CHAPTER 26
DIANA
It was strange to be at Clifton Manor. On one hand, it was comforting, and I felt like I was visiting old friends again.
I had so many happy memories of being here with my mother.
I was younger and carefree then. Lady Clifton was as welcoming as always, and I’d missed her.
Toward the end, I’d rarely seen Clifton here.
He’d already graduated from university then and was spending most of his time in London.
All those happy memories of Clifton Manor were soothing.
And now this would be my home. I was the Countess of Clifton, and Clifton’s mother was the dowager countess.
She didn’t seem upset about the change in her status.
Quite the opposite, in fact, as she took great joy in introducing me to the staff as the new countess.
I knew many of them, but I didn’t remember their names, so I was glad for the chance to learn them. And while some seemed surprised that Clifton had actually eloped, they welcomed me as though I was a long-lost member of the family, returning home after a long visit away.
My heart ached a little bit with the knowledge that Mama would never be visiting me here.
During the formal tour, I caught sight of Clifton several times.
On each occasion, he pulled out his pocket watch and frowned.
It lightened those bittersweet moments to know that he wanted to spend time with me.
Finally, Helen—even thinking of Clifton’s mother that way made me uncomfortable—turned me over to my husband with strict instructions for her son not to tire me out.
I blushed the entire time we were dressing for dinner. “I am so embarrassed,” I said for the hundredth time as we made our way back downstairs. I’d actually wondered if my husband would want to take advantage of our time alone, but he seemed to have other things on his mind.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Fairfax had delivered bad news, but I wouldn’t press him on it. Heaven knew the Legends were probably up to all manner of things that wouldn’t concern me.
Dinner was a pleasant affair. Fairfax took great joy in recounting a number of ridiculous stories about different members of the ton, much to the delight of Clifton’s mother.
He had us in peals of laughter throughout much of the meal.
It was also interesting to watch the interaction between him and my husband.
The teasing banter between them, the way they obviously cared for one another.
I imagined it would be similar to how brothers would behave.
Yes, that was the best way to describe the Legends. They were a family.
“You must visit more often,” Lady Clifton said when dinner was finally over. She turned to her son. “In fact, you should invite your friends here, especially now that three of you are married. We could have a house party.”
Clifton groaned. “Not a dreaded house party.”
“Oh, shush,” Lady Clifton said. “It’s not like you need to worry about matchmaking.”
“Precisely,” Fairfax said. “I’m the one who needs to be concerned.”
We broke out into laughter. I looked at Clifton then and caught the way he was exchanging a particularly intense glance with Fairfax, and I could feel the hair begin to prickle at the back of my neck.
It was customary for gentlemen to gather after a meal.
Perhaps they needed to continue the conversation they’d had earlier.
“Will the two of you be staying in here for a little while? Your mother and I can go into the drawing room.”
Clifton shook his head. “No, of course not. We’ll join you there now.”
He took my arm, Fairfax moved to take my mother-in-law’s, and we wandered down the hall to the drawing room. I kept glancing at Clifton along the way. Something was the matter. I was certain of it. I would have to ask him when we returned to our room.
In the end, he was the one who broached it. When we entered the drawing room, he took a seat next to me on the settee. His mother sat on my other side, while Fairfax settled into one of the armchairs.
Clifton looked at Fairfax again, then at me. “Fairfax brought me important news today,” he said. “News that concerns the two of you.”
Lady Clifton frowned. “That concerns me?”
I placed a hand on Clifton’s arm. “Something is the matter. You seem worried.”
He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment then turned to Fairfax. “Can you tell them?”
With a nod, Fairfax turned to Clifton’s mother. “Do you know the reason for your son’s elopement?”
She shook her head. “I assumed Clifton was courting Diana.” She looked at me. “Is that not correct?”
“No,” I said. “My guardians had…” I sighed, not wanting to go into everything that had happened. “Let’s just say that my aunt went out of her way to ensure I wouldn’t have any suitors. They never would have allowed Clifton to call on me.”
“Of course they wouldn’t,” Fairfax said. He was looking at me now. “Did Clifton tell you that he feared for your safety?”
I smiled. “Yes, he did. But he was being melodramatic, and I’m afraid I took advantage of his concern and allowed him to whisk me away. But I did tell him that I was going to have access to my fortune when I reached my majority. Two more years wasn’t too long to wait.”
Clifton squeezed my hand. “The Tuttlefords never would have allowed you to marry. At the very least, they would have locked you away forever.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. What did he mean by at the very least?
“We did find something of particular interest,” Fairfax said. “We discovered that the Tuttlefords hadn’t been named as Diana’s guardians.”
I gasped. “What? But my aunt—”
Fairfax shook his head. “Your aunt and uncle lied to you. They were entrusted as your relatives by the solicitor to take you to your true guardian.” He looked at Lady Clifton. “You, my lady. Lady Atherton had named you as Diana’s guardian. You should have been the one seeing to her care.”
Lady Clifton’s hands flew to her mouth. Her eyes were wide as she looked at me, and for a moment, I was afraid she was going to cry.
“I assumed… I sent letters, and you never replied. I thought that perhaps you were distraught and hearing from me was bringing up too many painful memories of your mother. I should have forced my way in. I should have tried to speak to the solicitor.”
“No,” I said, drawing her into a hug.
She buried her face in my shoulder and squeezed me tightly before pulling back. “Please tell me they weren’t too horrible to you.”
I couldn’t do that. “It’s not so bad,” I said. “Everything is fine now. I am married to Clifton, and we are content, are we not?” I hated the way my voice sounded so uncertain.
“Yes, Diana. I am happier than I could have imagined. I would have preferred that you never had to spend a night under their care, but I have no regrets about marrying you.”
His words were a soothing balm for my soul. For now, he had no misgivings about marrying me. I would spend the rest of my life ensuring he never did.
“So everything is fine now,” I said, vowing to think only of the positive outcome and not of everything that had been stolen from me over the last two years.
“There’s more,” Fairfax said.
There was something in his face that seemed uncharacteristically serious. Alarm filled me when I realized he was angry.
Clifton stood then and pulled me to my feet. “I will tell her upstairs in private. You can fill my mother in when we leave.”
Fairfax looked between the two of us before finally nodding. “You are correct, of course. I’m sure that would be best.”
“Come,” Clifton said, taking my hand. “We will retire for the night.”
He didn’t look back at his mother or Fairfax as we left the drawing room, and that, more than anything else, had me terrified about what he was going to tell me.