“You have done so well!” Her father continued. “This is a historic moment for the Jenkins family. We are now part of high society. My daughter married a Duke.”
“Let me see the ring!” Her mother grabbed her hand. “This is an exquisite, expensive, elegant ring, fit for a Duchess.”
Despite her fear and reluctance to leave Camilla and Myrtle alone, Prim was glad that she would have to interact less with her parents. It was almost revolting to see them gloat about this wedding every waking moment for the past three weeks. She is ready to nod politely and leave her mother's side, but she doesn't get the chance.
“A word, Primrose?” the Viscountess demands.
The dreaded moment of every matron. Thetalk. Prim was always suspicious of her parents’ intentions, so she decided to educate herself in the room that her parents never entered: the library.
She had found the book on procreation and studied it. At the beginning of this Season, she even shared her findings with her sisters. It was a stupid strategy on behalf of the mothers trying to protect their daughters from ruin without explaining what that ruin entailed.
“There is no need, Mother,” tried to get out of this conversation
“I believe there is every need,” her mother insisted.
They found a quiet room, a little drawing room, all in sky pastels. Prim looked around, realizing that this was her room as well. Itfelt foreign. Prim stood at the window looking out on the garden where the wedding breakfast was taking place.
The linen canopy created a lush shadow to shield the esteemed guests of the Duke and Duchess of Mildenhall. Delicacies were offered, coffee, tea, lemonade, and refreshments were served. By all means, it was a perfect wedding breakfast.
Her eyes found Leo, mingling in the crowd, tall and dark and cold. He hadn't spoken to her or even looked at her for the past weeks. Not the note, not the message. Nothing.
“Listen to me, Primrose.” Her mother's voice brought her back to reality. “You need to hear what I am about to tell you and keep it in your mind. This is a unique opportunity for our family, and you will not, I repeat, you will not spoil it for us.”
“I will not, I promise.”
“You will be the perfect little Duchess. You'll behave properly, and you will not contradict your husband at all. I don't know how you've done it, but marrying the Duke and keeping the Duke are two different things. Make sure both things happen.”
It wasn't as if she was expecting a loving, caring speech from her mother. But to be dealt such harsh words on her wedding day, by her own family, that was beyond understanding.
“And for the love of propriety, do not ever shame us again,” her mother sealed her speech.
Prim just nodded. She was done trying to comprehend her parents. Satisfied with the answer, her mother left the room to go and mingle with the rest of the guests, surely to boast about how her daughter got such an incredible match.
She was left alone, in a strange room, in the house that was supposed to be hers, with the weight of the rose-ring on her finger. She looked out the window at the celebration of her wedding. She felt as if she were observing her life from the outside.
But she didn't know if she was a bride or a wife. If she were a sacrifice or a daughter. Her eyes bound Leo again, moving through the crowd with a lethal, polished grace that had nothing to do with joy. And she didn't know if she was a shield or a partner.
CHAPTER 17
First Editions
If anyone had told her that night she first rode into Mildenhall Estate that she would be back here as the Duchess, she would have referred that person to a physician. And yet here she was, in the ducal carriage, entering the estate not hidden, not in the dead of night, but legitimately, as a lady of the house. Perhaps she was in need of a physician herself.
The estate was even grander than she remembered. Perhaps it was the twilight that surrounded it with a mysterious aura that went perfectly well with its grandiose exterior. For instance, she hadn’t noticed that there were towers. Because, of course, there were towers. At least the shrubs were still perfectly shaped as she remembered.
The carriage stopped at the entrance, and Leo was the first to get out of his carriage. She still felt the sting in her heart whenshe realized the two great opulent carriages had been waiting for them after the wedding breakfast. Leo wouldn’t even ride with her. It wasn’t as if she blamed the man, their situation was unique, but he could have been more understanding of her situation as well.
Leo helped her out of her carriage without looking at her. His gaze was fixed on an older woman who was coming to greet them. She bowed lightly to him and then to the new Duchess.
“Welcome, Your Graces. On behalf of the staff, we wish you a prosperous and productive union.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Byrne,” Leo said firmly. “Let me introduce Lady Mildenhall.”
Prim was startled, first because it was the first time in three weeks she had heard his voice up close, almost speaking to her. The second reason was the title. During the wedding breakfast, she had of course heard that title, but it was nothing compared to Leo calling herLady Mildenhall.
“This is Mrs. Byrne. She is the housekeeper of the estate, and you can trust her efficiency.”
And then, without a second thought, Leo walked through the massive doors and vanished into the building.
