Page 43 of My Ruthless Duke
“I beg of you, please do not finish that sentence,” Mary groaned.
Cordelia could not help but laugh. “I just mean to say that maybe he will change his mind about children. Perhaps he was just afraid of the prospect of being a father.”
Eleanor nodded and suppressed a giggle. “It is normal for a man to be a touch apprehensive about such things.”
“It is true, it is always said that a woman becomes a mother when she is pregnant, but a man does not truly feel a father until he holds his child in his arms for the first time. Trust me, Rhysand was like that,” Penelope assured her.
Cordelia nodded, hoping that maybe that would be the case but she was not entirely certain.
“I have always desired a large family of my own, and I know that if he allows himself to be, he would be a wonderful father,” Cordelia explained absently as she accepted another cup of tea.
“Do you truly feel that way?” Marina asked gently.
Cordelia’s brow furrowed. “Why do you ask?”
“Well,” Eleanor paused, glancing around at the other women as if looking for their support. “I do not mean to be crass or anything, but we have heard his reputation, same as you. We are well aware that he harmed his own father… so maybe…”
Cordelia’s eyes widened at the same time that Mary’s narrowed.
Before her sister-in-law had a chance to speak, Cordelia answered. “I understand your concern, truly, I do, but that is all a misunderstanding. Things are not like that, not exactly.”
Her friends did not look convinced. She wondered if she would have been if the positions were reversed. It was only natural for her to defend her husband. But Cordelia loved him, and she wanted her friends to see the side of him that she knew and loved. Like herself, they likely just needed to spend a little bit more time with him.
“A… misunderstanding that resulted in–” Penelope started, but a loud crash of the greenhouse doors interrupted their conversation.
Cordelia’s mother stood at the entrance to the greenhouse with her arms stretched over her head and a bright smile on her face.
When had she arrived?
The doors banged shut behind her, and Cordelia internally winced at the thought of the new glass panels being broken from her mother’s erratic motions. Even from across the greenhouse,she could see the ruddy color of her mother’s cheeks and the red tint to her chest.
“I see you started without me!” Lavinia said loudly, her hands lifting over her head as she dramatically waved to them all. “But I am here now!”
“Excuse me, ladies, this will only take a moment.” Cordelia hurried over to her mother, second-hand embarrassment flushing through her. “Mama, what are you doing here?”
“My daughter is having a tea gathering, and you thought that I would miss it?” Lavinia giggled and reached between them to pinch Cordelia’s nose between her fingers with a wet giggle.
“How did you even know about it?”
“Do… does my daughter not want me here?” Lavinia spoke with her voice raising with every word as she dramatically started to pout.
“That is not what I said, of course, I am happy that you are here, Mama,” Cordelia answered, looking back over her shoulder for Matilde, who was at her side quickly.
“What are we gossiping about, ladies?” Lavinia shrugged out of Cordelia’s hold and moved toward the table, her eyes narrowing as she was no doubt looking for wine. Lavinia seemed unable to even stay on her feet properly as she swayed this way and that.“Men? You have to be careful… most men are pigs. My husband was a pig. That is why he left me all alone.”
Lavinia staggered over to the seat Cordelia had abandoned and sat in it.
“You must all listen to me; I know what I am speaking about,” Lavinia said in a sage voice as she helped herself to whatever she wanted on all of the ladies’ plates. “My husband left me all alone. Your husbands will leave you all alone, too. That is simply what men do. You cannot trust them!”
Cordelia wanted to cry.
Matilde squeezed her hand and took over the situation gently. “My lady? I believe that you were wanted in the parlor. Come, I shall assist you.”
“Hm? Wanted? Oh, you… yes…” Lavinia said as she pushed another sandwich in her mouth before allowing Matilde to escort her back into the house.
Cordelia could have melted right into the floor.
Matilde wrapped a supportive arm around Lavinia, guiding her back toward the door—but Lavinia stopped beside her daughter. There was something that Cordelia could only read as remorse on her features as Lavinia frowned.