Norman wondered what his cousin meant by that—but then, whatever he might have meant, Norman didn’t think he was wrong.Interestingwas one thing this meal would certainly be.
They took their seats around the table, and the food was brought out and served. There was pheasant, vegetables and potatoes, bread and fish—plenty for everyone to enjoy. And it did its job. For a few moments, they all sat in silence, savoring the delicious meal and not saying anything much to one another.
Aunt Tabitha dabbed at her lips with her napkin. “So,” she said, breaking the silence. “It’s been about a week since the two of you were married. Is it all you hoped it would be?”
She was addressing the question to Susan. Susan sat up a bit straighter and looked down at her hands in her lap, then looked back up. “I don’t know that I had any specific hopes about it,” she said. “I’m glad that everything seems to be going smoothly, though.”
“Yes, I don’t doubt you are,” Aunt Tabitha agreed. “It’s always better when you’re able to integrate yourself easily into someone else’s household once you marry. I’m sure that was something you had at the forefront of your mind when you planned all this.”
Susan frowned. “I didn’t plan all this,” she said. “My father was the one who made the arrangements, Lady Keethroad.”
“Of course,” Aunt Tabitha said. “And how have you found life as a duchess so far? Just as exciting as you dreamed it would be?”
“I didn’t have any dreams about it,” Susan said. “I never thought about this life before I was living it.”
“Well, that’s not very responsible of you. To put yourself in this situation without even thinking about what it would be like?”
“I told you—it was my father who made the arrangements,” Susan said. “I had to go along with what he wanted. I didn’t have a choice in the matter.”
“I see—so what you’re telling me is that youdon’twish to be married to my nephew?”
“No.” Susan’s voice shook, but to her credit, she kept her chin up. “That isn’t what I’m saying at all.”
“Oh, Aunt Tabitha, stop it,” Norman snapped. “I don’t know what you want her to say. Her father made an arrangement for her, and she’s following through with it. She’s doing her best. We both are. You know, you can’t expect people to do any more than their best with the hands they’re dealt.”
Aunt Tabitha didn’t look remotely chastened, but at least she fell silent, and that was a start.
“I quite agree,” Michael spoke up. “And may I say, Your Grace,” he added, turning to Susan, “I think you will be a remarkable addition to this family. I never expected to see my cousin happily married.”
A small smile found purchase on Susan’s face. “I do hope to make him happy,” she said slowly.
“And I’m sure you’ll do just that,” Michael agreed. “Pay my mother no mind. You must understand that there are plenty of social climbers who would have liked to take advantage of the situation. With Norman being so newly a member of theton, it would have been easy for anyone to slip into his good graces and make herself a duchess.”
Norman scowled. “Do you think I’m so undiscerning, cousin? That I would just marry anyone who charmed me?”
“I think it’s a valid thing for Mother to be concerned about,” Michael said. “But no, Norman, it’s clear from how this has transpired that you haven’t just married because you’ve been charmed into it. I know you made the right decision for yourself.” He smiled. “Your wifeischarming, though. It’s a pleasure to count you as part of the family, Your Grace.”
“You can call me by my name,” she told him. “Since wearefamily, I think that’s only fitting.”
“I hoped you might feel that way about it,” he said with a smile. “Susan, then. And you’re quite right. You and I are cousins now—and my mother is your aunt.”
Aunt Tabitha gave a terse nod, acknowledging the truth of that statement. And yet, by the expression on her face—the high lift of her chin, the set of her jaw—Norman could tell that she hadn’t decided to count Susan as a member of her family at all.
“Truly, I don’t know what’s gotten into her,” Michael said. He and Norman had retired to the study following dinner to share in a glass of brandy.
“I wish she could be counted upon to be alone with Susan,” Norman grumbled. “I don’t feel right leaving the two of them to their own devices for very long. How can she blame Susan for this marriage?”
“Well, she’s not entirely wrong,” Michael pointed out. “What I said at the table was true, you know. There are plenty of ladies who would have tried to secure a marriage with you in order to advance themselves. And don’t you think that is what Susan’s father was doing, even if she wasn’t doing it herself?”
“Susan had never been anything but forthcoming with me about her reasons for wanting to marry,” Norman said. “It bothers me that Aunt Tabitha thinks me such a fool that I would be seduced into a marriage on false pretenses.”
“She worries about you, that’s all,” Michael said. “Truth be told, Norman, we both do. Not because anyone thinks you’re a fool, but because you are so new to this world—this life. Because thetonis full of people who live to deceive, and we wouldn’t want you to be deceived. We both want better for you than that.”
“I may be new to this life, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand the way things work,” Norman said. “I needed this marriage to make the most of my opportunities. I’ve gone into business with Susan’s father, and Lord Crownway and I are doing very well. Before long, no one will have cause to doubt me or to question my name or my place in society. Everyone will see that I was able to make the best of this opportunity. And this marriage is exactly what I needed to make that happen. Not only am I able to use the dowry I received when Susan and I married to further my investments, I’ve also been able to secure this working partnership with her father. It’s all for the best, even if Aunt Tabitha can’t see that.”
“You may be right,” Michael said. “But are you happy, Norman?”
“What do you mean? Why wouldn’t I be happy? Haven’t I just said how well everything is going?”
