They walked out of the study together. "You are a good son, Devon. I don't know what any of us would do without you. We'd never manage."
"You would manage just fine," he assured him, wondering for the first time if they really would.
Rebecca strolled around the conservatory with the duchess and the other ladies, working hard to hide her troubles from them, while they examined the rare orchids and the many indigenous plants and flowers. It was a well-known fact that the duke had a passion for horticulture, and his commitment was more than evident in this enormous, lush, green, sweet-smelling conservatory.
"But what of the Italian Gardens?" Aunt Grace asked, as they wandered leisurely around the bubbling stone fountain.
"Yes, what does he intend to do with the garden?" Mrs. Quinlan asked. "It must be something marvelous. A complete transformation I expect."
The duchess strolled ahead of them. "It's his well-guarded secret, I'm afraid. But I believe he means to…" She paused, as if taking the time to choose her words with great care. "I believe he means to take England by storm."
The ladies expressed their fascination with bright smiles and flattering comments.
"If anyone can accomplish that," Mrs. Quinlan said, "it is your husband, the duke. He is a true genius when it comes to the beauty of flowers and all things that come from the ground."
"His mind is indeed a mystery to me," Her Grace replied.
While the ladies moved on, Rebecca took her time bringing up the rear, strolling at her own pace to look at the plants and flowers, for she needed time to think about what had happened that morning.
Not only was she devastated that her husband was displeased with her and she had lost his trust, but she could not stop thinking about her father. He had not wished to see her that morning. Was he so very angry with her for her defiance? Were they now permanently estranged?
She stopped and touched the leaves of a red ginger plant. With a painful rush of grief, she recalled the many dark nights as a child when she had been frightened by the wind outside rattling her windowpanes. She would call out to her father, and he would always come. He would tuck her back into bed and sit in the chair by the window until she fell asleep again. Sometimes she would wake up in the morning, and he would still be there, curled up and snoring.
She'd been a little girl without a mother, but she had never felt abandoned. She had loved her father dearly in those days, and now her heart ached over what had become of their relationship. He had changed so much over the years. His illness and pain had caused him to recoil inside himself. He had become a stranger to her.
She worried suddenly about him having to face Mr. Rushton and deliver the news that she was married to another man. Mr. Rushton would not be pleased, that was certain. But surely, once he learned that she had married the Marquess of Hawthorne, he would withdraw and leave her father alone, for he could never imagine he was any match for her new husband.
Or perhaps it would play out differently. Perhaps, knowing that he was now connected to a very powerful family, her father would find the courage to show some grit and stand up to Mr. Rushton. How she longed for him to be a man of strength and integrity-for his own sake and happiness, as well as hers, for he still had to live near that horrible man.
"Rebecca," the duchess said, stopping ahead to wait for her.
Rebecca realized she had fallen behind the others, who were already making their way past the jungle of Mediterranean palms and up the stone steps that led out of the conservatory and back to the main part of the house.
"Are you all right?" the duchess asked. "You seem distracted."
Rebecca's first instinct was to smile brightly and say she was fine, but as soon as she looked into her mother-in-law's eyes, she found herself quite unable to lie.
The duchess linked her arm through Rebecca's. "Come and walk with me," she said. "I think it's time we got to know each other better."
They walked to the door at the opposite end of the conservatory which led outside to the South Garden and the Arboretum beyond. "Let's walk to the maze," she suggested. "With all the rain, you haven't had a chance to see it yet, have you?"
"I've seen very little of the estate, Your Grace. But I'm looking forward to exploring, as I enjoy the outdoors."
"Devon does as well. You are a good match."
Rebecca was quiet for a moment. "I hope so."
"You're having doubts?" the duchess asked, though it seemed she already knew the answer and had even been anticipating it.
"I confess I am."
They walked down a stone path toward a rose arbor. "Was it something that my son said or did?" the duchess asked. "Or is it just a general feeling in your heart which you cannot explain?"
Rebecca sighed. "It is both, but I suppose this kind of thing is to be expected, considering how quickly we were wed. Perhaps we should have taken more time to get to know each other."
Her mother-in-law squeezed her arm. "May I ask, did he put pressure on you to marry quickly?"
"No. If anything, I was the one in a hurry."
They stopped on the path and faced each other. "I am surprised," the duchess said.
"I truly was not even aware that Devon was searching for a wife," Rebecca explained, "because I was too wrapped up in my own wishes and desires. I feel rather ashamed of myself, as a matter of fact."
Her mother-in-law inclined her head. "What do you mean?"
They began walking again, slowly, side by side. "I almost do not want to tell you, because I do not want you to think badly of me. I hold you in the highest regard, Your Grace."
The duchess gave her a warm smile. "First of all, you must no longer address me as Your Grace. We are family now, Rebecca, so call me Adelaide. Second, I could never think badly of you. You are simply a woman who is in love with my son. Don't look so surprised. It's as obvious as the nose on your face. I would never have supported the marriage if I didn't believe that."
Feeling some relief, Rebecca nodded at Adelaide. "I do adore him. I fell in love with him the first time I met him when he helped my father and me on the road four years ago."
"We've all heard the story of his daring rescue, so rest assured, I applaud you for your efficiency in winning his heart. You must have said and done all the right things."
Rebecca thought of the diary she had read aloud to him, winced slightly at her scandalous tactics, and of course chose not to mention it to her mother-in-law.
"There is more to it than you know," she said to Adelaide, "which is why I was distracted just now. I am afraid Devon is unhappy with me today."
"Why?"
"As I said, I was in a desperate hurry to become his wife-but not just because I adored him. I've adored him for years from afar without ever once leaving my father's home to do anything about it. Until now, when I was forced to take action."
"Forced?"
"Yes. My father had promised me in marriage to someone else."
The duchess stopped abruptly. "I presume you did not love this man."
"No, I did not."
"Was it a very advantageous match?"
"Only for the man in question," Rebecca replied. "He is wealthy and owns property, but he is not a member of the aristocracy. His father was once a successful merchant in West London, but from what I understand, he lost everything in a gamble. His son has been working his entire life not just to regain their social position, but to surpass it. Which is why he wanted me."
They arrived at the maze.
"So that is why you came here hoping to marry my son, and why you were in such a hurry?"
"Yes." Rebecca accompanied her mother-in-law into the gravel path between the hedges. "The problem is that I did not disclose this to Devon, and he found out today when my father arrived looking for me."