Page 16 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke
“Mother, my having a bride is not something you should decide for me. I am a man and should have free pick of who I choose to have a family with,” William said.
His mother shook head, he could see the tumble of grey and black hair strands bounce from side to side.
“You are royalty son, mundane rules do not apply to you,” she replied.
“This is not about rules for commoners or rules for royalty. It’s about your consistent influence in everything I do,” William said.
His voice had raised up a pitch. He was angry at the turn of discussion.
What made her feel she could make a pick of bride for him?
“Whether you accept it or not, the woman you marry will be the next Duchess of Welllington immediately your father dies. I will become the Dowager Duchess even while alive. You know this. So do not speak to me about the propriety in my having a hand in your choice of wife; it is my business and also the business of the whole of Wellington,” she shot back.
Her tone was forced.
She is angry but it doesn’t make what she says or does right.
William laughed sarcastically. He couldn’t believe this.
“So who did you pick? Meredith Charlett, because I remember telling you that the dance between Meredith and I was nothing more than a dance. I have no designs for the chit and have no intention of spending the rest of my life with someone so unsophisticated,” William said.
His mother laughed at his outburst. The laughter was real because William saw her eyes water, the balls glistening in the light of the room.
“Of course, I didn’t pick Meredith son. She would not be a fitting bride for someone of your status, a Duke’s son. I made a much better pick from a family of almost equal standing,” she replied.
“Which family?” William asked.
“The Earl of Norfolk is my good friend and his family is of good stock. His last daughter is beautiful, of marriageable age and has a very agreeable countenance. I have informed him of your intention to court and maybe marry his daughter. I just mentioned it in passing but he heard and took note I am sure.”
William was flabbergasted to say the least. When was this sort of arrangement used without the consent of the real parties involved? He was about speaking but his mother placed her hand on his wrist, holding tightly to tell him she was not done.
“You will make visits to the Earl’s house and compliment his daughter. You will make her take a liking to you and in the least see you like her. You will give no signs of the fact that this was arranged without your consent; that is between you and I. You will treat her as a lady and have good conversations with her. Respect her sensibilities and let it be to her that you court. If at the end of it all, you do not fancy her, you can cut off the engagement. But make sure you put an effort, I want to see it.”
She spoke no more, finally looking at her son.
“I will honour no such arrangement mother. Such designs are not orchestrated without the consent or knowledge of the parties involved. I have never even seen the girl in question. What assures you that I can fancy such a girl?” William said
His mother nodded her head and stood up. She went to her wardrobe and opened it, she fingered the edges of each book one after the other.
“I knew you would put up resistance; you have not stopped being William. Remember my saying you owed me after saving your life; well this is how I want my debt repaid. I want you to do this as if you have real interest in the girl,” Duchess Henrietta said.
William just shook his head. A debt had to be repaid. But who ever head of repaying a debt by courting.
“Why have you done this?” William asked his mother.
Duchess Henrietta brought out one of them. William had never bothered to read them but he saw it was her favourite. It was a thick-volume book with red bindings, she had read it severally.
“One of the reasons why you still have the time and gumption to engage in all this frippery is because you are yet to get married. I felt that when you grew older you would get wiser and drop many of the impulses that youthfulness has. You have refused to do so. And your last show of thoughtlessness is the last straw. I have seen that you refuse to acknowledge that you are the only heir to the Duke of Wellington.”
“I realize that,” William said, standing up in protest of his mother’s accusations. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“You don’t son. You know you are his son, you do not realize you are his heir. With realization comes a spirit of responsibility. What you need is a calm woman to hold you fast and steady the ship before you capsize it,” Duchess Henrietta said.
William looked at his mother with amazement. She met his gaze with a steely gaze. William could see that not one word had been a joke; his mother had been very unimpressed with his conduct.
“Give me this last chance. You can still find a way to cancel your arrangement with the Earl, I will change my ways,” William pleaded, realizing he had no choice.
His mother shook her head and opened the book in her hand to the first page. She look through, her skimming was swift as if looking for a particular word or phrase. When her gaze got to the last line, she looked back up to William and smiled.
