“I don’t need to hear your negative feelings on this subject, Grandmother, truly. It should be enough for you to know that I enjoyed myself.”
“I know you don’t need to hear my feelings,” she said.
“Good. I’m glad you’re aware of that fact.”
“Because you should know my feelings on the matter. You spending time with that lady…it’s a disgrace to the dukedom. I can only imagine what your father would say if he knew what you were doing.”
Bringing his father into it like that was a low blow. Allan’s grandmother knew that fulfilling his duty to the dukedom, carrying on his late father’s legacy, and living a life that he would be proud of were important things to him. To suggest that his father would be disappointed in Allan’s choices was downright cruel and hurtful, and she had known that it would be.
He needed to dismiss her, to let her know that her pointed remarks wouldn’t have the desired effect.
“Grandmother, that’s ridiculous,” he said. “You make it sound as if we were doing something scandalous. As if we had something to be ashamed of. There was nothing scandalous in what we were doing, and Father would take no issue with any of it. We were dancing and walking in the garden together. We had a pleasant time. There’s no need for these dramatics.”
“You truly don’t believe your father would disagree with what you’ve been doing?”
“I think that I’m the Duke now, Grandmother.”
“Does that mean you don’t care about your father’s approval anymore?”
“Of course, it doesn’t mean that. You know how much I care what Father would have thought. But I also think I knew him very well, and he did a good job preparing me for my responsibilities.”
“You didn’t know him well,” his grandmother countered. “You were a child when he died, Allan. I am the one who knew him well. He was my son, and I knew him all his life.”
“I have clear memories of him,” Allan said. “I know the kind of man he was, and the kind of man he would want me to be.”
“He took nothing more seriously than his duty.”
“And nor do I.”
“Because I’ve raised you to be like him,” his grandmother said. “Everything of your father that you have in you has come from me. You should be grateful to me for helping to keep him alive within you.”
“I am grateful for everything you did for me when I was growing up. Surely you know that, Grandmother,” Allan replied. “But that doesn’t mean that I am beholden to you for the rest of my life.”
“Allan, when you inherited your father’s land and title as a boy, I vowed that I would make it my mission in life to help you become a duke your father would be proud of.”
“And you did. You raised me and taught me well. I no longer have need of your guidance. That time is over, Grandmother, no matter what you may think of my choices regarding Lady Edwina.”
“That lady has a terrible reputation, Allan.”
“She also has a name. Call her by it, please. It’s very disrespectful to keep sayingthat ladythe way you are.”
“I don’t feel she’s earned my respect.”
“Well, you are sitting at my table, and while you’re here, I won’t have her spoken of that way. Lady Edwina, please.”
“Very well,” his grandmother said. “Only because you insist—Lady Edwina.”
“Thank you.” He wanted to remark on the fact that surely that basic courtesy hadn’t been so difficult to give, but he decided against it. He could quit while he was ahead.
But his grandmother seemed not to be of the same mind—it was clear that she wanted to continue the conversation. “I’m sure you know the kind of things people say about her, Allan.”
“I’ve heard what people say.”
“The nickname they gave her?”
“Grandmother, everyone has heard that nickname.” Allan sighed. “It’s spoken so widely that I begin to wonder whether other people know her true name at all.” Of course, he said it himself as much as anyone else did. But now, hearing his grandmother allude to the nickname, he felt a little bad about it. Could Lady Edwina really enjoy hearing herself called such a thing? Surely not.
“The unattainable spinster.” His grandmother gave him a knowing look.
