Chapter 15 #2
Her hand crooked in his elbow, they climbed up the steps and stopped at the blue front door. She rapped the knocker, and the butler opened the panel.
His eyes bulged at the sight of the duchess and the duke.
“We were not expecting the both of you,” he said, clearly trying to keep his calm demeanor. “But I’m sure Lady Applethwaite will be very pleased to see you both.”
In they went and were quickly put into the drawing room. Lady Applethwaite was sitting and waiting, and she let out a titter of absolute delight.
The room was quite fussy, filled with bric-a-brac and wallpaper that all but vibrated with florals.
She could feel her husband inwardly flinch at how claustrophobic the room was with its paraphernalia meant to show the Applethwaites’ wealth.
“Your Grace,” Lady Applethwaite gushed, standing and giving him a curtsy, which caused the bird and flowers in her hair to tremble.
“And Your Grace,” she added, turning to Nancy with slightly less enthusiasm. “How pleased I am that you could pay a call upon me.”
“Tea?” Lady Applethwaite queried.
Pierce’s gaze shot to the clock. Calling times were short…unless tea was trotted out.
“Do sit down,” Lady Applethwaite suggested with a grand wave of her hand that dripped with jewels.
Nancy sat opposite the lady.
“Now,” the older woman began, picking up her heavy silver tea pot, “I have a question for you about the organization of the marriage of my daughter.” Lady Applethwaite gave her a knowing if slightly rude look.
“Do you think it would be possible for you and the duke to have her to tea? And you could give her a few pointers on how to catch such an excellent fellow, Your Grace?”
She could tell that Pierce didn’t enjoy that insinuation as he shifted in his boots.
“No visit is needed. I can tell you what drew me to my wife. She is intelligent,” the duke said. “And she’s capable. If you can encourage your daughter to be both those things, then she shall be wed in a trice.”
“Intelligent and capable,” Lady Applethwaite said, laughing so fully that her sausage curls bounced on her cheeks. “Oh, most men don’t want those things, Your Grace. You must be singular. How lucky you are, Your Grace,” she said, returning to Nancy.
“Oh, I know how lucky I am,” Nancy replied, taking her tea and suddenly feeling that this had been a terrible idea.
“She’s not lucky at all,” the duke said.
“Yes, I am,” Nancy put in.
“No, you’re not,” he countered. “My wife is too humble,” he added.
And as if saying the same thing over again would make them stick, he declared, “Ladies should be capable and intelligent,” he said.
“Especially if they’re going to run houses and estates as large as mine.
Now, Lady Applethwaite, may I have that cup of tea? I do find that I am suddenly parched.”
Lady Applethwaite poured the cup of tea, thrust it forward, and he drank his rapidly.
“Wonderful to see you. Off we go,” he declared, putting his saucer down on the mantel.
And then he swept Nancy out of the drawing room, down the stairs, and out the door.
“That was very rude,” she exclaimed.
“She’s very rude,” he gritted. “She was condescending to you. You don’t have to be kind to these people,” he said. “I don’t think she would have given you the time of day before you were a duchess.”
Nancy rolled her eyes, though she was flattered by his desire to protect her. “No one in the town would have given me the time of day before I was a duchess,” she said. “But I am attempting to build a series of important and wealthy connections for you through wives.”
“I don’t want you to build me connections with people like that,” he gritted. “The Applethwaites don’t care how they get their money.”
“But they’re powerful,” she said simply. “They control key votes.”
He scowled.
“What about our dreams?” she said softly.
He blinked. “What do you mean?”
“The school, the bread, all of that. Don’t you want me to help you achieve those things? Things that seemed important chatting over our little dining table. Or was that just talk?”
And then he stopped before her and took her hands in his. “Of course I wish that, my love, but I’m worried about you.”
“Why?” she asked, shocked.
He was silent and a muscle tightened in his jaw. “Because you are putting everybody’s needs before your own. When will you stop for yourself?”
“I don’t need to stop for myself,” she assured, stunned by his concern. “I am doing exactly what I want to do.”
He nodded, then took her arm and hooked it in his. “Whatever you say,” he said. “Where are we stopping next?”
“Lady Bridgeport.”
“Oh God,” he groaned.
“Come now,” she said. “Go and see your horses. You’ll be much happier, and I want a happy husband.”
“I want a happy wife. Lady Bridgeport doesn’t make anyone happy. She’s mean,” he announced without hesitation.
“You think she’s mean?” she teased, for she had had to put up with many a mean person as an employee.
“She is,” Pierce insisted. “She loathes the theater, she loathes poetry, she loathes opera, she loathes butter, she loathes sugar, and she loathes anyone with an independent thought, so she’s going to loathe you.”
“No, she’s not.” She grinned. “She’s going to love me because I know how to handle people.”
He let out a sigh. “Whatever you say I’m sure is the truth,” he repeated. “But I don’t know if I can do it.”
“Then you should go,” she said.
“But I want you to come with me,” he said softly.
“Go,” she replied. “I’m doing good work.”
“Yes,” he said gently. “Yes, you are. And I will not be a coward and retreat. Lead on, my love, lead on.”
She drew in a breath as she walked with her husband, feeling the heaviness of his usually light spirit. Was she making a mistake? Should she have taken the day off? No.
Perhaps a young lady who had been born with a fortune and a title could take a day off. But there would be no days off now for Nancy.
She couldn’t risk losing his admiration. She had to make him care every day. She knew what it was like to have a man who no longer cared enough to value their wife. Her father had shown that.
Her father had shown how little she was worth. But this time? She’d show her husband she was worthy, and he’d never be disappointed in her.