Page 28 of My Beastly Duke
“Were you planning on wearing your scarf this morning, Your Grace?” Isolde made her way toward the garment and picked it up.
Thinking quickly, Marina bit her lips, praying that she would not blush. “Yes, I am afraid I got a bit carried away last night when I was going through my dresses.” Images of Aaron’s body flashed across her mind in a dirty flurry.
Isolde did not seem to think anything strange as she carried the scarf back to the dresser before folding it neatly.
Feeling as if she had dodged a bullet, Marina decided to change the subject. “Isolde, do you know His Grace’s brother, Mr. Adam Marner?”
The maid frowned at the strange question, busying herself with her back to Marina before responding. “Of course, Your Grace. Mr. Marner used to live here when I first started as a maid.”
“Good, I have only met him briefly, once before we were supposed to get married, and once after I married the duke. What can you tell me of his character and the relationship with His Grace?” Marina swung her legs from the bed and flung the sheets aside, not caring that she was naked. Isolde had seen her naked so many times when she bathed that it hardly mattered at present.
Isolde seemed thoughtful for a moment before turning around and fetching the robe. “I am afraid that it would not be proper for me to venture an opinion on either of those questions, Your Grace.” She held the robe out to Marina as she stood and slipped her arms in.
Now she wants to be proper.
Marina felt a wave of frustration come over her. The girl had ventured far worse opinions over subjects that did not concern her even in the slightest. Yet the relationship between Aaron and his brother was off-limits. “You do not have to give me your opinion, Isolde. I was just wondering if you knew about their falling out?”
“I can’t say that I do, Your Grace. Both His Grace and Mr. Marner are very private men. They like to keep their affairs to themselves.” She seemed a little stiffer than any of the previous times when the girl had let her mouth run away with her.
“Really? Mr. Marner does not strike me as the kind of man who keeps too many of his affairs private. I heard rumors of his rakish ways even before we were to get married.” Aaron was by nature a very private and brooding man, yet the image was hard to place upon Adam.
The maid pursed her lips into a stiff smile. “That is why I said, Your Grace, that I could not venture an opinion. I am but a maid, these kinds of things are not for the likes of me. Servants like to gossip, but I have always been a bit of a pariah in this house.”
Marina examined her face closely before taking a seat in front of her mirror. Isolde was right in a way; she was far too much of an outcast among the other servants because of her lack of propriety. If there was any gossip, then she was sure that none of them would have shared it with Isolde. “I suppose you are right, I just wanted to know a bit more about the man I married.”
The girl’s body seemed to relax a bit as she came up behind Marina and began to fix her hair. “That is only natural, Your Grace.”
A sudden idea occurred to her as she watched the girl fixing her hair. “I know, I think I should invite Mr. Marner to stay with us for a while, perhaps I can mend the fences between them.”
Isolde gasped as she dropped the brush on the carpet before mumbling something about being too clumsy and retrieving the brush.
“What do you think of the idea?” Marina asked her gently when she came up straight.
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace?” She went back to combing a loose strand of hair.
“I want to invite His Grace’s brother over to stay for a while. It may just be the thing to heal their broken relationship if they are forced to spend more time together.”
Taking a deep breath, Isolde forced a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. “I can understand why you would think that, Your Grace, but it may not be the best of ideas. Although I do not know too much about the relationship between His Grace and Mr. Marner, I do know that their competitiveness reached a dangerous point. Mr. Marner has not stayed here at the mansion since the passing of the late duke.”
Her words struck a chord with Marina as she wondered what had happened. She knew that Aaron’s scars had come from a battle, he had said as much. Yet she could not understand why he would be willing to talk about that, and not the situation with his brother.
“Be that as it may, I think that having someone like me to intervene, they may be able to place their differences aside.” She offered her maid a reassuring nod in the mirror.
“As you say, Your Grace. One never knows what may happen. I am sure that Mr. Marner would appreciate an invitation either way.” She finished trying Marina’s hair in a bow and proceeded to fetch her garments from the dresser.
I think it is a very good idea. Perhaps it is his bad relationship with his brother that does not let Aaron be happy.
She began to make plans for all the ways that she would throw her husband and his brother together. She would have all three of them eat together for every meal, whether Aaron approved of it or not.
Surely, there was no way that her plan could fail.
“What are you doing here?” Aaron glared at his brother over breakfast the following day.
“I received an invitation from your lovely wife. Perhaps she has tired of your company.” Adam offered him a triumphant grin before tucking into his kippers.
Turning to Marina, Aaron shot her an expectant look, raising his eyebrow in a question.
Marina quickly came to her feet, pushing her chair aside as she smiled at him. “I thought it might be a nice idea to have yourbrother over for a while. The two of you did seem to enjoy your spirited match of badminton.”