“I thought for a long time that he might never marry at all—when would he ever put his books down and meet a lady who would have a chance at holding his interest? And then, you came along, and I knew that I didn’t have to worry about that anymore. And now, you’ve convinced him to attend a ball—even if you didn’t ask him to go yourself, he is doing it for you, and that makes it your achievement. You ought to be very proud of yourself, Lydia. I know I’m very happy with what you’ve accomplished already as Duchess.”
Lydia beamed. It felt wonderful to know that Margaret was so pleased with her. “Thank you,” she said. “And I’m very glad you’ll be joining us for the ball. It will be wonderful to attend as a family. Do you think Colin and Nancy will be there too?”
“I’m sure they will,” Margaret replied. “Colin is very different from Edward, as you may have gathered by now. He enjoys attending parties. He never misses one. And Nancy—well, she would never have been fit to be a duchess, of course. She’s not like you. But she’s a pleasant, happy young lady, and she does well at parties.”
“What do you mean when you say she’s not like me?” Lydia asked.
“Not as dignified,” Margaret explained. “Not as alert to the responsibilities of a high-ranking lady. It’s all right. I’m not criticizing her. She has no need to be. She’s married into the perfect position for her. And so have you, whether you realize it or not. You’re very well suited to be a duchess because it’s clear to me how well you understand your responsibilities.”
“How can you tell?”
“The improvements you’ve made to Westfrey since you came to live here have shown me all I need to see,” Margaret replied. “All the new things you’ve brought into the manor—you’ve made this place beautiful. It’s fit for company again in a way it simply hasn’t been since Edward’s father died.” She sighed. “It’s been difficult, Lydia. Very difficult. I love Edward like he is my own son, but at the same time, I’ve mourned the death of my late husband. I’ve had to think about how he would feel about the way Edward is managing the dukedom.”
“You don’t think he would approve?”
“Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t,” Margaret said. “The way Edward manages his business interests is difficult to argue with, but there’s more to life than just business. Having a lady’s touch around here is something I think his father would have liked to see. And I don’t mean just me, of course. Edward seems to find it very easy to say no to me, but it’s obvious that he’s more inclined to say yes to you. That’s a very good thing, Lydia. That’s something we can use.”
Lydia pondered that.Something we can use. She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of what Margaret was saying. Did she mean that the two of them would work together against Edward? And if so, to what end?
Lydia had meant it when she’d said she wanted to build a friendship with Edward. If they couldn’t be true husband and wife, the way she had always dreamed of, she wanted a real friendship. She wanted it badly. It might be the only good thing that could possibly come of this marriage.
Edward had made it clear by his demeanor that there was something about Margaret he found off-putting. And now, Margaret was sitting here, being critical of him—even if she was doing it with love.
Lydia did not want to find herself caught between the two of them.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
“How do I look?” Lydia asked.
Edward made no response. He couldn’t. He didn’t think he had ever seen anyone look so lovely in all his life.
As tiresome as he found Margaret, and as suspicious as he felt of her motives in befriending Lydia as closely as she had, he had to admit that she had done a magnificent job of choosing a gown. It was pale pink with lace on the bodice, ruffled sleeves, and a flowing skirt. Lydia’s blonde hair had been pinned up fashionably, and Edward had to admit that she would look absolutely wonderful walking into Hartford Manor. He was honored that he got to be the one to bring her to the ball.
“You look very nice,” he managed.
“That’s it?” Margaret sputtered. “Very niceis the best you can do? She looks beautiful, Edward, and you know it.”
“Yes, she does.”
Edward couldn’t help feeling a bit irritated. He hadn’t taken the trouble to point out how beautiful Lydia was, and perhaps he should have, but now, he felt as if he couldn’t because Margaret had done it for him.
He so often felt that way—as if she was stealing his place in the dukedom, or striving to do so—edging him out of his own life, somehow. A part of him had believed that it wouldn’t happen anymore once he was married, but of course it would. She would never change. And the fact that she was such close friends with Lydia already was just proof of that fact.
Even now, while I’m trying to establish a friendship with her, she is already closer to my stepmother.
It was maddening. He hadn’twantedto get close with Lydia. He hadn’t hoped for that friendship. But now that it felt so out of reach, he found himself wanting it, after all.
“We need to go,” he said. “I don’t want to be late for the ball and make a bad impression on everyone. Are you both ready?”
“Of course,, we’re ready,” Margaret replied imperiously. “Areyouready?”
“More than ready. And the carriage is waiting outside.”
He offered his arm to Lydia, knowing that it was a bit of a power move. Now, he was the one edging Margaret out, and she could hardly argue with his choice to do so—of course he would give his arm to his wife. It made perfect sense for him to do that.
He escorted Lydia out to the carriage and helped her in. Then, he gave his hand to Margaret to help her up as well. Once they were all inside and settled, the carriage pulled away in the direction of Hartford Manor.
No one spoke during the ride. Lydia spent most of the time looking out the window of the carriage, and Edward could tell she was excited about the evening ahead. As for Margaret and himself, they avoided making direct eye contact with one another.
