The Duke's Divorce (The Reluctant Grooms Series Volume IV) (5 page)

Robert looked from one woman to the other,
noting their silence.

“Cantin?” Lady Olivia asked. “Have you
completely lost all your senses? Are you still sossed on Scottish
drink? What woman in her right mind would give up marriage to a
duke? The Duke of Cantin, no less. I’m afraid after six months,
there will be no getting rid of her, annulment or no.”

“Olivia is right, darling,” his mother
interjected. “You cannot just use the poor girl and then dump her
like yesterday’s fish bones. That is unseemly. Why not take her to
bed and be done with it? She will bear you children and if you are
so averse to having her around, let her go to one of the estates,
to Cornnan if she wishes. You do need an heir, you know.”

He ignored his mother and turned to Lady
Olivia. “As you now know the full story, if you should see anyone
whom you think would make her a decent husband and takes an
interest in her, I should like to hear of it. Fiona is an
exceptional young woman, and although she is not the right one for
me, that does not mean I wish her ill. If she should find someone
upstanding, I will do nothing to stand in her way. I do not want
her languishing in a marriage she does not wish to have. She has
already agreed we would not suit.”

His mother looked at Lady Olivia, then turned
her gaze to him. “How do you know you will not suit? You have not
even given her a chance.”

“Mother, she may be an Earl’s daughter, but
she is not a duchess made. She is somewhat educated, and
exceedingly bright, but I believe these are her only virtues. She
does not play, nor sing, has no talent with a brush and colors, and
does not understand what being a duchess entails. I need someone in
my future companion who will have all those things. Who will know
and understand what that means. She was not raised to be a duchess.
She was not raised to be a member of the
ton
, Mother. I can
get away by marrying her because of who I am, so there is no
explanation on that quarter. I do know several gentlemen who would
make her an admirable match. Just not mine.”

“Darling, you are doing yourself and Fiona a
great disservice. I think it would behoove you to get to know her
better, and to try to keep the marriage intact. You did marry her
for better or worse. As for not being raised to become a duchess,
there are ways around that. I would like nothing better than to
show her the ways of the
ton
, as well as Olivia. As for
knowing none of the finer elements of Society, I know several
upstanding women who care not a jot for the pianoforte, or singing,
or drawing. Please, Robert, you must think about your plan.”

“I have, Mother, I have. Fiona and I have
discussed it at length. We had ample time on our journey from
Scotland. Truth to tell, Mother, she does not like me very much.
She believes me to be interested only in money. I cannot help
think, even through all her protestations otherwise, she somehow
had an inkling of what her father planned and fell into his trap,
whether it was consciously done or not. No, Mother, Fiona and I do
not suit, and I will not stay married to her for one second longer
than is absolutely necessary.” Robert waited for the next
protest.

“What is the story you will tell through
Society of how you met?” Lady Olivia asked. “Surely, you cannot say
her father had a hand in it. You will become a laughingstock at
your age. And I dare say you cannot reveal your plan on an
annulment. She will be cast down.”

“No, what I have shared with you is between
us. I owed you the truth, Mother. I do not wish you to have any
notions on becoming attached to Fiona. Think of her as a ward to
our house if you will. The story we will spread among our friends
is that we fell in love over the course of my time in Scotland. As
we were in Scotland, we married. In six months time, our annulment
will come as no great surprise. My friends know I am not
spontaneous by nature and will assume I made a mistake.”

“I see you have thought this through very
carefully, my son.” His mother’s voice held the same tone when he
was a boy and had done something to disappoint her.

“Yes, I have given this great thought. I have
no wish to hurt Fiona, or you, which is why I told you the truth
right away. When all is said and done, Fiona will have made a very
good bargain. She will have gowns, jewels, and money, and will be
able to do exactly as she wishes with the rest of her life.” Robert
took up his pocket-watch and noted the time. “Ladies, if you will
excuse me, I have several things I must attend. Lady Olivia, as
always, a great pleasure to see you.” He bent and kissed his mother
on the cheek. “Mother, I shall see you later this afternoon.”

Robert left the women feeling very pleased
they had taken the news as well as they did. He had no remorse in
his dealings with Fiona. He had been truthful with her from the
start. She had no reason to think there would be any more to their
marriage than a contract.

Fiona’s outing with Lady Penny left her
feeling like a princess. Having made her own clothes for years,
being fitted for a silk gown was an extraordinary pleasure, one she
would never get over. The luxurious cloth shimmered over her skin
and for the first time in her life, she felt a wicked wanton
pleasure. Madame Rochelle clucked and fussed with the pins. Taking
in the deep burgundy had been a challenge, for Fiona’s waist was so
small, yet her legs were long and slender. A nip here, a tuck
there, the gown was perfect, although according to the modiste, it
did not hang as well as it ought.

Fiona bought three gowns, and Madame Rochelle
promised she would have several others made up and sent to the
house on St. Martin Street by the end of the week. Fiona was
pleased Penny was with her to make decisions on color. Fiona had
always worn wool in Scotland and her cloth had always been dark, to
match her hair. Here, in London, the yards of fabrics laid out
across the table made her dizzy. Blues to match every shade of the
sky, greens, deep and verdant, purples ranging from violet to
aubergine, and every tint of rose imaginable had Fiona longing for
a gown in each color. But Penny laid aside the lighter hues and
concentrated on the deeper tones.

Penny giggled when Fiona emerged from the
dressing room wearing a deep sapphire afternoon gown. “Robert will
hardly recognize you.”

Fiona hardly recognized herself. Gone was the
dowdy spinster dressed in plain woolsy and in her place a
fashionable young woman befitting her new station of duchess. Fiona
stood a little straighter.

After Madame Rochelle’s, they descended upon
a milliner where Fiona purchased two hats, a cobbler who sold her a
lovely pair of deep blue dancing slippers and took measurements for
half boots and two more pair of slippers, and another dressmaker
shop where she bought a ready-made cape in black velvet.

Famished after the outing, Fiona declined an
invitation to dine with Penny. She thought she should return to
Cantin House. She felt foolish standing at the front door, but
didn’t know whether to knock or walk in. Edwards opened the door
before she could raise her hand.

“Yes,” he said. Clearly, he did not recognize
her.

“Mr. Edwards, we met this morning,” Fiona
said. “I am the Duke of Cantin’s new wife.”

Edwards blanched as he stepped back into the
foyer, opening the door wide. “Forgive me, your ladyship. I did not
recognize you.”

Fiona smiled at him. “Truthfully, Mr.
Edwards, when I first saw myself at the modiste, I did not
recognize myself either.”

Edwards bowed and helped her off with her new
cape, and waited for her gloves.

“Tell me, has luncheon been served?” she
asked the butler. “I must confess I did not realize shopping would
leave me completely ravenous.”

“Lady Cantin is in the dining room now if you
would like to join her.”

She looked down the long corridor having no
idea where the dining room was.

Edwards said, “If you would like to follow
me, your ladyship.”

She smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Edwards. That is
very kind of you.”

When she entered the dining room, she found
Robert’s mother alone at a long formally set table. Not knowing
where to sit, she stood, unsure of her place.

Lady Joanna looked her up and down. Fiona
could tell the woman had no idea who she was.

“Forgive me, Lady Cantin. I have no wish to
disturb you. Mr. Edwards said you were dining and having just
arrived from my outing with Lady Penny, I thought to join you if I
may.

“Fiona, dearest,” Lady Joanna said with a
tone that could not hide her surprise, “is it really you? That gown
has simply changed your entire countenance. I’m so glad you are
back,” his mother said. “Come, come sit down, and lunch with me.
Tell me all about your trip to the modiste. I’m glad we have this
time alone. I long to become better acquainted.”

Fiona steadied her nerves, crossed to the
front of the room and took a seat to the left of her new
mother-in-law. A footman brought her a bowl of soup. Fiona stared
at all the utensils on the sides of the place setting. In Scotland,
her father and she ate at the wooden plank table in the kitchen
with one fork, knife, and spoon. Here, there were a dozen spread
out in front of her, not to mention the various glasses and small
plates surrounding the entire sphere of where she sat.

She looked at Lady Joanna, who placed her
finger on the third spoon to her right.

“Now, tell me dearest,” the duchess said.
“How did you find Madam Rochelle’s? That gown certainly becomes
you. Did Penny help you choose the color? She has such glorious
taste in fabrics. I hope you did not choose all your outfits from
Madame Rochelle, as I know my own modiste would love to create
something for you.”

Fiona ate her soup while Lady Joanna talked,
and talked, and talked. Fiona answered her new mother-in-law’s
questions about her shopping excursion, grateful she didn’t pose
any about her and Robert. She had no idea how she would answer.

During the fish course Lady Joanna said,
“Forgive me for raising the idea of a family dinner party this
morning. ‘Twas my first reaction to want to introduce you to the
rest of the family. Of course, now that you are Robert’s wife, I’m
sure you shall be writing your own invitations.”

“Lady Cantin, I should like it if you would
forgive me. It is not that I did not want to have a dinner party,
only that I had nothing suitable to wear. I do not wish to
embarrass my husband or you, upon meeting the rest of the family.
I’m afraid I am like the contents of this plate, a fish out of
water.”

“Nonsense, my dear, you are charming and
beautiful. My daughters will love you on the spot. Perhaps if you
wish, I could invite them on the morrow for a small breakfast. It
would be easier meeting them without their husbands, or the
occasion of a dinner. Breakfast is much more relaxing, do you not
think so?”

“Yes, Lady Cantin, I think breakfast would be
lovely for a first meeting. Thank you.”

“Dearest, please, you must call me Mother.
I’ll not have you addressing me as Lady Cantin, or Lady Joanna. We
are family now.”

Mother. It had been so long since she had
said the word. Her throat closed and Fiona batted her eyelashes to
keep the unbidden tears from falling.

“Oh, no. I have upset you.” Lady Joanna’s
hand reached for hers across the table. “Robert told me of your
mother’s accident, dearest. If it is too painful for you to think
of me as your mother, then by all means, Joanna will do quite
nicely.”

Fiona squeezed her mother-in-law’s fingers.
“You are too kind. Perhaps after I find my way through the next
weeks I will come up with something suitable. I am so overwhelmed
with all that has happened. It is not every day a girl is swept off
her feet in such a manner.” That much was true. Fiona was having
trouble processing the fact she lived in London now, married to the
Duke of Cantin. Once it was made known at the modiste and milliner
shops who she was, Fiona had never seen such bowing and scraping in
all her life. Penny assured her, she would be known all over Town
within a matter of hours.

“Whatever you wish to call me would be fine,”
Lady Joanna said. “Not to change the subject, but have you given
thought to a lady’s maid? You shall need one now. And we must
introduce you to the staff. You will take my place now as mistress
of Cantin House.”

“No. Please, I beg you. Do not leave,” Fiona
gushed. “I have no idea what to do. This is all so new to me. I do
not wish to embarrass Lord Cantin, and….” Fiona stopped, horrified
at what she had exposed. She and Robert were supposed to be a
loving couple. Would Lady Joanna take the referral to her husband’s
title as a newlywed’s inexperience?

“Fiona,” Lady Joanna said in a serious tone.
“I shall teach you all there is to know about being a duke’s wife.
‘Tis a bit complicated at first, but once you have given your first
dinner party, there is nothing to it.” Her voice lessened to a
whisper. “Truthfully, the servants do all the work. You just tell
them what you would like.”

Fiona smiled. She liked her new mother-in-law
very much.

They finished with luncheon, and Robert’s
mother introduced her to the servants. She was appointed a lady’s
maid from one of the upstairs maids for the time being. The girl,
Merry, was thrilled with the prospect.

Lady Joanna took her for a tour around the
mansion, and then showed her to her rooms.

“I know what an exhausting day you have had,
my dear. You should rest, perhaps sleep. I’m sure Robert will not
be back until dinner, which is at seven o’clock. We will not be so
formal this evening, so whichever frock you choose to wear will be
fine. Merry will be there to help you, she is a good girl, and will
answer any questions you may have.” Her mother-in-law kissed her
cheek. “I shall see you at dinner then.”