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Crawford was not Matthew’s friend, and their paths would hardly have crossed if they were not doing business together. However, he did not want him to withdraw his investment for he wanted to pay more attention to the businesses he had inherited. He wanted all of them to prosper. The letter he had sent Glover to post was for his solicitor in London, and it was about this business.
“Rest assured that you will not lose your fortune here, Crawford,” Matthew spoke calmly, his voice almost devoid of life. He used to be very passionate but one tended to lose passion upon an encounter with the horrors of war.
Crawford looked uncertain but he gave him a nod, then smiled as he rose. “I look forward to the ball, Stormwood, and I am happy you have decided to rejoin society.”
“As am I,” Matthew said impassively.
“I shall see you tonight.” Crawford bowed and left.
Matthew remained in his seat for a while before deciding to take that walk that Glover recommended.
Chapter 2
Diana was famished, not because she had no food, but because her aunt was preventing her from eating. They had to prepare for a ball at Kendall Castle, the home of the Duke of Stormwood, and her stays must be very tight for her to fit into a dress that had been made two sizes too small for her.
“It is not tight enough,” her aunt said, resting her hands on her wide hips and glaring at Diana. “Tighten it, Abigail,” she ordered the maid, and Diana’s stays were pulled tighter until she felt as though the air was being squeezed out of her lungs. She cursed inwardly. Tightly laced stays were not in fashion, but her aunt was imposing them upon her to punish her.
“Why must Diana go to the ball, Mother?” asked her cousin Florence Dervin, innocently, as she tried on a tiara in front of the tall mirror in the dressing room. “I doubt she even knows who the Duke of Stormwood is.” They were getting dressed in Florence’s chambers, and two maids were helping her while Abigail helped Diana.
“Her father thinks it would do her some good to rejoin society now that it appears everyone has forgotten about that horrid incident two years ago.” Margaret’s hawkish gaze moved over Diana. “And she has changed quite a bit.”
“If you mean I am now as skinny as a broomstick, then yes, I have changed,” Diana said.
“Oh, be quiet!” Margaret dismissed. “I would not keep you in this house if your father was not paying me well.”
Diana might not have been tossed out on her ear but her life had gotten considerably worse in the two years that followed the scandal. Her parents had refused to allow her to return to London, and her aunt ensured every minute of her day was spent in misery. She was given less food than she needed and was forced to stay in her bedchamber unless she was called upon.
Her father sent funds every month for her upkeep but her aunt spent most of it on herself and Florence, claiming it was hers to do with as she pleased.
Diana did not know if Matthew had written to her, and often wondered if he was affected by her sudden silence.
Her stomach rumbled as Abigail was helping her into a lavender dress. Their eyes met in the vanity mirror and Diana saw pity in Abigail’s eyes and quickly looked away. She only had to endure living in this house until she turned one and twenty in November.
Her late maternal uncle had been so generous as to bequeath to her a sum that she could claim once she turned twenty-one. She could leave this house then and find a small cottage far away from Kent and London in which to live the rest of her life. This was Diana’s dream now, and she believed it was fate’s kindness that made her uncle remember her before he died.
“This color suits you, Miss,” Abigail complimented after fastening the buttons on the back of her dress.
Diana regarded herself in the mirror and smiled. Margaret clothed her well because she was concerned about what people would think or say if they saw her shabbily dressed.
“I want that dress,” Florence declared with a glint in her eye, tossing her deep blue dress onto the floor. “I want Diana’s dress,” she repeated.
Margaret huffed. “Diana, give Florence your dress and wear hers.”
Diana opened her mouth to protest but quickly closed it when she thought of the possible consequences of protesting. The harsh words and hunger she might suffer were not worth the protest.
With her mouth turned down, Abigail helped Diana remove the dress, and then she surprised her when she brought Florence’s dress over to her. When no one was looking, she loosened Diana’s stays.
“Thank you,” Diana mouthed with a smile. Abigail was her only ally in the house, and she helped her whenever she could.
When Diana looked at herself in the mirror after her change of dress, she found she liked the blue velvet dress more than the lavender because it would help her hide at the ball. She did not want any attention, and she was only going because she wanted to be cordial with her aunt until she was able to leave the house. Margaret could easily tell her father lies that could get in the way of her freedom, and she did not want that to happen.
“I cannot breathe!” Florence complained.
“We do not have time for you to change over and over, Florence,” her aunt replied, seemingly annoyed. “You knew Diana’s dress was much smaller than yours when you asked to wear it.”
Secretly, Diana smiled, grateful her stays had been loosened as her new dress was very comfortable. Margaret hurried them out to the carriage once they were dressed, and they were soon on the hour-long ride to Kendall Castle. Diana said nothing on the way but Florence talked endlessly about how eager she was to be introduced to the duke, while her aunt hoped her daughter would meetanyoneof significance to marry.
When they arrived, Diana felt her stomach tighten with trepidation. She had not been out in polite society for a very long time, and she was positively nervous. She stopped at the bottom of the marble steps that led up to the front door to collect herself, and when she looked up at the grand edifice before her, she felt intimidated, for Kendall Castle was one of the most beautiful castles she had ever seen.
