“Such a splendid estate, Your Grace. I am so grateful to finally get a proper look at it. And you are so generous to be taking care of the dresses…”
Evan struggled to maintain his composure as he listened to Lady Shirley babble. She was tiresome. At least she did not require him to contribute much to the conversation. Instead, she was happy to just listen to herself talk.
Lord Shirley had stopped paying attention to the conversation long ago and was instead staring into his teacup as the three of them sat together in the drawing room.
Lady Shirley continued to speak. “…Of course, Marina’s personal maid shall have to be quite skilled with face powders and hairstyles. Her looks are perfectly ordinary on a good day, and she certainly does not look the part of a duchess?—”
“You are talking too much.”
The Viscountess stared at Evan, as if she were surprised he had spoken at all. “I beg your pardon?”
He glared at her, feeling anger rush through him as he remembered her casual insults about her own daughter. “I said you talk too much. I will not let you insult my duchess.”
Evan put down his teacup. “In fact, there are still some things for us to discuss. Now that we are to be family, there will be rules required to maintain peaceful relations. First and foremost: none of you shall visit Pemberton Manor unless you are explicitly invited by me.”
Lady Shirley gaped at him, but she was at least blessedly silent. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Marina enter the drawing room, still wrapped up in his jacket. Her presence went unnoticed by the others.
Evan continued to speak. “You should also not expect me to visit you in London, even if you extend an invitation. I do not leave the estate unless it is completely necessary.”
He expected Marina to object. She certainly had no qualms about speaking her mind before. But now she stayed quiet as she walked over to the table and sat down in an empty seat next to her father. She shrugged the jacket off her and looked down at her hands, which were resting in her lap. Disappointment filled him.
Surely, she has some thoughts on the matter.
“Miss Shirley?” he prompted. “Do you have any objections?”
Lady Shirley opened her mouth. “My daughter?—”
“I did not address you, my lady,” he said coldly without taking his eyes off Marina.
Finally, she looked up at him. Her expression looked somber in a way that disturbed him. Where was all of that fire she had shown him only moments ago? Where was that lady who dove into a river to save a dog?
The one before him only looked sad and listless.
Marina swallowed before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. “In my opinion, you just described a prison, Your Grace.”
Her mother’s eyes bulged out in disbelief, but Evan had been expecting a response like that. It almost made him smile.Yes, I certainly prefer a duchess who speaks her mind. It makes everything simpler.
“Do not worry,” he said. “As my duchess, you will be free to go wherever you please, as long as you let me know ahead of time. For Lilly’s sake.” He did not want his daughter worrying about a second mother abandoning her.
“How generous, Your Grace,” she said flatly.
“Marina,” her mother snapped. “You will either stay quiet or leave the room this instant. You were doing so well during the tour and the entire conversation. I do not know why you suddenly decided to ruin it now.”
Her eyes widened, and an incredulous laugh escaped her. “I was doing well on the tour? I was not there, Mother! Did you not see me join the three of you just a moment ago?”
Instead of being embarrassed, Lady Shirley looked mostly annoyed. “I should have known you had wandered off. Your presence is not nearly as tolerable as your absence.”
For a moment, Marina looked like she had been slapped by her mother’s words. Then her face fell into a mask of indifference.
Evan glared at the Viscountess, anger rising up inside of him. Not even his late wife had spoken so coldly about her own daughter, and she had ultimately abandoned her. He forced the emotions down.
Do not lose your temper. You are better than that.“I will not let you insult my betrothed in such a manner.” His voice was cold. “Let me be clear: my opinion of Miss Marina Shirley is far higher than my opinion of you. I suggest you choose your words carefully in my presence, my lady.”
Her face paled, and her jaw snapped shut before she could say anything else to embarrass herself.
He looked at Lord Shirley next. “I am also disappointed in you, Lord Shirley. As a father myself, I cannot imagine letting anyone talk of my daughter that way.”
The man looked startled at being addressed at all. “It’s my wife’s responsibility to keep our daughters in line, Your Grace,” he said. “I would never try to contradict her expertise.”
