Lord Thomas and his bride (The Duke's Brothers Book 3) by Fiona Miers (smallest ebook reader .TXT) 📗

are not the master of me or my life, and I will not obey you. If that means I will be ridiculed and treated as an outsider or outcast, then so be it, but you will not control me.”

“What is your price?”

“Excuse me?” Rebecca asked incredulously.

“What is your price to leave my son alone? To forget him and never be a part of his life again.”

“You cannot buy off my feelings for your son, Your Grace,” Rebecca said.

She was growing more outraged by the audacity of the Dowager Duchess as the seconds ticked by. There was no amount of money that would possibly make her agree to leave Thomas and never contact with him again.

Thomas meant too much to her, and she was most certainly not going to give in to the Dowager Duchess’ demands. She did not care that her reputation would be tarnished. She refused to allow anyone – regardless of status or title – to bully and control her.

“There are no feelings in your heart for Thomas apart from greed. At this stage, I am willing to pay you whatever amount it is that you desire to leave my son alone. I do not want you in his life, ever again. You are not good enough for my son. He deserves someone better.”

“And by better you mean, more titled, more refined, more obedient to your wishes,” Rebecca said with a bitter edge to her tone.

“Your words, not mine, dear.”

“How dare you!” Rebecca said, placing her hands angrily on her hips. Her voice was loud and angry as it echoed through the bedchamber just as the door opened.

Rebecca turned and stared directly at Thomas, who returned her gaze with wide eyes and a perplexed expression on his face.

Chapter Nine.

Thomas was taken aback by the scene before him. So much so, that he took a step back. When he’d entered his mother’s bedchambers, he was well aware that they may be engaged in a heated conversation, but he didn’t imagine the two women would be staring angrily at one another.

His mother’s face was crimson and her eyes were angry and narrowed. Even Rebecca’s beautiful face was drawn, and the tension inside the room was palpable. Whatever his mother had chosen to say or do to Rebecca had clearly offended her.

The Dowager Duchess seemed ruffled at the sight of Thomas, as though she felt guilty about something, and she stepped back.

As much Thomas wished to address the tension in the room, he chose to ignore it and approached the bed. “You ought to be resting, Mother,” he said as he plumped the pillows on her bed, motioning to her to resume her previous resting spot.

His mother nodded quietly and climbed back into bed. Thomas neatly placed the blanket over her lower body and tucked it in at her sides. He noticed her eyes narrow when she saw Judith carrying a tray with the large teapot containing the chocolate drink, as well as three large cups. To add insult to injury, Judith had ensured that the drinks were served from the Dowager Duchess’ best server set.

Thomas had expected his mother to express her disapproval for a multitude of things, but she showed no sign of responding to the situation.

“Judith, please serve the beverages. My mother must be parched, as we all are, no doubt,” Thomas said.

A momentary hint of a grin formed on Judith’s lips, and vanished all the same as she poured the drink into the cups, handing them to the Dowager Duchess then Rebecca, and lastly to Thomas.

“This is my famous warm chocolate drink. Apparently, I am the only one who is able to make it according to my mother’s taste,” Thomas said, continuing as though nothing was wrong.

He was well aware that his mother would snap and admonish him eventually, but until then, he relished in seeing how much discomfort he caused her.

It may be cruel, but since his mother had clearly made Rebecca upset, perhaps it was not as cruel as it seemed.

“Taste it.”

Rebecca smiled tightly, brought the cup up to her mouth and slowly sipped the drink. Thomas waited in anticipation and raised his brows expectantly.

“That is lovely. What is in it?” she asked.

“Only the finest chocolate tablets and a few more ingredients I cannot mention,” he said with a sly grin. “It is my secret recipe, after all.”

“You truly made this?” she asked, and Thomas nodded.

“Does that surprise you?” he asked.

“Not in the least. I have learned that there is more to a person than their outward appearance,” Rebecca said, and Thomas was unable to ignore the subtle tone in her voice directed at his mother.

A knock on the door sounded and before the Dowager Duchess was able to respond, Thomas said, “You may enter.”

As the door opened, the disapproval on the Dowager Duchess’ face increased ten-fold, and her lips pursed into a thin line on her face.

A maidservant entered the bedchambers with a large tray of baked bread, fresh butter, and homemade jam. The sweet aroma filled the chamber and it even invoked a smile on Rebecca’s pale face.

“Thank you,” Thomas said to the maidservant, who nodded in return and quietly left again. “Would you care for some brioche, Rebecca? It is freshly baked and goes wonderfully with the jam.”

“Thank you, Thomas. It certainly smells lovely,” she said with a smile.

While he and Rebecca exchanged pleasantries and discussed the delicious food, he remained conscious of his mother’s movements and expressions. It still surprised him that she had not uttered a single word to either him or Rebecca since he’d entered the room, and he wondered how long she would be able to keep herself quiet.

“Are you enjoying your drink, Mother?” Thomas asked nonchalantly. “I hope you do not mind that I asked the maidservants to serve lunch in your chambers. I, for one, have not yet eaten and am quite famished. We would also not wish for our guest to go hungry, would we?”

“As a matter of fact, I do mind,” the