The Fraudulent Duchess | ONC 2022

Chapter Eight | The Duke and Duchess of Bedford

     A few days after the ball, the Duke of Bedford arrived at the Winton Estate and asked me to tea. He said that in case we had to go to more events together, we ought to know each other better. When Lady Gwendoline heard of his plan, she was eager to help. She organized tea in her sitting room and promised to keep guard outside so nobody would walk in.
"Gwen is being more helpful than I expected," the Duke chuckled.
"She wants your plan to succeed," I replied. "It seems that she cares about you."
"Well, I have known her since she was a child. Once Ernest and I finished university, I spent almost as much time here as I did at my own estate."
I nodded. All the servants knew that the Duke of Bedford was Lord Winton's closest friend. When he came to the house, the butler did not have to go check with Lord Winton to see if he was in the schedule; he was always welcome. The housekeeper had to have a room prepared at all times in case he wanted to spend the night. The cook had to keep food aside each night in case the Duke showed up at the last minute to stay for dinner. He was an honorary inhabitant at the Winton Estate.
"Can I ask you a question?" I requested.
"Yes, of course," the Duke replied.
"If I had not overheard your conversation with Lord Winton. The one in the library; what would you have done?"
He shrugged, "I am not sure. I suppose I would have found someone who would be willing to pretend to marry me. I am not entirely sure if I would have succeeded. So I might have sold the house."
"I am sorry to hear that."
"Well, there is no use dwelling on that. I am extremely grateful that you agreed to my plan. I know that it is daft and risky."
"I am happy to help."
The Duke smiled and began to pour the tea into the cups. I selected a pastry off the tray and began to nibble on it. We were silent for a few minutes. I did not know what to say.
"I lost my father too," I informed suddenly, still thinking about the conversation I had with Lord Winton in the ballroom.
"Oh?" The Duke inquired, looking up from his teacup. "I am sorry to hear that, Susan."
"It was quite a few years ago. He was sick for a while."
"That does not make it easier. Losing someone; especially a loved one, is never easy."
I nodded.
"My father was sick as well," the Duke said. "Well, I am not sure if you would call it a sickness. But he got intoxicated...I suppose he drank too much."
"I am sorry to hear that, that must have been incredibly hard for you," I said, finally able to voice what I wanted to say since Lord Winton told me about the previous Duke of Bedford.
"It was. When I heard how he died, I could not believe it. I did not realize that one could die from that. From that day, I swore off alcohol. I have not had a single drop since the day he passed."
"Is that why you snapped at the Dowager Duchess?"
For a moment, I saw his usual sunny demeanour disappear, and I feared that I said too much. However it was replaced by sadness, but he still seemed approachable.
"Yes," the Duke nodded. "Aunt Adelaide knows me well. I may not see her often, but I have seen her over the past eight years. She knows that I do not drink, and she knows why."
"I am sorry that you were so upset," I replied.
"No, I am sorry that I was rude to you in the carriage. I should have told you the truth that night. It was unfair of me to take my frustration out on you."
"It is all right."
"No, it is not. It was not right of me to behave like that."
"You do not owe me anything. You can tell me whatever you like."
I was glad that he shared the truth about his father since it explained his behaviour that evening. However, I did not feel the need to know everything about the Duke. We were not actually husband and wife. Soon our act would be over, and I would never need to speak to him again. Except for if I ran into him while he visited the Winton Estate.
"That is not true," the Duke said. "You are doing so much for me. The least I can do is be honest."
"You can tell me as much or as little as you wish," I assured. "I do not mind. This is not a real marriage; you do not have to be completely honest. According to Lady Gwendoline, even real marriages do not involve complete honesty."
"Gwen reads too much."
I laughed. While I appreciated Lady Gwendoline's knowledge, she did read all the time. Every time I saw her she was either reading or annoyed that she was not reading.
"I never wish to be in a real marriage," the Duke declared.
"Why not?" I replied.
"When my mother passed away...she had also been sick. I cannot remember her healthy. She was always pale and lying in bed..."
"I am sorry to hear that."
The Duke shrugged, I suppose he was tired of hearing people express their sympathies over the years. "When she passed away, my father was miserable. I can understand his sadness, but he was never happy again. He shut himself in his study most of the day, and I hardly saw him. I tried to be the perfect student, the perfect horseman, anything to get him to notice me. Nothing."
I nodded, not wanting to express my sympathies again. But my heart broke. I could not believe that the Duke was able to be such a nice, friendly person when he had such a sad background.
"I do not want that to happen to me, or my future wife, or my future child," the Duke said. "Marriage would inflict pain at some point. I am not sure if it would be on me, my wife, or my child. But someone would suffer. And I do not want that to happen."
"I understand," I replied. "Marriage is supposed to mean happiness. And for you, it, unfortunately, does not. And you should not feel forced to do something that would make you miserable."
The Duke cracked a smile, "Thank you for your understanding, Susan. You have no idea how much I appreciate that."
"Of course. But, can I ask you...what would happen to your estate?"
"I have cousins. I have not seen them in many years, but they are decent blokes. I do not mind if one of them becomes the next Duke of Bedford."
I nodded again. It seemed that he had worked everything out. It was heartbreaking to hear, but I understood his reasoning. While it may seem daft to some people, I understood his wish to prevent himself from getting hurt. Or even prevent any future loved ones from pain.