Page 99 of A Wanton Adventure
Her mother scoffed. “How did I raise two daughters who are so dramatic?”
The duchess needed to go to the country. She couldn’t stay here. Diana didn’t want Robert around her.
“When will the country house be ready?”
Her mother shrugged. “I’m sure in a few weeks.”
“I would like you gone within a week.”
Fire did flash in her mother’s eyes then. “You all judge me so harshly. I made you a wonderful match. Perhaps even a love match, and you didn’t have to slum it like your sister.”
Diana placed her teacup on the table in front of her. It rattled. “Do not take credit for anything that occurred between Stuart and me. You chose him because he would inherit a dukedom. We found love. It had nothing to do with you.”
Any further discussion on the topic was halted when the door of the drawing room was opened by her butler. Clara entered the room and frowned. She likely sensed the tension emanating in the space. “Diana, is everything fine?”
She nodded and Clara walked to the sitting area. Her gaze darted back and forth between Diana and their mother. At that moment, Diana wished she hadn’t allowed her mother to return to England with her. This woman who always caused pain would be just that for Clara. Her sister sat and poured herself a cup of tea. The room was deafeningly quiet.
Finally, Clara said, “Hello, Mother.”
“Good afternoon, Clara,” their mother said, disdain dripping from her words.
Diana wanted to take her sister from the room. Protect her from this woman who still very much thought Clara made a poor choice by choosing a decent man over a title.
“Do you not have anything to say?” Clara said, her voice trembling slightly.
Their mother took a sip of her tea. “How is Henry? When may I see him?”
After all these years and the pain she’d caused Clara, that was her first question. It shouldn’t have been a shock to Diana. Their brother was the duke. She probably hoped to somehow work her way into his good graces. Her mother didn’t realize Henry wanted nothing to do with her. He respected Clara’s husband too much to ever allow someone who hated commoners in his life.
More importantly, Sam and Clara had shown him love. Something none of the Duke and Duchess of Claremore’s children had known from parental figures.
Clara didn’t flinch, smiling broadly instead. “Henry is doing wonderfully. I can’t speak for him. He is the only one who will decide when he wants to see you. He did receive your letters.”
“Good. I hope to help guide him with the estate.”
Diana and Clara both looked at each other in shock. Diana shook her head. “Clara’s husband helps him.”
“A commoner.”
Clara’s eyes sparked. “My husband is the one who helped make the dukedom healthy again.”
Her mother glared at her. “It wasn’t ever unhealthy.”
“Mother, you tried to wed me to a monster because you and Father were in so much debt,” Clara said quietly.
“Why must you bring up such things? He had a great family and would have never hurt you if you married.”
Clara rose and smiled at Diana. “Thank you for arranging this. It was right for me to come.”
Diana stood as well. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I mean it. I needed this.”
Her sister departed and Diana turned back to her mother. “Within a week, you need to depart for the country.”
“You would banish me because I don’t approve of your sister’s marriage to a commoner?”
“I’m not banishing you. I’m choosing not to have you in my life. You were a cruel mother, and I will not have my child around you. My son will grow up valuing people for more than their titles.”
