Chapter 6

Rey spent the time remaining before the designer arrived reading her new book. Unfortunately her mind kept wandering over her conversations with Ren. She puzzled over his motivations, finding no rhyme or reason for his actions thus far. That he had lived a privileged life was evident in his manner and speech towards those beneath him, and yet he had chosen her seemingly out of the clear blue sky, a woman well below his station. She did not know precisely why it continued to eat at her, but she felt certain that solving this puzzle would decide the future happiness of their marriage one way or another. Shaking herself she tried again to concentrate on the words before her. She only managed to read half a page, however, before her mind wandered again.

Spending her time in a continuous cycle of reading and mind wandering, she started when there was a knock at the door. The butler, Mr. Mitaka, entered to inform her that the designer was waiting for her in the drawing room. Sighing, she marked her place in her book and followed the butler down the stairs and into the drawing room. The designer bowed as she sat in a chair, almost immediately overwhelming her with his questions and ideas for the room.

Deciding it best to swallow her pride, Rey finally interrupted the man to inform him that she was completely out of her element when it came to the latest style. He had stared for a moment and then smiled at her, delighted to introduce her to the world of interior decorating. He started over, asking what colors she favored, whether she enjoyed patterns, and which fabrics she preferred. Answering these simple questions Rey felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. It was a great joy to find a person whom took her ignorance in stride and did not make her feel small for it. In fact, he seemed to find a great deal of joy in discussing matters with her. After well over an hour, having received answers to his questions, he promised to return again with several drawings to help her narrow down how she would like to proceed. Rey thanked the man for being so gracious. He merely bowed as he left and said it was his pleasure.

Shortly after, Beatrice arrived to inform her it was time to prepare for dinner. Rey glanced at the clock, shocked to find so much time had passed. Arriving back in her room, Rey allowed Beatrice to dress her in a royal blue gown with a black sash and ruffled detailing along the bottom. Sitting at her vanity while the maid curled and styled her hair, Rey studied her reflection. Considering it would be only herself and Ren dining, Rey felt very overdressed, though she had to admit the color looked very nice against her skin.

Rey glanced at Beatrice through the mirror. As the maid was likely to be her constant companion in the coming years, she decided to get to know her better.

"Beatrice," Rey said, shyly, "I've detect a slight accent in your speech. Where are you from?"

Beatrice smiled as she wound a piece Rey's hair around the curling iron. "I was born in Annecy, France, ma'am."

Rey returned her smile. "And how did you end up in our fair country?"

Beatrice pinned a curl into place as she answered. "My former employer, Lady Mon Mothma, wished to have a French maid and the school I attended sent me in answer to her request."

Rey watched her maid through the mirror, noticing sadness in her expression. "Were you close with her?"

Beatrice swallowed, sadness evident in her expression as she pinned another curl. "I suppose I was, inasmuch as a lady's maid can be."

Rey recalled Ren stating her maid's former employer had passed away. "How long were you in her employ?" she asked softly.

"Five years, ma'am."

"Do you miss her?" Rey asked.

Beatrice met Rey's gaze through the mirror. "I do, ma'am."

Rey turned to face the maid. "I'm sure I can never replace her, but I should like it if we became friends."

Beatrice inhaled shakily and nodded. Rey then turned around to let her finish curling and pinning her hair.

Once she was deemed ready by her maid, Rey walked to her door to head down to the dining room. Opening the door, Rey was surprised to find Ren waiting for her. Knots formed in her stomach as she blinked at him in surprise. She had spent much of the afternoon mulling over their previous encounters and now wondered what would await her at their dinner table.

Ren said nothing to her at first, merely inhaling deeply and then exhaling as he looked at her. Though it would appear he had been waiting for her, Rey noted surprise in his expression as his gaze traveled slowly down and then up. Rey felt a blush creep up her neck at his perusal and shifted uncomfortably. He stopped short of looking her in the eyes. Clearing his throat as he averted his gaze, Ren nodded at her and offered his arm.

"I thought I might escort you to dinner."

Rey took a steadying breath and nodded, taking his proffered arm. She was surprised at the jolt that ran through her when he placed her hand in the crook of his arm. Though he had done much the same thing the day prior at their wedding reception, Rey had been in too much of a daze to notice. As they walked towards the staircase she reflected on the fact that it had only been a single day since their wedding. It felt as if a lifetime had passed in the space between her walk down the aisle and her walk down the staircase this evening.

"I hope the pain in your head is no longer troubling you," Ren said as they descended the steps.

"Oh," Rey said, caught off guard and anxiously recalling her reason for claiming a headache. "Yes, I feel much better now."

They walked the remainder of the way in silence, Rey wondering what she was to do about her feelings of unrest towards Ren's disdain for the lower classes. As they entered the dining room, Ren showed her to her seat. As he took his own, Rey stared in front of her, frowning at the place setting with its vast assortment of silverware. The now familiar feeling of panic flared inside her as the first course was set in front of her and she realized she hadn't the faintest idea which of the utensils she was to use. She wondered how she had managed the luncheon the day prior, having no recollection of it now. Glancing surreptitiously over towards her husband she found him watching her.

Swallowing her embarrassment, Rey cleared her throat. "I'm afraid I haven't the slightest idea how to navigate the place setting before me."

The corners of Ren's mouth twitched upwards. "I see it shall be up to me to teach you then."

Rey cocked her head, frowning in confusion when she saw what she was sure was a twinkle of amusement in his eye. But surely he did not find hilarity in her predicament. In fact, Rey was certain the man must never have found amusement in anything, so severe had his manner been around her thus far.

Pressing his mouth into a firm line, Ren pointed to the spoon at the far end of the long line of spoons. Rey straightened and held her head high, wishing to appear as dignified as possible as she dipped the spoon in the bowl and leaned forward slightly to take a sip.

"No."

Rey stopped, the spoon nearly at her mouth. She dropped her hand, looking at her husband in askance. "No?"

"Never draw yourself to the spoon," he said. "Only ever draw the spoon to you." He demonstrated for her, dipping the spoon into the soup bowl and bringing it to his mouth, nary a drop spilled.

Rey's brow furrowed. "If I attempt that I shall drip soup all over this lovely gown." She nodded towards him. "How do you keep it from dripping as you draw it to your mouth?"

He demonstrated again and Rey watched every movement with narrowed eyes, as he dipped the spoon in, expertly dragging it along the edge of the bowl to remove any broth which clung to the bottom before bringing the spoon again to his mouth and tipping the soup in.

As Ren returned the spoon to his soup bowl he nodded towards her in encouragement. Rey swallowed and attempted to replicate his movements. She was successful at avoiding drippings from the bottom of the spoon but when she sipped the soup from the spoon he stopped her again.

"No."

Rey huffed a sigh of irritation, once again setting her spoon down. "Surely eating soup cannot be so complicated."

The corners of Ren's mouth twitched upwards again as he responded, "I'm afraid you'll find a great many things about being a Duchess are complicated." He nodded towards her. "Tip the soup into your mouth. Never slurp it."

Rey gathered a calming breath as she wondered why anyone should have instituted rules on how one ate one's soup. Dipping the spoon into the bowl, she again dragged it along the edge and up to her mouth, tipping it against her lips to pour the meager portion of soup in. When she looked back at Ren, he nodded at her.

"It's a wonder the peerage aren't all skin and bones," Rey said, dipping her spoon again to her bowl.

Ren raised his eyebrows in askance.

"It has taken me nearly five minutes to eat my first spoonful of soup. At this rate I shall be sitting here finishing my dinner come morning."

Ren pressed his lips together, his eyes alight with amusement. "Then I suggested you make haste at attempting your second."

Rey barely held her smile in, marveling that the man before her had responded to her grousing with humor.

As the meal progressed Rey began to rethink her earlier comment. There were so many courses that she now wondered how the members of the peerage weren't all obese. With each new course Rey found her stays digging into her sides.

There had been silence between the pair of them since the first course though, much to Rey's surprise, it hadn't been uncomfortable. She had used the time to think through their previous encounters. The impressions she had thus far made were at odds with a man who would marry an orphan whom he barely knew. The dichotomy between the two versions of the man continued to perplex her. It had not entirely escaped her noticed the day prior that many of the peerage in attendance at their reception had sniffed their noses at guests such as the Smiths, though how they had treated her as Ren introduced her she could not remember.

"I hope your day passed well," Rey said, wishing to both break the silence and attempt yet again to ascertain the character of her husband. It only occurred to her after speaking that she had no idea what Ren had done with his day, aside from reading in the library in the morning.

"It passed much as any other day, I suppose," Ren responded, cutting a piece of meat and putting it in his mouth.

"How does a Duke generally fill his days?" Rey asked, putting her utensils down. She could not eat another bite.

Ren also set down his silverware, chewing before answering her. "There are a great many things with which to fill my time. Aside from various and sundry leisure activities available to me in the countryside, I must also see that the lands under my name, and all who reside therein, are prosperous."

Rey took as sip of her wine as she considered this. "And do you often fill your time with reading?"

Picking his knife and fork back up, Ren again sliced into his meat. "I'm afraid I don't. The library here at this countryside estate is much grander than the library at my residence in London. I had only just sat down to enjoy a rare moment of peace when you happened upon me."

Rey recalled Rose saying it had been many years since Ren had been back to the Snoke estate. "Do you prefer residing in London? I've been told you had been there three years at least before returning here."

Ren shook his head. "There are several matters of business that required more of my time be spent in London. It is only recently that I've been at my leisure to return to the estate."

It occurred to Rey just then that she would surely have to accompany her husband to London when he inevitably returned there. Though her circumstances had greatly changed since she last left the city, she much prefered the fresh air of the countryside to the stench and press of bodies in London. She thought of the list of charities she had been given, wondering if the list included any local charities.

"Will we be staying at the estate long or shall we be returning to London?" Rey asked, her voice wavering at the thought of being removed even further from the familiar life she had managed to carve for herself thus far.

Taking a drink of his wine, Ren watched her over the cup, answering as he set it down. "I have no plans to return in the near future."

Rey let out a breath she had been unaware of holding and nodded. As relief flooded through her she leaned back in her chair.

"No."

Rey looked over at Ren in confusion. He returned her stare, lips pressed together, though Rey felt certain she saw humor in his eyes.

"Never lean back in your chair," he said.

Rey closed her eyes and sighed before straightening again. "How does one ever remember the seemingly endless set of rules? We are merely having dinner and I've broken no less than three."

"Usually one has a governess to teach them as they mature," Ren said, narrowing his eyes in thought.

Rey watched him, wondering where his mind had taken him as he stared through her. When she could stand his scrutiny no longer she spoke. "Please tell me there are no more courses."

Ren blinked rapidly, as if she had caught him mid-thought. "Do you not enjoy the food?"

Rey shook her head, wondering what he had been thinking. "The food is delicious, but I cannot eat another bite. I take back my earlier comment."

Ren raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

"It's a wonder the peerage aren't all obese with the amount of food served in a single meal."

"You'll find a great many of them are," Ren returned, nodding his head towards one of the footman to remove their plates.

Getting up, he walked over and held out a hand to help her from her chair. Rey thought the gesture somewhat funny, given she was perfectly capable of rising from a chair on her own, but made no comment as she put her hand in his. Once again he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm as he walked them from the dining room.

As they walked towards the drawing room, Rey frowned, realizing she had no idea how she was to pass the rest of the evening. With Mr. Plutt there were always chores to be completed, so that she was busy from sunup to sundown, with only her Sunday afternoons with the Smiths to herself.

"I'm afraid I don't know how a Duchess is supposed to spend her evenings," Rey admitted as she sat in a chair by the fire, her hands in her lap.

Ren sat down opposite her, picking up a newspaper. Setting the paper in his lap, Ren pressed his lips together again, though the gesture held much less humor than last time as his eyes hardened. Rey blinked at him, confused by his reaction.

Ren swallowed before finally answering her. "There are a variety of activities you could indulge in. Many ladies enjoy needlework, drawing, painting, playing a musical instrument, or keeping up with their correspondence."

Rey bit her lip, the now familiar feeling of embarrassment flooding through her. "I'm afraid that, though they all sound like a delightful way to pass time, I am ill equipped to do any of those activities this evening, having never been taught how."

Ren frowned at her. "Did Mr. Plutt never allow you the education of a lady? Though I know you were not of the peerage, it's my understanding that most all ladies are taught needlework."

Rey dropped her gaze, her reply spoken softly. "I spent my time with Mr. Plutt keeping his house in order. I was only allowed Sunday afternoons for my leisure and only after we came to this charming town. He did not deem it a worthy use of my time to learn those activities which young ladies are generally taught. He felt my time was better spent earning my keep under his roof."

There was silence as Rey continued to stare at her hands, shame washing over her at having spoken so openly about her past with Mr. Plutt. Though she knew it was through no fault of her own that the man had treated her as a servant, Rey felt as if she had given Ren a piece of herself by speaking so openly, and was quite sure she didn't enjoy the feeling.

"You can read," Ren said, a statement rather than a question.

Rey glanced up, nonplussed. "Yes."

"If Mr. Plutt disregarded your education how were you able to learn to read?"

Rey swallowed, looking away, not wanting to answer the question.

"Did he teach you himself?"

Rey shook her head.

"Did he send you to school for a time?"

Rey closed her eyes and shook her head again.

"Based on what you've said thus far, I can hardly imagine he would have hired a tutor for you." Ren spoke softly, a hard edge to his voice.

Rey shook her head again, opening her eyes and staring at the fire. The silence between them grew, expanding to fill the room as Rey sensed his impatience to learn how she had been educated. Rey had never before had cause to be ashamed of her upbringing; in truth, she had had very little opportunity for the subject to be brought up, since Finn and Rose were her first companions in her years with Mr. Plutt. She reminded herself that she had no cause for shame, that her circumstances in life had been decided for her and she had made the best of an unlucky situation.

"Rey," Ren said softly.

Rey whipped her head towards him. It was the first time he had called her by her Christian name and she was surprised by the fluttery feeling in her stomach upon hearing it.

"Why does it matter?" she asked, her voice wavering.

"Why are you so hesitant to answer a simple question?" he asked in return, not unkindly.

Huffing an irritated sigh, Rey looked back at the fire. "I found a primer in a puddle outside our small home. A child had likely dropped it on their way home. I used it to teach myself letters before bed each night and snuck books from Mr. Plutt's library to practice with."

Silence greeted Rey's admission and she willed her face to cool as it heated. She watched the flames dance in the fire as she twisted her hands.

After several minutes of silence, Ren finally spoke. "I see."

Rey chanced a glance at him and found him regarding her through narrowed eyes, fury evident in his clenched jaw. His furious expression took her aback. Surely he was not angry at her for her humble learning.

She opened her mouth to speak, but he spoke first. "You look tired. Perhaps you should retire early."

Rey stared, mouth agape. So discombobulated was she that, rather than defend herself, she merely nodded and walked out of the room. As she was ascending the staircase there was a crash and sound of breaking glass. She turned towards the sound with a gasp. When another crash followed, Rey turned quickly and hurried up the stairs towards her room.

Rey slept fitfully the next several nights. She did not see her husband in the days that followed, always informed he was in his study and not to be disturbed when she asked. Rey found she did not mind, still shaken by his behavior after learning of her time with Mr. Plutt. She wondered if he was regretting his decision to marry her after all.

She spent her days going between reading in her room and reading in the drawing room. She had started taking her meals in her room as well, not wishing a repeat of their first evening. Though there was only a door between their rooms Rey never heard him moving about and wondered if he had spent his nights in his study.

After several days spent thus, Rey found loneliness creeping in. Beatrice had duties outside of her duties to Rey and did not have the time to spend speaking with Rey at all hours of the day, though she supposed if she asked her, Beatrice would not have refused. She wrote a letter to Rose, asking that she and Finn join her for lunch the coming Sunday. The irony of looking forward to Sunday afternoons much as she had when she was not a duchess was not lost on her.

One morning there was a knock at her door. When Rey bid them come in, Mrs. Phasma entered, informing her that she had a visitor waiting in the drawing room.

Rey frowned, setting aside her book, wondering who would be calling on her. Sunday was yet two days away, thus it could not be Rose. She descended the stairs and entered the drawing room to find an unfamiliar gentleman waiting for her.

"Good day to you, Your Grace," the man said, bowing at the waste. He was very pale with dark hair and dark eyes. "I'm Mr. Nine Ee."

Rey nodded her head as he rose. "A pleasure, I'm sure."

"You must be wondering what I'm doing in your fair drawing room," he said. Though his face was not unkind, neither was he smiling.

"Yes," Rey replied. "I'm afraid I hadn't the slightest idea to expect you."

Mr. Nine Ee clasped his hands behind his back. "Your husband has informed me of your lack of a proper education and hired me to instruct you."

Rey blinked at the man. Ren had hired a tutor? She felt a lump form in her throat, at a loss for how to respond as a flush rose up her cheeks.

When she failed to respond, the tutor cleared his throat and continued. "I've been told that we shall meet in the mornings for three hours, after which you are to expect a governess to instruct you for an additional two. We shall begin meeting daily but as your education progresses we can reduce the days down to three."

As if her need for a tutor weren't bad enough, Ren had hired a governess? As if she were a child? She took a deep breath, determined not to embarrass herself in front of Mr. Nine Ee, and fixed a smile on her face.

"What a thoughtful husband I have," she managed to say.

"Have you a library in which we may work?" Mr. Nine Ee asked, no indication in his manner that he suspected anything amiss.

Rey nodded numbly, turning around and walking in the direction of the library as her mind raced. If she had had any doubts as to whether Ren was ashamed of her background, she did no longer.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait! I keep meaning to tell you guys that you can expect updates on Sat, Sun, or Mon. I work Tuesday through Saturday afternoon and rarely have the time or energy to write during the work week. Last week I tried, but it just didn't happen and I didn't want to put out a chapter I was feeling meh about. Thanks again for our patience! Please let me know what you think! :)