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It didn’t take long for Michelle herself to appear from the kitchen, quickly hurrying around the counter to embrace her. She laughed freely with Michelle as they talked excitedly together, feeling as though it had been ages since they’d seen one another.
“I’m so happy for you, Miss Casey,” Michelle exclaimed. “Oh no, I fear I have got flour on your fine gown.”
“Do not worry so,” Diana reassured her as they parted, and she took a moment to brush the flour dust from the front of her gown. “I have missed this place so much.”
“Same old to me,” Michelle said with a chuckle. “And it seems you’ve brought guests.” Diana watched as Michelle looked around the packed bakery at no doubt many unfamiliar faces.
“I am marrying tomorrow to Lord Mavis. May I introduce you to the Duke of Chatham,” Diana said, gesturing to Fitz. Michelle’s eyes grew wide, her expression becoming quite blank as she dipped into a low curtsey.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” she said. And then as she straightened her posture, she leaned in towards Diana and whispered, “You did not tell me that the Duke was so very handsome.” Diana chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand as she looked towards her friend.
“I had no idea myself until we met for the first time, my father having already agreed to the arrangement. I assure you, Miss Bradly, that I am quite happy now with the way life has progressed,” Diana said, squeezing her friend’s hand. “And when the opportunity arises, I shall make sure to repay your many months of kindness to me and my family.”
“Perhaps I will hold you to that, Miss Casey. My brother has fallen quite ill and hasn’t been able to help Papa in the bakery like normal. In all honesty, I fear for his health,” Michelle admitted, her tone dropping softly.
“Then I will see what I can do,” Diana reassured. “I will speak with the Duke about it this evening, I promise.”
“I appreciate anything that can be done for my dear brother. It would be a terrible loss to our family if he did pass away, and Papa has no more help besides his one apprentice.”
Mr Bradly returned with his apprentice and wife as they carried a large tray of minced meat pies. Everyone settled into the tables and chairs around the small shop, and though it was quite cramped, they all had the opportunity to try the delicious pies. Diana closed her eyes for a moment as she ate the delicious food, savouring each bite as though it was her last.
“You look like you are quite enjoying yourself,” Fitz quipped.
“I thoroughly am,” Diana admitted. “I did warn you that they are absolutely delicious.”
“I cannot deny that,” Fitz replied.
Once everyone had their fill, Fitz paid the baker a handsome sum for his hospitality, extending his words of gratitude to the family. Diana embraced Michelle once more before she left, thankful for her friendship and reassuring her once more that she would try to find a way to help her brother.
As Diana and Fitz stepped out of the bakery with the other wedding guests, Diana began to wonder where a good place would be to visit next. She looked around, seeing the wedding guests mingling with the locals or taking a leisurely stroll up and down the cobblestones that framed the dirt road. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves until her eyes fell on Vivian. She was seated on the edge of the public well, looking downright depressed. However, Diana had no pity for her.
“We should take a walk to the general store so that I might find some sweets for the children,” Fitz said, pulling Diana from her thoughts.
“Yes, that would be delightful,” Diana replied, smiling up at her betrothed. They walked together, Diana’s hand on his arm. From time to time, they would stop and speak with another couple, a few of them tenants of the Duke’s. And for the most part, Diana enjoyed the shocked expressions when they realized that Fitz was the Duke that hadn’t been seen in the village for many years. She was also certain that their spending in the village would help the village continue to thrive.
In the general store, they ran into her brothers and her other brothers-in-law, all of them browsing the limited number of items that came from Town and were sold to the villagers. The local selection of items was no doubt small in comparison to what they were normally used to, but Fitz and Diana seemed to pay them little attention as they approached the counter.
“Good morning, lady and sssss,” the shopkeeper stammered, his eyes bulging from their sockets as he looked Fitz up and down. “Your Grace, what an unexpected surprise.” The man then smiled brightly as he bowed behind the counter.
“Good morning, Mr Lowry. I have promised some young ones special treats upon my arrival at the manor. What sorts of hard candy might you have in stock?” Fitz asked. Diana watched Fitz closely, seeing how well he was keeping his composure even when he appeared to want to laugh loudly.
“Of course, of course. Come right this way,” Mr Lowry ensured as he pointed to several jars resting on the end of the counter. “There is toffee, liquorice, peppermints. Which would you prefer?”
“I’ll take a small bag of each, please,” Fitz replied. Diana chuckled lightly, turning away from the counter to browse what other goods might be of interest. Diana let her hand idly brush over the finer pieces, a small looking glass she could hold in her hands and a beautifully designed comb.
“All these things are rather rubbish to me compared to what I could find in Town,” Gabriel said in a soft voice, approaching her from the side.
“And yet they are enough for me,” Diana said, raising her chin to look directly into his eyes.
“As a duchess, you could have anything you could ever want. Why waste your time in the local village shop? Do you not desire more for yourself?” he asked, picking up the comb she had been admiring and turning it over in his hands and laying it down with a look of disgust on his face.
“The only thing I desire is the happiness of my parents and a stable home for them. It’s been months since they’d had a decent meal, and now they will never have to worry for anything now that I am to be married,” Diana said, taking the comb with the intent of purchasing it and perhaps gifting it to her mother.
“I could understand wanting to take care of Mother after all she did for us. But Father? Why do you care for him so?” Gabriel asked.
“I have no other reason not to,” Diana admitted. “But Mrs Merriweather told me of what Father used to be like when I was merely a babe.”
“Indeed. Father was not the soft-hearted man he appears to be today.”
