Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“All your luggage has been secured, Your Grace. We will be leaving precisely as scheduled. In ten minutes,” the Duke’s aging valet Harold announced.
Daphne stood at the bottom of the grand staircase, wearing a heavy cloak over her traveling gown. Her posture was impeccable. After all, she was the most obedient and malleable among her mother’s daughters.
While she spoke with the valet, her husband stood by the doorway, slightly blurred by the bright sunlight streaming in. His silhouette was unmistakable, though. She would know him anywhere.
She had to admit she almost squealed with excitement when the Duke told her, “It’s time we returned to London.” They had been away for about a month, supposedly enjoying their honeymoon. It was not all bad, though. She had enjoyed the time away from the ton’s inquisitive eyes.
“It’s definitely a timely departure, Harold. I want to reach London before evening,” the Duke declared, not turning toward her.
“Naturally,” Daphne muttered icily. “Punctuality and secrecy are both critical to the Wolfcrest tradition.”
There was nothing more said after that. Daphne was too emotionally drained to attempt a conversation, no matter how light. Because of this, the journey back to London became a masterclass in polite endurance.
The Duke made a show of reading some documents during the journey. His eyes never strayed toward hers but instead focused entirely on several large stacks of parchment.
Daphne tried not to stare at him or the pages.
She did everything in her power to temper her curiosity but when she strayed from thinking about the business that consumed her husband’s mind, she thought of how he allowed himself to set his ledgers and plans aside yesterday and participate in the snowy festivities.
It was agony to think of things other than her husband, but Daphne did her best to remind herself that she enjoyed seeing a snowy landscape. And with this thought actively pushed to the forefront of her mind, she twitched the curtain aside.
She let herself feel the change of atmosphere.
But before long, the chill of the English countryside gave way to the bustling warmth of London.
She braced herself. She knew that she was back to the world where she’d be judged according to her appearance and behavior.
Everything about her would be analyzed once more.
She glanced at the Duke. She did not know if he was truly oblivious or good at pretending to be so.
However, she had to remind herself of their arrangement, of how what they had was a partnership.
She was lending her impeccable manners to his questionable fortune, while he protected her with his mysterious background, title, and wealth.
Soon, they arrived at the Duke of Wolfcrest’s impressive London townhouse just as the streetlamps lit up as if in preparation for their arrival. While their arrival was discreet, she knew that the ton would immediately know about it.
However, as soon as she thought she was just getting settled into the townhouse, the Duke immediately disappeared, leaving a note for her through the butler.
I had to leave. Business until dawn.
Again, she had the crushing feeling that her husband might be involved in something nefarious. After all, who did their business during nighttime hours? And what was so pressing that it could not wait another night or two?
She sighed and tried to ignore the ramifications of the note. She decided that she needed an anchor, being back in London. Although she was not too thrilled about seeing her mother, she was excited to see the rest of her family again.
The following day, her first stop was the Grisham townhouse.
“I hate to say this, Daphne,” Victoria said, “but you look splendid. It must be because married life agrees with you.”
The twins embraced, not wanting to let go.
As they did, Daphne could not help but feel teary-eyed at the familiar scent of clean linen and gardenias in the Grisham drawing room.
When she first arrived at Wolfcrest, the place smelled sterile until she made it all about roses, orchids, and, sometimes, lavender.
“What about you, Vicky?” Daphne asked, pulling back to admire her sister’s newly tailored gown.
She knew what it meant. Their mother was already gently pushing her twin toward a whole series of suitors.
Even though the Season had already concluded months ago, their mother would not allow the Christmastide holiday to pass without making sure Victoria was paraded in front of every eligible bachelor left in the city.
Daphne could not help but feel sorry for her sister.
“It does not look like London missed my presence at all.”
“Oh, no. That is where you are wrong. London is dull without you here. I know you aren’t the most thrilling person, either—” Victoria laughed as she felt a pinch from her sister.
“There is a need for such dullness here, too. But seriously, you and the Duke had taken over the town gossip. People have been speculating about why you married so soon after you left due to illness. They are too late, anyway. You are already married.”
“Ha! I expected that. People will talk about it. Even Mother thinks I must have compromised myself to have gotten an offer of marriage from the Duke.”
“Oh, forget about her. Sometimes, I wonder if she ever knew us at all. Then again, with how dangerously handsome your Duke looks, she may have a point.”
“Victoria!” Daphne cried in outrage.
“Mm. Well, is he good to you? Is he taking care of you?” The teasing between twins shifted to concern.
“He is,” Daphne replied sincerely. She knew that she had nothing to be afraid of when it came to the Duke. Other people? She was not too sure.
“I am glad. But let me warn you. I might ask the same question once more. I have missed you. I would want you to be in a safe place even if you are far apart from me.”
“I know,” she said softly.
“Unfortunately, Daniel is held up at a business meeting,” Victoria said, with a slight shrug.
“There will be plenty of time, I am certain,” she said cheerfully.
The door then creaked open, and the Dowager Countess swept elegantly into the room. She wore a crimson gown which featured heavy black lace around the collar. Her hair was arranged in a neat chignon. There was a small brooch resting in the Dowager’s bosom and Daphne was surprised by such trappings.
Is Mother prepared to go out? Just as soon as I have arrived?
“Ah, Daphne. You have joined us—at last,” her mother greeted with a nod. Not a hug. Not a kiss. “Where is the Duke? Did you travel to London without him?”
“His Grace has business he must attend to immediately,” Daphne replied, keeping her voice even.
“Of course he does,” the Dowager scoffed.
Daphne could hear the pure disdain in her mother’s voice.
After that retort, she adjusted a porcelain figure on the mantelpiece.
She did so unnecessarily and with some force before making her exit.
The dowager’s manners made things very clear.
She was more interested in Daphne’s new title and husband than welcoming her daughter home.
Nothing could make the Dowager Countess truly care for her daughter.
It was not the first time Daphne felt vulnerable around her mother.
She had tried her best to please her by being the most obedient among her sisters, but it had not made her mother love her more.
She took a deep breath and decided to suppress her feelings.
Nothing would come out of being emotional.
Nothing.
When she raised her head, she met Victoria’s sympathetic gaze. They did not have to say anything. They understood each other through and through.
“Vicky, you know I missed London air,” Daphne began, even as she tried to fix her face and make it look more cheerful. “Would you like to promenade with me at Hyde Park?”
“I’m guessing you want to see the magnolias?” her sister asked, raising a knowing eyebrow.
She laughed.
They both knew that the frost from the night before would have wiped out the aromatic flowers completely, but it was as good as an excuse as any to get them out of the house.
“Of course, I will promenade with you. It’s stifling in here.”
Promenading had its pros and cons. Hyde Park was beautiful, featuring not just nature but a dazzling display of feathers, silks, and other fabrics. The twins walked side by side, trailed by their maids.
It was impossible to ignore the attention she was getting. At first, she thought she was imagining things, but it could not be. Eyes went wide and mouths wagged whenever she passed a group of people. She wore a lovely walking dress, but she knew the onlookers were not talking about it.
They were talking about her, especially now that she was married to the Duke of Wolfcrest.
“While we are being observed by several people, I hope your marriage is quite agreeable. People seem to want to know. Is the Duke treating you right?” Victoria whispered.
Her twin did warn her that she would ask again, but a part of her wondered if it was a distraction while they were the center of attention. Daphne had a fixed serene smile on her face. The ton did not know who they were dealing with. She was the most well-practiced among her sisters.
Too boring.
Too mild.
But she was also too aware of what people thought of her.
“Vicky, my husband is a man of singular focus. He protects me fervently and tends to my every need,” she said softly. “I am now the Duchess of Wolfcrest. I am well-cared for. I want for nothing.”
The only thing that was missing was the truth. She wanted more of that from the Duke, even though their arrangement was not meant to include that. She also needed more control over her feelings.