Page 24 of The Duchess He Couldn’t Resist

Marigold took from Alfred the envelope that accompanied the box. She opened it, and there was a handwritten note.

“I am quite sure I got your measurements right. For tomorrow. B.R.”

While her mother was losing her mind over the luxurious box, she read the short note again and again. She was both shy and giddy because there was an open challenge in the way he said he got her measurements right after they had been really close.

“Let’s open it!” her mother said, ready to rip the ribbon open.

But this was the personal gift that the Duke had chosen for her, and she was not going to allow her mother to take this moment away from her. So very lightly, she stood before the big table and grabbed the ribbon that her mother was ready to undo. She opened the box, and her jaw almost dropped. She didn’t even dare touch the dress.

Without taking it out, she could see that it was made from silver-white silk. It had soft pearl embroidery of winding floral designs with hand-sewn detailing. The skirt had layers of gauze, and Marigold instantly fell in love with the moonlight tones that suited her more than pure white. Her mind resonated how this all started in the middle of the night.

With trembling hands, she took the dress out of the box, and its beauty unraveled instantly. It was by far the most beautiful thing that she had ever seen, let alone owned. She knew that this was part of the performance, showing the world that the Duke was truly in love with her, dressing her in such an exquisite gown. But still, of all the things that he could have chosen, he had ordered something perfectly fit for her.

“There is nothing else in here!” Claire’s voice cut through the moment. “Except for the wedding slippers.”

Marigold turned and saw that the dress had matching slippers made from the same silk fabric and pearls. A smile bloomed on her face. It wasn’t that she had any jewels to speak of or that she had ever dreamed she would, but pearls were her favorite.

“Surely this must be a mistake,” Claire said viciously. “Where is my gown?”

Marigold frowned upon hearing this demand. The groom was sometimes expected to gift his bride with her wedding gown, but why would he do so for his mother-in-law?

She decided to ignore her mother and enjoy the feel of the expensive lace through her fingers, letting them trace the pearls.

“I should have expected this quality from a duke who would marry someone like you,” Claire hissed.

Marigold looked upon her, clutching the precious gown against her chest as if she expected her own mother to snatch it from her.

“He’s such an uncultivated brute.”

“Mother!” Marigold protested.

It was one thing to hear her insult Marigold and another to hear such words spoken about the Duke.

“Am I not speaking the truth?” her mother demanded. “At every turn, he is determined to insult me, his own mother-in-law.”

“It seems to me that you haven’t realized what he has done for us,” Marigold said curtly and unforgivingly. “Perhaps I should remind you how he paid off our debts and also paid the fare for my cousin to come back and take his rightful place and protect us. If anything, you should be grateful. In the future, I would be very mindful, if I were you, regarding the Duke.”

Marigold saw Claire’s blood rise in real time. Her mother exhaled deeply through her nose like some mythical beast, lips puckered as she prepared to spew some insult. Year after year, Marigold had watched her mother’s face put on this cruel mask every time she was preparing to attack, and her only defense was to ignore everything that came out of her mouth.

But this time, it was as if the silk gown held magical powers that infused her with the bravery she needed to cut her mother off before she spat her venom. Marigold abandoned her crouching posture and rose to her full height, almost one head taller than her mother. That shift alone took her mother by surprise, and for one precious moment, her mouth gaped open. That was all that Marigold needed.

“It seems to me that you didn’t take my advice,” Marigold said, “so this is a fine opportunity to inform you that all the dreams you have made of living in Verdant House and taking advantage of the vast fortune of the Duke were nothing but dreams.”

Claire stood stricken with disbelief. It was true that this might have been the first time Marigold had spoken to her with such determination.

“I heard your advice, Marigold, and I return it tenfold,” her mother said, finding her cruel self once more since it was her true nature. “Need I remind you who you are talking to? I am your mother.”

“And the Duke is about to be my husband, my family.”

“I am your family!”

“Not after I become a duchess.”

“Nothing changes the fact that I gave birth to you. You cannot get rid of me that easily.”

Marigold realized that sometimes her mother was like a leech holding on to her body, sucking her blood. The Duke’s words came forth when he asked her what she really wanted, encouraging her to be herself, recognizing that she was not some defenseless girl.

“You’re not coming to live with us in Verdant House,” Marigold announced with conviction.