Chapter 11

Several days passed, in which Rey worked to remain busy. There were her normal lessons in the mornings with Mr. Nine Ee and her etiquette lessons with Miss Tico in the early afternoon. She spent most of the late afternoons figuring out the particulars of starting her own charity. As well, the decorator had returned with samples, sketches, and other ideas for Rey to consider, approve, or deny, and Mrs. Phasma required her approval of meals and other various and sundry things which Ren usually decided. Rose accompanied her in her studies, helping Beatrice in the afternoons when Rey was otherwise occupied, and then dined with her in the evenings. Rose had also taken it upon herself to help Rey with her needlework, which was thus far sorely lacking. In all, Rey had come to the realization that, despite having a house full of servants to tend to all the things she used to do for Mr. Plutt, the life of a duchess was far busier than she would have imagined. She was relieved, however, to discover the feelings of being overwhelmed that had plagued her mere weeks ago were considerably less so now. It appeared she was starting to adjust to life at the manor.

Yet, despite days filled from start to finish, the near constant companionship of Rose, and a house bursting with servants, Rey found that a strange sort of loneliness accompanied her through the day. Though Rey had rarely seen him when he was here, knowing Ren was not in the residence made the grand house feel empty. The discovery of this sentiment added to Rey's already confused feelings.

She continued to ponder Rose's assumption that Ren did indeed feel a sort of fondness for her and weighed it against her own observations and interactions with her husband. Though she was still very confused, she was beginning to suspect she had done her husband very ill in thinking so poorly of his actions.

Just short of a week after Ren's departure, Rey received an invitation to dine with the Solos. She smiled at the invite, quickly writing out a response and sending it back with the messenger. Though her previous experience at the Skywalker manor had not been enjoyable, Rey was fond of the Princess and looked forward to further conversation with Mr. Solo. As well, she wondered if Ren's mother may be able to help shed light on her confusion.

Rey arrived at the Skywalker manor, butterflies in her stomach, feeling keenly the absence of her husband. It was one thing to arrive at one's in-laws for afternoon tea by oneself, and quite another to arrive to a formal dinner. Rey hoped that she would not shame herself, or Miss Tico, by forgetting her etiquette lessons.

As she exited the carriage on weak knees, she took a deep breath, smoothing her hands down her skirt and reminding herself that her in-laws had given her no cause to expect mistreatment.

She was shown to the drawing room immediately by Mr. Threepio.

"The Duchess of Ren, ma'am."

Leia stood, smiling, and walked over to Rey, grabbing her hands. "It's so good to see you, dear."

Rey smiled shyly, bowing her head. "Thank you for the invitation."

Leia smiled, turning around and leading Rey over to a settee. Han stood in front of a chair looking vaguely uncomfortable in his formal eveningwear. He nodded in Rey's direction before resuming his seat and opening a newspaper as she and Leia both sat.

"When we heard that Ben was in London," Leia said, "I knew you must be lonely in that big house. Servants everywhere and I still get lonely when Han leaves on business."

Rey smiled, Leia's unassuming nature easing the knots in her stomach. "Thankfully I've had much to occupy my time in his absence," she said.

Leia chuckled. "Yes, a house that large does require quite a lot of attention."

Rey nodded. "As well, I have my lessons and have been trying to figure out just how to start a new charity. Quite honestly I find myself feeling overwhelmed rather frequently."

Leia patted Rey's hand and gave her a sympathetic smile. "I imagine it has been quite the adjustment from your previous living situation. Running a manor is demanding when you've had your entire childhood to prepare, so I can only imagine the strain such an undertaking would cause. Please do feel free to ask me for help if you need it." Leia let go of Rey's hand as she nodded her head in thanks, and turned to the tea set, asking how she would like her tea.

Handing Rey her cup, Leia asked, "I trust the Smiths have been settling in?"

Rey smiled broadly as she accepted the cup. "Yes, they are. I'm afraid I've been remiss in thanking you for arranging for their transfer. It's been so wonderful to have my good friend as my companion."

Leia eyebrows rose. "It wasn't my idea, I'm afraid, though I did think it a good one after our conversation, last I visited."

Rey frowned, nonplussed. "Not your idea?"

Leia chuckled knowingly and sipped lightly at her tea. "No dear. It was Ben who approached me about arranging for Mrs. Smith to be your companion. He seemed to feel you needed a familiar and friendly face around the manor, and I simply agreed."

Rey felt rooted to the spot in shock, tea cup paused halfway to her lips. It had been Ren's idea? Rey thought back through their conversations, trying to determine if she had missed an important detail that would have revealed the idea was Ren's all along. After several long moments, unaware that the Princess was watching her closely, she recalled a conversation with Ren in which she mentioned feeling lonely since Rose was only free on Sundays. Rey's confused frown intensified. The idea that Ren had taken it upon himself to remedy her loneliness once again felt at odds with the impersonal, thoughtless man Rey believed she had married.

"Are you all right dear?" Leia finally asked, setting her cup down, looking quite concerned.

Rey blinked rapidly, coming back to herself, pasting a smile on her face and trying to retain her composure. "Of course," she replied, forcing herself to sip her tea. "I'm simply taken aback. I did not realize that it was Ren who arranged for the Smiths to live at the manor. I had assumed it was the conversation I had with yourself that was the driving factor for their arrival."

"I see," Leia said. "And Ben never mentioned it to you?"

Rey shook her head slowly, mind still racing. "Not a word."

Leia picked up her tea once more, shaking her head. "How very strange of him."

Rey nodded, absentmindedly sipping at her tea as her thoughts continued to swirl. Before Rey could ponder this new information for long, however, Mr. Threepio arrived to inform the trio that dinner was served. Rey trailed behind her in-laws as Han held out his arm for Leia. When they entered the dining room, Rey halted, spending a panicked moment furiously trying to recall what Miss Tico had said about seating arrangements. In the end she was saved from an embarrassing mistake when Leia gestured towards the chair in which Rey was to sit.

As the first course was served, a small bowl of soup, Rey picked up her spoon and dipped it into her bowl. Despite the recent startling information regarding Ren, Rey had to suppress a smile as she recalled her first dinner with Ren, in which she had learned the many rules required to eat soup properly.

"How's my son treating you?" Han asked, rather suddenly.

Rey swallowed her spoonful of soup quickly, blinking rapidly at both the blunt question and the unpleasant burning sensation running down her throat.

"Han, for goodness sakes," Leia said, looking exasperated.

Han raised his eyebrows. "Did I say something uncouth?"

Leia sighed, while Rey suppressed the sudden urge to smile as Han winked at her.

"It's quite alright," Rey said to Leia. Turning to Han she said, "Your son has been…" she paused to consider which word would best describe Ren these past weeks. Given recent information she finally settled on, "attentive."

Han's eyebrows rose as he dipped his spoon into the bowl, slurping it off the spoon and causing Leia to sigh. "Has he really? That doesn't sound like Ben."

Rey again suppressed the urge to smile. Perhaps it was that Han knew what it was like to be thrust into the peerage or perhaps it was his relaxed and slightly improper manner, but Rey found herself feeling quite at ease with her father-in-law.

"He has made sure that I receive the education I need in order to avoid embarrassing myself around other members of the peerage. As well, it appears that he has also taken it upon himself to see that I have a companion with me to stave off loneliness." Rey tipped a spoonful of soup into her mouth. "Perhaps he hasn't spent as much time with me as one would expect of a recently married couple," Rey conceded, frowning as she considered the past weeks with new eyes, "but he has clearly put some thought and effort into my own comfort." Rey paused and then nodded. "So, yes, I would say that attentive is the correct word to use."

It was true that she would rather have had more interactions with her husband directly, but recent revelations regarding his manner, character, and possibly even his affections made her realize anew how sorely she had misjudged him.

"Are you alright, dear?" Leia asked, shaking Rey once more out of her sudden reverie.

Rey sighed, again forcing herself to smile. "I apologize. Finding out it was Ren who arranged for the Smiths to transfer to our home seems to have left me feeling a little out of sorts."

Grasping for a subject to change the conversation, Rey asked, "Will Prince Luke not be joining us this evening?"

It was only after both Han and Leia paused their eating to share a look that Rey wondered if perhaps she had been too forward.

"Forgive me," she said hastily. "It was forward of me to ask."

Leia raised a hand. "It's quite alright. You are, after all, a member of this family now." She sighed. "I had asked him to join us, but he said he was feeling poorly."

Rey glanced at Han, who seemed suddenly very interested in the food on his plate.

Returning to her own food, Rey dared ask, "Is he in ill health?"

Leia pressed her lips together in what appeared to be irritation. Rey was just about to apologize again when Leia answered. "He has kept to his wing of the manor for many years now. I try to coax him down, but he always claims an excuse."

Rey chewed her lip before asking, "How long has he closeted himself away?"

Leia sighed again, picking up her spoon once more and dipping it into her bowl. "Ever since he and Ben had their falling out."

Rey swallowed, wondering if she dared continue her line of questioning. Though Leia was correct, she was a member of the family, she also had only just become one. She was a near stranger to the princess and Mr. Solo.

"I'll save you the argument with yourself," said Leia, the corners of her lips turning up as Rey felt heat flood her cheeks. "They fell out over the previous Duke of Ren. Snoke." At the name, Rey had the sudden urge to shiver, though she didn't know why. "Luke objected to Ben's association with Snoke. Ben, being as stubborn as he is, refused to sever connection with the man." Seeing Rey's confusion, Leia's mouth turned up again. "If you're wondering what concerns Luke had, there were several dark rumors about the man. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that Han and I also had our reservations about Ben's strange connection with him."

Han set down his spoon, his hands fisting. "The boy wasn't the same after that," he said, surprising Rey by chiming in. "He had always had problems with his temper. A Skywalker trait." Han smirked at Leia who rolled her eyes, before his face once more was serious. "After that he became downright volatile. Smashing things, going into a fit of rage any time we brought up Snoke."

"Luke eventually threatened to disinherit Ben if he continued the acquaintance," Leia continued, a waver in her voice. "Ben left that night and severed all connection with Luke. He severed connection with Han and me as well, though after Snoke's passing he became willing to tolerate our presence. Luke has always blamed himself for the situation, but I know it was Snoke's influence. Ever since that day Luke has kept to his wing of the house, cutting himself off to everyone but his valet, Artoo." Leia took a deep breath. "It's been difficult, having the family fractured the way it is." Leia smiled at Rey. "And it's been such a blessing to have you join our family. Han and I both have remarked on the change in Ben's demeaner since your marriage. Whatever it is you have done, we both thank you."

Rey's lips parted in shock. "But I haven't done anything. We have had but a handful of conversations. There must be another cause for this change."

Han and Leia shared a look, before Leia turned to Rey again. "Well, perhaps you're right. Either way we are both happy to have our son return to us."

After that Leia switched the conversation to a less controversial topic for the remainder of dinner. Rey's mind was split between keeping up with the conversation, remembering all the proper manners required for a formal dinner, and puzzling over the information she had received.

After dinner the trio retired back to the drawing room, where Han immediately returned to reading his newspaper.

Rey chewed her lip as they sat, wanting to ask about Ben's childhood.

"I hope you know," Leia said, watching Rey closely, "that you needn't worry about offending us with questions. It's only natural you should want to know more about Ben."

Rey loosed a breath and smiled in return. "I was just curious what Ren was like as child."

Leia smiled, though her eyes held a hint of sorrow.

"As a child Ben was very sensitive. Oh, he did all the things boys usually do, learned to ride, to hunt and the like, but it was never his passion."

"What was his passion then?" Rey asked, intrigued.

"Ben preferred his studies," Leia said, eyes now distant. "I've never seen a child take to reading and writing like that, much less a boy. Always a nose in some book, or practicing his writing. I dare say his handwriting is prettier than most women."

Rey's heart warmed as she watched Leia describe her son. She decided then to make it her mission to try to reconcile Ren with his family. It was clear that his parents dearly loved Ren and missed him. That Ren should have parents who loved him, and yet chose to ignore them, was not something Rey could abide. She quickly pushed away melancholy thoughts of her own yearning for the parents who had left her.

"What of his friends?" Rey asked.

Leia sighed. "Ben didn't have many friends, truth be told. Poe, that is Captain Dameron, frequented the estate, but he and Ben never quite connected the way I had hoped." Leia lowered her voice. "I'm afraid that my marriage to Han took it's toll on Ben. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how many snobs there are in the peerage. Though he never spoke of it to me, I know he was teased mercilessly about his father."

Rey nodded. "Yes, Ren has mentioned he was teased about his father. It's quite awful to think of." Since Leia had mentioned Captain Dameron, Rey decided to ask her about the strange encounter between the captain and Ren. Leaning forward, she said, "I wonder if you might settle my curiosity on a matter."

"Of course," Leia replied.

"Ren and I met Captain Dameron at Lady Holdo's ball. The captain seemed to have a pleasant nature, but Ren was quite cold with him. He even forbade me to have contact with the man, though I can't figure out why. Would you know what caused Ren's rather violent reaction to the man?"

Leia pursed her lips in thought. "As I said, they never became friends quite as I had hoped, despite Poe's frequent visits. They played often, and I thought they were at least cordial towards one another. Poe has always been more interested in the outdoor activities, such as riding and hunting, than Ben was. I assumed that their lack of friendship was due to a lack of common interests. If there was more to it, I never heard it."

Rey kept herself from sighing, though the lack of resolution to the matter was frustrating. She had spent these past days without Ren contemplating the situation, and had hoped Leia would be able to shed light on the matter.

"Have you asked Ben?" Leia asked.

Rey nodded. "He wouldn't say and then he was gone the next day."

"How very strange," Leia said.

The next several weeks passed uneventfully. Rey's days remained unchanged, though she had made decisions regarding the design of the drawing room, so there had been a flurry of deliveries. The remaining furniture Rey had moved into storage, reminding her of the importance of finishing the creation of her charity.

Rose informed her that her sewing had improved greatly. Rey supposed that it had, but found she didn't much care for the pastime, finding it tedious. When she broached the subject with Rose and Miss Tico, the latter had suggested she take music and art lessons as well.

Mr. Nine Ee declared her a natural at languages when she managed to master French in so few weeks. He declared that all their lessons would be conducted in French from that point forward and he would begin instruction on the German language.

And though life was decidedly busy, so much so that Rey felt she remained just as busy as she had when she was in Mr. Plutt's house, Rey could not dispel the sense of loneliness caused by Ren's absence. She was acutely aware that his study was empty when she passed by, and found herself often glancing towards the door connecting her room with his.

Rey had hoped she might receive letters from him, but none had thus arrived. She supposed that he must be busy in town and tried not to let her disappointment take root. She also supposed that she could write him herself, but when she sat down to do so, no words would come. The way they had left things prior to his departure did not lend itself towards light letters on the goings on of her days, and thus she had eventually given up trying to compose a letter.

When alone in her room, Rey mused on the curiosity of her feelings, and spent a great deal of time wondering when they had changed. Quite without her consent, she had begun to feel a connection towards Ren. They had, prior to that last night, developed a rapport that she had found pleasant. It occurred to her that perhaps her initial dreams of companionship were not so far off as she had believed. What puzzled her most, however, were that such feelings had developed with so little contact between them. She really only saw him at mealtimes and they had spent more time in silence than conversation.

After her lessons one day, in the late afternoon, Mr. Mitaka arrived to inform her that a Captain Dameron had arrived.

Shocked, Rey rose to greet the man, at a loss as to why he should visit.

"Forgive my impertinence for arriving uninvited," Captain Dameron began.

"It's quite alright," Rey said. "What can I do for you, Captain?"

Captain Dameron looked out the window. "Would you mind if we took a turn about your garden?"

Rey's eyebrows rose, but she nodded. "Of course."

Rey led the way towards the garden. As they began their walk, Captain Dameron cleared his throat.

"You'll forgive me, I hope, for being rather blunt, but I heard from Princess Leia of your concerns regarding Ben's behavior at the ball."

Rey glanced towards the captain. "It was rather strange," she said carefully

They turned a corner and continued on, Rey too distracted by the conversation to notice the beauty of the foliage around them.

"I realize that I acted very forward when we met, and I do apologize. Benji and I have always had an…interesting relationship. I could tell Leia wished us to be close, but I had difficulty getting Ben to warm up to me. Our interests were never really aligned, you see."

Rey nodded. "Leia said as much herself." She paused and then asked, "Benji?"

The captain chuckled. "Most Ben's are short for Benjamin of course. I couldn't help but poke fun when we were lads that Ben's name was merely Ben. I knew he hated it, but it was too easy to tease him over it."

Rey frowned. "If you knew he didn't like it, why persist in using it?"

Captain Dameron shrugged. "It was merely meant in light jest. I didn't realize until later that it truly upset him." He clasped his hands behind his back. "As for why I used it that night, I suppose it was due to my own amusement at his being married."

Rey's frown intensified and the Captain hurried to clarify his meaning. "I wish you nothing but happiness of course. I was delighted to find that Ben had gotten married and amused when I discovered how similar the circumstances were between his parent's marriage and his own. He had spent many days, you see, railing against the idiocy of marrying for love when we were boys. To find he had also married beneath him, pardon the turn of phrase, was a shock. And to have done so without His Majesty's approval was even more shocking."

Rey shook her head, confused. "What do you mean without His Majesty's approval."

The Captains eyebrows rose. "As Ben is in the line of succession, ever closer since his uncle abdicated and His Majesty as yet has no heir, it is up to His Majesty to approve Ben's marriage prior to the fact."

At Rey's obvious shock, Captain Dameron frowned. "I thought you knew. That is why Ben is in London. His Majesty was not happy that Ben married without his consent. It is actually quite scandalous."

Rey felt shock and alarm course through her in equal measure. Perhaps she should have paid closer attention to the gossip swirling at Lady Holdo's ball after all. "But that's quite a dangerous thing to do!"

The captain nodded somberly. "It is." Seeing how distressed Rey was, he quickly added, "I wouldn't fear, Your Grace. Ben may be impulsive and prone to anger, but he will not let His Majesty dissolve the marriage."

Rey's lips parted as shock coursed through her anew. "Dissolve the marriage?" she whispered.

"I'm afraid I've misspoken again," Captain Dameron said. "I assumed you were aware of the situation when you were married."

"I…I…" Rey glanced around, her mind and heart racing. "I apologize, Captain, but I'm not feeling well. You'll excuse me."

Rey turned and hurried down the path back to the house. She was dimly aware of the Captain calling her name and hurrying after her, but she was too distraught to respond. As she exited the gate, however, she halted, heart jumping into her throat.

Ren, dismounting his horse, looked over at her in surprise. Rey's emotions jumbled together as she beheld him. She had had no word that he would be returning. A similar battle of emotions ran through Ren's eyes until he looked behind her and his face hardened.

Rey turned behind her, her heart then sinking as Captain Dameron exited the garden behind her.

A/N: Sorry for the wait! I just really wanted you to feel Ren's absence. Method reading...Just kidding of course. :P A series of unfortunate events (not the netflix series) kept me from writing for most of the month of October. I'll be leaving next weekend to fly home and returning the following. I'll be taking my computer with me, so wish me happy writing while I"m there! As always your reviews are greatly appreciated. :D