At this moment, a valet in the drawing-room, who was waiting outside the library of the castle, opened the two doors of the library lightly, saluted the two nobles respectfully, and said, "Your Highness, Your Excellency, the Duchess of Richmond is here. ”

Mary Fitzroy, a 20-year-old Duchess of Richmond, walked into the library with her head held high with two valets dressed in a duchess-style bodysuit. Since Mary is now the Duchess of Richmond, the Earl of Surrey, as the elder brother, still salutes his sister Mary in the hierarchical Norfolk family.

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, stood up from his chair with the courtesy smile of the aristocracy in public on his face, and stepped forward to greet his sister: "Good day, Duchess." ”

Mary's husband, the Duke of Richmond, did not look at her, and stood up in the long Gothic chair, and did not mean to greet her. Mary looked at her brother without squinting and smiled, "Good day, Lord Surrey." ”

When the brother and sister salute each other as if in public, they kiss each other like brother and sister. At the end of the salute, the Duchess came to her husband and greeted her gracefully: "Good day, Your Royal Highness the Duke." ”

The Duke of Richmond looked at his wife, who had been married to him for nearly 4 years, and he felt that his wife's appearance had not changed much from when she got married, and there seemed to be a little more duchess's stability, ability and maturity on that young face. Looking at the delicate tight-fitting dress, the moon-shaped hood and the long hair coiled behind her head, she couldn't find the slightest fault with her body.

After his wife saluted him, the Duke of Richmond returned the salute politely. Then, the two kissed each other on the face. A relative's smile appeared on the Earl of Surrey's face: "Mary, so eager to see your husband?" ”

The Duchess did not blush, nor rebuked her brother for his verbal rudeness. It's just that he smiled indifferently: "Today is the first time that His Royal Highness the Duke has come to the Norfolk family's castle since he married me. Therefore, as a member of the Norfolk family, I should express my gratitude to His Royal Highness the Duke for coming. ”

"Well, that's right. Your Highness, Duchess, please be seated. "The Earl of Surrey gave way to his brother-in-law and sister.

After Henry Fitzroy sat down, Mary stood reserved and looked at him: "Your Highness, may I sit next to you?" ”

"Yes, ma'am, please be seated." The Duke of Richmond showed the respect of the nobility for aristocratic women.

When Mary was seated, two valets stood behind her. Mary turned her head and ordered, "You guys go out first, there are no outsiders here, it's all my family." ”

The living room manservant gently closed the two wooden doors of the library after the two valet maids left. Mary, who was seated, kept her upper body straight and said politely, "Henry, don't interrupt your conversation with Your Highness because of me. ”

Mary's brother glanced at the Duke of Richmond beside her sister: "Mary, just now I talked to His Highness about His Highness's heir. It just so happens that you are also here, you can tell us what you think. ”

"Heir? Your Highness, would you like to come and live in the South? Mary turned her gaze to her husband beside her.

The wife, who had legal status and rights in the eyes of the kingdom, was beside him, but the Duke of Richmond could not find the slightest sense of being a husband. After hearing his wife's words, he just smiled a little awkwardly: "Madam, at present, I can't come to the south because of the duties of the Northern Committee, to be exact, Windsor Manor lives. ”

"Your Highness, you are now a Duke with a family and a wife. While the duties of the Northern Council are vested in you by His Majesty, you are also expected to perform the duties of head and husband to your family and your wife. ”

Mary Fitzroy, young and independent, speaks in a calm atmosphere. Although her husband, the Duke of Richmond, had been separated from her for nearly four years, she still subconsciously maintained her youth, like a husband on a wild horse.

The Duke had no choice but to smile: "Madam, I am well aware of the duties of parents and husbands. However, all men and things must obey His Majesty's decrees. ”

"What if His Majesty is willing to change his mind?"

"Good idea. Henry, if you could serve in the court, wouldn't you be able to live with Mary? The Earl of Surrey said to his sister with great pleasure.

The Duke of Richmond picked up his glass and got up from his seat, walked to the beautifully decorated fireplace, and turned to look at the brother and sister: "Come to the court?" Maybe it's a way. However, I still like to stay in the north. ”

The problem before him and his wife is now clear. Mary wanted the Duke of Richmond to live with her and form a truly aristocratic family. The Duke of Richmond, however, chose to remain in the North for some other reason.

The Duchess looked silently at her husband, who was standing by the fireplace, and for a moment she thought of Isabel Walton, whom she had seen after the wedding a few years earlier. There was still no change in her delicate face, but there was obviously a hint of contempt in her tone: "Your Highness, I can't let Your Majesty change his trust in you. So, I think one of the reasons why you still want to stay in the North is because Miss Isabel is from a family of knights in the North, right? ”

His wife's words seemed to poke at the Duke of Richmond's sore spot, and the Duke gave his wife a cold look: "Mary, do you still have a different opinion of Miss Isabel to this day?" ”

"Your Highness, after all these years, I think my opinion of Miss Isabel has changed a little. Especially after Frances told me about some of her experiences. ”

The Duke of Richmond nodded with some satisfaction: "Mary, Miss Isabel is also only doing her duty for the most part. Did Frances tell you that she was acting as the superintendent of my territory? ”

Mary stood up and walked to the bookshelf on the side of the fireplace, keeping the demeanor of a duchess: "Yes, I am grateful for the trust that Mrs. Surrey has placed in me. After all, Miss Isabel became the godmother of Lady Surrey's children simply by virtue of being the knight's daughter. ”

The Earl of Surrey looked at the two men and couldn't help but think of how he had just lived with Frances. At this time, Mary threw out a decision that surprised him and the Duke of Richmond: "Your Highness, after the feast date of the Ascension is over, I have decided to return to the north with you. ”

The Duke of Richmond couldn't believe her words, and said cautiously: "Mary, the society in the north is different from here, and the peaceful southern countryside is the right place for you to live." ”