Page 41 of Her Duke Next Door
“Thank you,” she interrupted. “Your Grace.”
Mary let out a nervous laughter. “Please come in. I am sure you have many things to voice.”
“Oh, my dear, I shall not simply be voicing them but I shall be greeting my new son-in-law, His Grace, with the utmost Angleton behavior.”
As she was shown into the parlor, Dominique leaned into Mary.
“What is the Angleton behavior?”
Mary cringed. “I fear she shall shout at you. And at me.”
“In my own residence?”
“If you would like to use your title on her then please do be my guest, husband,” Mary laughed before following her mother into the parlor. “Mother, you did not give us a lot of notice.”
“Ah, well! It isratherstrange I chose to do that,” Lady Angleton said as she settled into an armchair. Dominique hovered in the doorway, unsure of how to handle this particular situation. He tugged on the collar of his shirt. “As I am sure you agree I gave you far more warning than I received upon learning that my eldest daughter was married to the outcast Duke.”
“Mama!” That was another new voice. The girl who entered the parlor next for the official greeting of family was a younger version of Mary herself. That must be the Duchess of Winsor, Anne Dunst. “You cannot speak about His Grace like this.”
Anne glanced to Dominque, holding out her hand. He kissed it before standing up. “Your Grace.”
“It is lovely to finally meet you, Your Grace,” Anne replied. “My husband has been wishing to meet you for quite some time. We were rather surprised to learn of your marriage to my sister, though.”
“His Grace and I have been neighbors since I moved to Dower House,” Mary informed everyone. Behind Anne, two men lingered in the doorway. Dominique lifted his chin and assessed the room. There was plenty of space but he suddenly felt enclosed. “We have been friends.”
“Friends,” Lady Angleton scoffed. “I would say it is quite a lot more than that.” Her eyes narrowed on Dominique. “Do not think I do not know what they say about you, Your Grace. And Mary, I am furious with you for your naivety. How could you do this?”
“Is now really the moment to have this discussion, Mama?” Mary winced, pointedly not looking at Dominique.
“Exactly!” Anne cried, interrupting. “Your Grace, have you met my husband, the Duke of Winsor?”
“Alexander used to visit Angleton every Christmas,” Mary explained to Dominique. But he was already sizing the other Duke who strode into the parlor.
His shoulders went rigid, and he raised himself to his full height, ensuring he was straight and tall. He was dismayed to see that he was not taller than the Duke but at least he was not smaller.
“Your Grace,” Dominique said, inclining his head. “Welcome to Ruxham House.”
“Thank you for hosting us, Your Grace,” Alexander answered. “And what a fine house it is. Tell me, do you think it is bigger than Hilson House?”
“Ah, no,” he laughed. “That is a grand estate indeed.”
“It is mine,” Alexander replied.
“Your Grace, this is my brother, Christian Hatson,” Mary intervened, sensing the challenge between the two Dukes and introduced him to the tall gentleman who entered after Alexander. Much to his upset, this manwastaller than Dominique.
“So sorry you are the odd one out, friend,” Alexander joked with Christian.
“Ah, you two are quite close, then?” Dominique asked, swallowing. He felt like the odd one out instead of the man who was not a Duke.
“We have been friends since our schooling days,” Christian said, holding his hand out to shake Dominique’s. Dominique felt as though he moved in slow motion as he shook it. “Welcome to the family, Your Grace.”
“Thank you,” he said. “I am happy to be a part of it.”
Lady Angleton glared at Mary. With the three women and two men in the room, Dominique felt too large for the room. As though there was not enough space despite the amount of floor that he could see.
“I shall discuss my thoughts with you when we are alone,” Lady Angleton hissed at her daughter. Then she stood up. “Where is my room, Your Grace? As much as I do not wish to spend one night under your roof, I must watch my daughter. I must ensure she is safe with you.”
Alexander coughed, raising his brows at Christian. Christian just cringed as if to sayThere is no stopping her.
