The door opened, and his grandmother walked in. She raised her eyebrows at him. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready to attend dinner with your family?”
“I do not think my presence is required or wanted by my son or my wife.”
She smiled softly at him. “It will do Percy good to see you, and this will be a good time for you to get to know your new wife.”
He grimaced, but he knew she was right. Even though the marriage was in name only, he needed to make sure it was civil, for Percy’s sake. Besides, this would be a good time to observe her and Percy together. She had done wonders when Percy was trying to see the stars, and now he would be able to see how they interacted even more. “Fine,” he said, standing up. “I will be along shortly for dinner.”
She smiled, looking pleased. “Percy, Selina, and I will be waiting.”
She left, and he spent a few more minutes looking at the papers on his desk. When he knew he couldn’t delay it any longer, he left the safety of his study to go downstairs to the dining hall, where his new family was.
He found the Dowager Duchess, Selina, and his son sitting together at the table. However, there was tension in the air, and not just from his presence.
The dowager duchess gave him a nervous look as he took his place at the table, but Selina’s attention was on Percy. “Maybe after dinner we could look at the stars tonight. Would you like that?”
Percy just glared at his empty plate.
“Did something happen?” Dominic asked as footmen started to serve them their food.
Selina looked up at him nervously. “He saw me coming out of my new bedchamber when the nanny was taking him to dinner, and he was upset.”
That explained it. He no longer had to wonder if Percy understood Selina’s new role in the family, and he was clearly not taking it well.
The dowager duchess smiled as she picked up her fork to begin eating. “I think going to look at the stars tonight is a wonderful idea,” she said, her voice full of forced cheerfulness. “Percy loves the stars, don’t you? Dominic used to enjoy them when he was younger as well.”
Selina looked up at him. “Truly?”
“Not as much as Percy does,” he responded. “But I did enjoy identifying constellations.” He couldn’t remember the last time he had even looked up at the sky, let alone looked for constellations. He felt a pang of sadness at the thought.
Percy didn’t seem to be paying attention to the conversation. Instead, he glared down at his food. Anger was radiating off of him in a way that Dominic had never seen before.
Selina looked at him, worried. “What is your favorite food on the plate, Percy? Is it the dinner roll? The vegetables? The chicken?” Dominic doubted that she really cared. She just wanted to make conversation.
The little boy glared up at her, tears filling his eyes for a moment, before he slammed his hand into his plate, splattering food everywhere. Dominic jerked back in surprise.
Selina startled slightly. “No, dear. Please don’t make a mess.” Her voice was distressed, but still gentle, almost pleading.
This only made him push his plate off the table, where it shattered into shards on the ground. A footman startled before jumping into action, cleaning up the mess on the ground.
“That’s enough,” Dominic said quietly.
His son froze, sorrow flickering in his wide eyes as he looked up at his father. For a moment, Dominic felt the weight of it, but he masked the thought as he set down his napkin and stood.
“Dinner is over. Grandmother, summon the nanny and have her take Percy to his room. Duchess, I would like a word with you in my study. Now.”
He left the room without another word. He knew she was following him because of the sound of her heels clicking on the floor.
As soon as they were in his study and his door was closed, he turned to face her.
She smiled pleasantly, but she still looked a little uncertain. “One would think you pulled me in here over a matter of life and death instead of a broken plate.”
He glared at her, completely unamused. “You are on thin ice, Selina. I made it clear that your primary responsibility is to care for Percy. I suggest you get him under control soon.”
She frowned at him. “I have only been your wife for a day! Did you expect him to be singing Christmas carols for you during dinner?”
“Of course not,” he said, only angered more at the absurd image. “But I certainly did not expect to see him throwing food either. He has never misbehaved like that before you arrived.”
“His father just remarried, and you expect him not to misbehave? He’s only a child!” She sounded indignant. “He has gone through so much. He is confused, and sad, and angry?—”
