“You appear to be under the impression that I held some false notions when I accepted your proposal, Your Grace. That simply will not do. As you have your reasons for marrying me, I have mine as well,” she replied and the Duke blinked in surprise.
“My father did not leave a will when he passed,” she went on, “So his cousin—whom our family isn’t fond of—came to us a mere day after he died to stake his claim over the title, funds, and properties he held, displacing my family in the process.”
She could see his brow furrowing after hearing her family’s predicament, his eyes filling with judgment.
“I am not some… naïve child with dreams of a perfect marriage. My responsibility to my family is what brought me here, and I simply wish for them to be taken care of. There is nothing else I expect or want from you. With your influence and title, my dowry will only serve as an additional benefit for you,” she added.
The Duke was taken aback by her bold tone.
“Your family shall take residence at one of my numerous estates in the countryside. I will make the moving arrangements as soon as we arrive at Wexford.”
His offer was much better than she had expected, much less a mere hour into their marriage, and she found no issue in expressing her gratitude.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said sincerely.
He merely nodded, his gaze reverting back to the window.
Silence fell over them once more then she forced herself to bring up a topic she expected would come up sooner or later, preferring to deal with it while she still had his attention.
“I suppose you want heirs?—”
“Absolutely not,” he responded with a strange amount of disdain.
She stared at him, confused by his reaction. Most men with a title sought a single thing above all else, eventually—an heir to carry on the family name, title, and legacy.
And her husband was no mere, low-ranked nobleman but aduke. An heir was imperative.
“What do you meanno? It is a duke’s prime responsibility to have children.”
“Yes, wife, I am aware of what my title is and its stipulations. However, it is my right what I choose to do, and one thing I am certain of is that I do not want nor need an heir.”
An incredulous laugh escaped Nancy’s lips at the ridiculousness of his words.
“You are not making much sense, Your Grace,” she stated with a glare. “What do you hope to do? Live on forever and carry on your family name? Because otherwise, it could fall to someone unworthy who will only drag it through the mud and ruin what you and your predecessors have struggled to build. You need children.”
“There are a lot of things I need in this life, but children are not, and have never been, among them.”
His words sounded oddly particular, almost as though this was a belief he had expressed on countless occasions.
“Why do you believe so?”
He frowned at her. “I do not need to explain myself for having a particular dislike.”
“Yes, I believe you do in this situation. Especially when it involves a responsibility I also share. This is the most important duty that I am expected to carry out. You cannot simply take it from me and not explain your reasons why.”
The look on his face did not shift at all at her words.
“And as for your views on children, with all due respect, Your Grace, that is a ridiculous notion,” she continued, “Children are evidence of a life well lived. In the long run, you will need a family of your own to support you and carry on your legacy. Had either of my parents decided that they wanted no children, my mother… She would have been all alone after the death of my father with no one to protect or save her from a life of poverty.”
The Duke scowled, “You do not know what you speak of,wife. You know nothing about me or my needs. So, do not presume to have the answers to questions I did not ask. I have no need for children or an heir. Neither do I have any more patience to entertain this conversation,” he snapped coldly.
Nancy had never felt so frustrated in her entire life. The tension between them had grown to a magnitude where she could scarcely breathe, her entire face feeling aflame as she did her best to remain respectful. It would be truly shameful for him to take away the offer he had made for her family.
“You do not get to decide that on your own. The least you could do is speak with me civilly and provide a valid and proper reason as to why you feel the way you do. Not make demands out of the blue and expect me to follow them as though I am some… servant without a will or mind of my own. That is wrong and?—”
Nancy choked on her words as the carriage suddenly hit a bump, making her realize just how far she had leaned forward during their argument.
She flew from her seat, half expecting to fall against the opposite side.
