Page 13 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
Diana veritably beamed. Ava had no option but to smile back. She took a deep breath, “So tell me, what have you heard about our duke?”
Diana brightened, always ready to gossip a bit. “Well, they say he’s nothing like that other fella of yours, the Earl.” She sneered in disgust just saying his title. “In fact, I hear he is the opposite. Honorable like.”
Ava smiled tremulously, not really keen on discussing her erstwhile lover under any circumstances. “Well… at least that’s good to know,” she said stiffly.
“Also, I hear that he too was engaged to be married but…” she lowered her voice, “…his betrothed canceled the engagement on account of his face! Can you imagine?”
Ava frowned. “Is that so?”
If it were, it would certainly explain a lot.
“Yes, I heard the kitchen maids talking about it, and then Mrs. Sutton made them hush, said that it was none of their business.”
Ava shook her head. “Poor man.”
Dinner was an awkward affair. Lady Lanton spent the time, as they waited for the first course, glaring at Lily. Ava’s eyes kept flicking to the door, waiting for Edward to appear. She was already anxious about introducing him to Lily, her anxiety was transforming into anger at the thought of him being late for dinner or worse, not coming at all. It was their second night in the house; surely, he did not mean to abandon her to his hostile aunt. That would be a tad too inconsiderate.
“You know children usually eat in the nursery,” Lady Lanton commented to no one in particular.
Ava glared at her. “There is no nursery here nor any need for one—not with just one child on the premises. Why should she eat alone when she can eat with her mother?”
Lady Lanton pursed her lips, “It is just not done. Why Caroline has no issue with having her child eat in the nursery, even if he is just a wee babe.”
Ava furrowed her brow in puzzlement, “Who is Caroline?”
“My daughter-in-law! Did you not bother to get to know your husband’s relatives after he had done you the huge favor of marrying you?” she clucked with annoyance.
Ava barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes. “But doyouknow all of my relatives, Lady Lanton?” she asked facetiously.
The older woman gave her a jaundiced look. “Well, there is no need for such rudeness.”
Ava looked away in disgust. No doubt Edward’s aunt would find fault with everything she could. Ava knew her type well. She knew there was nothing that she could do or say that would placate the Dowager Marchioness.
“Mama?” Lily asked softly, her wide hazel eyes looking up at Ava with fear in them. “Should I go away?”
“No, darling,” Ava said with way too much volume.
“That would probably be best,” Lady Lanton said at the same time.
Ava turned to glower at her. The Dowager looked unmoved, tearing at a piece of buttered bread and putting it in her mouth. Lily drank her soup, looking a little subdued. Ava’s belly churned with pique. She could barely bring herself to eat anything.
Once the main course was served, Ava had to accept that Edward was not coming. All the effort Diana put into her appearance was for naught. There was nobody to appreciate it.
I should have been used to that by now,she thought sardonically.
Still, she was miffed and a little hurt by his inattention. She played with her roasted beef, not really hungry after all, and listened to Lily chatter. Once her daughter had understood that her mother wanted her here despite the rude lady trying to make her feel unwelcome, she relaxed. As was her wont, she immediately began to chatter about anything and everything.
“The drive here was not as long as I thought. We stayed at an inn, Mama. Have you ever stayed at an inn? The beds are uncomfortable. The mattresses are made of hay like the ones the horses eat. Diana put down some shawls for me to sleep on, but the grass still poked at me. I was tired.”
“That sounds nice, dear,” Ava said absently.
“Then we saw a group of horses running. Diana said they were wild, but I don’t think so. Are horses wild? They are not like deer.”
“I suppose they are not,” Ava said.
“That is what I said, and?—”
“Oh, does she never keep quiet?” Lady Lanton exclaimed in irritation.
