Page 30 of The Marchioness of his Desire
She was beginning to regret her initial enthusiasm for Nicholas’ mother’s presence, for it seemed that she was ever present, never allowing them a moment of privacy or time alone. There was much criticism of Nicholas, not to mention opinions on every subject Rebecca should care to mention. Duchess Sinclair was domineering, intrusive, and overbearing, all of which Nicholas had warned Rebecca of, though she had failed to believe him. But despite this, she was still hopeful for a reconciliation between mother and son, wondering what it might take to mend their evidently broken relationships.
“Well, he has turned into a fine man,” Rebecca said, determined to defend her husband, but Duchess Sinclair only raised an eyebrow.
“Though of course he hardly carries with him a spotless reputation,” she said, eyeing Rebecca for her reaction.
“He is … he has …” Rebecca began, but Nicholas’ mother dismissed her with a wave of her hand.
“He likes easy women, Rebecca, I presume you are not so naïve as to think that he spent his entire time in the colonies a chaste and innocent youth? You yourself should realize that well enough, given the circumstances of your marriage,” she said, and Rebecca blushed.
The implication of what Duchess Sinclair was saying was clear enough, though Rebecca was determined not to give her mother-in-law the satisfaction of seeing her offended. Instead, she took a sip of tea and a deep breath, before fixing Nicholas’ mother with a magnanimous expression.
“He is a good man, and whatever happened in the past shall remain there. We all make mistakes, and it is what we do with them that matters,” she said, hoping that the matter would be settled.
But it seemed that Duchess Sinclair was seeking sport, and she smiled, setting down her teacup and sitting back in her chair.
“You will not change him; he grows bored easily. Why do you think he is so determined to return to the colonies? Is it not possible that he hopes to resume his rakish ways once more and to forget his marriage vows as speedily as he made them?” she asked, a smile playing across her face.
Tears rose in Rebecca’s eyes, but she was determined to hold her ground and to defend herself and Nicholas against this vicious onslaught.
“I believe he has changed, and that he will be true to his vows, which he made in all sincerity,” she replied.
“Until something better comes along. You yourself have known the pull of attraction to others, have you not?” she asked, and Rebecca nodded.
“I was engaged to Edward Johnson,” she said.
“And it was because of Nicholas’ immoral behavior that you are no longer so, is it not? Or did you play your part in the seduction too?” Nicholas’ mother asked, giving Rebecca a sneering smile.
It was as though she had stuck a knife into Rebecca and was twisting it further in order to extract as much pain as possible. Rebecca stiffened, still determined to hold her own against this onslaught which seemed entirely uncalled for. She wanted to be a friend toward Nicholas’ mother, but it seemed that her mother-in-law had other ideas.
“Nicholas and I care deeply for one another; I am sure that he loves me,” she replied, trying to sound confident in her belief, but Duchess Sinclair only laughed.
“Nicholas would not know the meaning of the word. He is interested in one thing and one thing only, and it is not a happily ever after,” she said, drumming her fingers upon the arm of the chair, “I am saying all of this only for your benefit, Rebecca. It would pain me greatly to see you hurt by my son.”
Rebecca was certain that her mother-in-law’s motivations were far from aimed at her benefit, though what they were still escaped her. She had seemed friendly at first, offering Rebecca advice in her new position and showing herself amicable and interested in Rebecca’s welfare. Now, she seemed to only want to drive a wedge between Rebecca and Nicholas and make Rebecca dislike and mistrust her husband, a strange thing indeed for a mother to do to her son.
“I think I should check on Laura,” Rebecca said, having little more to say to her mother-in-law which would not result in something she might later regret.
“Can the child not look after herself?” Nicholas’ mother replied, but Rebecca had already risen from her place, laid aside her half-finished tea, and hurried to the door.
“Excuse me,” she said, and without waiting for a response, she left.
Laura was playing happily in the nursery, watched over by her governess, but Rebecca dismissed the governess for a moment and sat with her sister, still puzzled by Duchess Sinclair’s words.
“I wish she would leave,” Laura said, sitting her dolls in the formation of a tea party.
“I am sorry, Laura. I should not have been cross with you. It seems that you are a far better judge of character than I,” Rebecca said.
“Why does she have to be so horrible? She is just like our uncle,” Laura said, looking up at Rebecca with a sad look upon her face.
“There are some people who sadly are just born that way, Laura. It is our job to remain cheerful against them,” she replied, though how she would find any goodness in Nicholas’ mother was a question Rebecca now asked herself, one which presented no ready answer.
* * *
“And I do not have a moment’s peace, either,” Rebecca said, shaking her head and sighing as Nicholas nodded sympathetically.
“I did tell you that this would be the case,” he said, and she glared at him.
“But she seemed so sincere in speaking of loneliness and sadness. I believed her, and now she fills the house with spite, complaining at every little thing, and the way in which she treats Laura, well, it is no wonder that she spends all her time in the nursery,” Rebecca replied.
