Page 9 of The Duke's Tempting Widow
Was she even going to tolerate being in that room to clean out his things before the duke arrived? No doubt the man was going to insist on the main room of the house. Lydia cared notwhether it was his right to or not, it was barbaric. What sort of man could come into another man’s home and just presume that he belonged there and to change whatever he saw fit.
She was just going to have to sit the duke down and have a very stern talk with him.
This is her home, and she refused to give it up. The duke was going to have a real fight on his hands when he chose to arrive, she would ensure it.
“Shall we draw you a bath as well, my lady?” the housekeeper asked, pausing at the top of the stairs. “I could even have breakfast brought to your room if you should like?”
Times like this, Lydia dearly missed Martha. If only her old friend had been here, then she could have truly released a bit of steam. She would have felt better if she could have the space to speak her mind freely.
“Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.” Lydia said with forced neutrality.
The housekeeper smiled softly, pulling the fresh towels in her arms tighter into her chest. “I shall see it done, my lady. Which dress should you like us to prepare for you? I do apologize that we were unprepared, we thought that you would be arriving with the duke mid-morning.”
Lydia blanched. “I beg your pardon?”
“...the duke?” the housekeeper repeated.
“He is coming today?!”
“Yes, my lady. Did he not send word to your father’s house as well? I beg your pardon, but we assumed that was why you were leaving your father’s home so soon after the funeral. It is customary to—”
“Dash that, I do not need a lecture on what is customary.” Lydia interrupted, and then instantly felt badly for it. “Forgive my tone, it was a very long drive. Bring me the letter from the duke, I shall meet you in my bathing chambers.”
It felt sneaky and underhanded is what it did.
All through her bath she stewed. Lydia was unable to eat a single thing. She did not wish to get herself all dressed up for a man who was going to come up and disrupt her whole life. She did not wish to have anything to do with any of it. She simply wished to live the rest of her life in peace, pursuing anything that she so desired. She did not see how that could possibly be such a bad thing.
Halfway through getting dressed, the butler knocked on the door to announce the arrival of the duke.
“Already?!” Lydia hissed under her breath. She was not ready. She had not had sufficient time to prepare anything, let alone create a proper plan of action for how she was supposed to handle this situation. The next thing she knew, Kitty was standing outside of her door, fretting as she waited for Lydia to join her so that they could head down into the parlor.
He was not as impressive of a man as his title would suggest. Standing in the doorway, the two sisters exchanged knowing looks. The duke was only a couple of inches taller than herself, and unassuming in build. Despite how fine the clothes that he wore were, it was obvious that either his tailor did not know what they were doing, or he had chosen a poorly fitting outfit.
Almost as if he wore clothes for a man thinner and taller than himself. The hair on his head and sides of his face was patchy and ill groomed. Overall, Lydia would not have given him a second glance were he not standing in her home holding her future in his hands.
“Your Grace,” She greeted, dipping into a low bow that her sister copied silently. Kitty moved in her shadow as Lydia walked into the room. The duke did not greet her back, rather he looked down his long nose at her as if he had the right to appraise her.
“So, you are the dowager countess?” He said, his brow arching.
No, she did not like him at all. He already seemed arrogant. That did not bode well for the two of them getting along well going forward.
Finally, he stepped forward, walking a tight circle around her, close enough that she could smell the oils in his hair. It did not suit him. Lydia had to fight to keep from wrinkling her nose as he examined her.
“As you know, I am the Duke of Somerfield,” he continued. He clasped his hands behind his back and started to look around the room more closely. She took that as dismissal enough and gestured for Kitty to take a seat. She did not like that he did not even bother attempting to speak to Kitty. “And it appears that I truly have my work cut out for me here…there is much to do.”
Lydia’s eye twitched. “I apologize for not being here to greet you properly, Your Grace. I shall have rooms prepared for you at on-”
“The master suite, of course. I shall be in the main room. That is what you mean to say, is it not?”
“Your Grace, I have not yet cleared out my husbands-”
“What? What is the reason for the delay? No matter, I shall have them thrown out. He cannot make use of materialitems now anyway.” the duke said as he laughed at his own poor joke.
“That will not be necessary. We have a great many guest rooms that will be more than adequate. I shall have my housekeeper show you-”
“No. I insist on the rooms that are owed to me. I should like to get started right away.”
Kitty reached forward and clasped Lydia’s hand. “Perhaps we should allow His Grace to get settled in? The long ride from London could put anyone in poor spirits. We could discuss things over dinner?”
