carriage, indicating that they should be off.
As the carriage moved forward, Diana looked all around her. The setting sun shed enough light into the carriage that Diana could see the design of the vehicle. It was elegantly detailed in a sapphire fabric with designs of gold-like thread weaved through it. The bench on which she sat was rather plush with velvet fabric and plenty of padding. Diana reasoned that she could travel to Town comfortably in such a carriage and couldn’t help enjoying the carriage ride to the other side of the neighbourhood.
Diana watched the countryside pass by out the window, thinking that it had been a while since she’d ventured out of her home. Even more than that, she couldn’t even remember the last time her parents had.
As she focused her attention on them, she hoped that they would both enjoy their evening out of the house and dining in a home whose master was supposedly quite wealthy. If anything, the evening provided plenty of opportunity to enjoy oneself. Diana hoped that she would enjoy the evening and not be afraid of the idea of marriage.
As Diana’s eyes moved from one parent to another, she reminded herself of the duty she had to fulfil. She was their last child and needed to marry well to ensure they lived comfortably for the rest of their lives. Anger boiled up inside of her chest, replacing any feelings of fear or anxiety as she thought of the way her older siblings had treated their parents.
If one of them had taken the time to send money or help out in any way, she wouldn’t have needed to accept an arranged marriage. But as the carriage turned down an unfamiliar lane, Diana turned her thoughts away from anger and instead to curiosity as the Chatham estate came into view.
“My word, what a place,” Lord Casey said as he leaned forward and peered out the window for a better view. “It’s been years since I’ve glazed upon it.”
Diana took it all in as she leaned forward as well to get a better view. The lane leading up to the grand house was framed with juniper trees, their fragrance filling the air as the carriage travelled towards the house. The setting sun reflected off of the large pond that made up the majority of the front lawn. Diana saw ducks swimming over the surface, causing ripples of water to move out from their small bodies. She reasoned that it would be enjoyable to spend an afternoon watching the ducks glide across the water, playing and swimming freely.
Diana’s eyes moved to the grand house as they drew closer. Large white pillars framed the front of the house where broad steps led up to the front door. Torches lit the courtyard, filling the space with a soft glow of light. Diana thought it was all very welcoming and took that as a good sign. The house reminded her of Roman ruins she’d seen in a picture book before, that this white house had been crafted with the same designs in mind.
When the carriage came to a halt, Diana’s heart began to race. Now was the moment she’d been dreading and both looking forward to at the same time. In a few moments, she’d be introduced to the Duke, the man she would soon marry and spend the rest of her life with. When the carriage door was opened, her mother encouraged her to step out first.
With the help of the footman, Diana gently took a step down from the carriage before straightening her posture and her gown. Outside of the carriage she was able to get a better look at her surroundings. The first impression that came to mind was that it all appeared rather homely and well-kept. For a man who hadn’t been seen in society in years, he certainly took great care of the condition of his estate.
Once her parents had alighted from the carriage, she followed them across the pebble courtyard to the stairs that led up to the front door. Her parents took them slowly, giving Diana time to take several deep breaths as they were led inside.
The foyer was a grand room that took Diana’s attention right away. The ceilings were tall, and the walls were made from a light oak colour that was very unique. Two chandeliers hung from the ceiling, giving the space plenty of light.
A few portraits were hanging on the wall, and Diana was instantly curious to know whom the portraits were of. Diana’s attention was then drawn to an older man who was dressed smartly with a fitting servant’s jacket and matching trousers in a dark navy colour.
“Good evening, Lord Casey. Lady Casey. Miss Casey,” the man said as he bowed to them. “My name is Mr Bingley, butler of Chatham Manor. Lord Mavis is waiting for you in the sitting room.”
“Thank you,” Lord Casey replied as he led his wife after the butler. Diana followed along, taking in every detail around her. The floors were made of marble and recently polished as they practically reflected her appearance in the candlelight. Vases of flowers sat on pedestals that lined the hallway, intermixed with candelabras. Varies landscape paintings hung on the walls, making Diana feel relaxed as she looked upon them.
In the back of her mind, Diana was thinking that one day she’d become mistress of all of these things. The manor was elegantly designed, more so than she’d expected from a man that lived alone and kept only to himself. But it appeared that everything had been designed with a reason and purpose in mind. A reason that Diana was curious to learn.
All of her thoughts were pushed from her mind as a door was pulled open to their left. Inside, Diana could tell that plenty of candlelight was present because it spilled out into the hallway. She had gone without candlelight for so long that she thought it was almost magical to behold once more. But now, Diana had to really focus. The time had come for her to finally meet the Duke and her future husband.
