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"I suppose so..." Terryn shut her eyes, but only momentarily, because her mother's face had found its way behind her closed lids. "Your grandmother said that there were expectations on us. That people had been waiting for us to wed." She left her statement open-ended, not really sure what she was getting at with it.

"I doubt that." The earl was willing to accept a good deal of changes regarding, but Terryn yearning for anything traditional? No, that was unheard of. "My guess is that she is seeking acceptance from you. Remember, Emily, you're the closest thing she's had to a maternal figure since Lilliana. And don't even mention her stepmother." Arvin frowned, rubbing at his temples. "She was closer to Terryn's age than mine anyway."

Terryn was unsure, to be quite honest, and the only response she could give was a slight shrug. "I dislike being held to expectation, I suppose. One of the reasons I fought off all those suitors was because I knew they would expect something of me. You are the only one who ever took me for who I was, but now..." She swallowed, her eyes fixed pointedly at the ring on her left hand. "Well now your grandmother is trying to teach me conduct and our families are going to want us to present ourselves a certain way, and there will be so much talk around court about us and when we are having children and where we are living and all those things. I absolutely abhor chittering gossip, you know that." She sighed, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. "And what if we fail to meet expectations? For myself, I could not care less what others thought of me, but I would not want to go shaming my father and my husband and my grandmother-in-law and cousin him and aunt her. I suppose I am just beginning to feel the pressure of my title is all."

The earl thought on that for a minute, and then nodded. "Very true. But I still do not think she wants something grandiose. You should have seen her any time I tried to make her accompany me to a ball or a masque or a dinner. It was always a hassle. She barely wanted to get dressed for it, never mind actually going." He shook his head, though there was a hint of a smile in his face. "I think if I had given her the option to wear a jerkin and riding breeches as opposed to gowns, she would have been perfectly content." She still didn't know that he had seen her wearing her brothers' clothing on multiple occasions, especially when out practicing archery or riding in the night.

"Can we choose a third option?" Terryn shifted herself, tugging his arms around her as she rested into her chest. "I think that we should find a lovely oceanside cave. We can rule as King and Queen of crustaceans. Or perhaps we can to the woods and be bandits. I have the archery skills." She looked up to him, forcing a half-grin. "We would have not care in the world. And our elders would be none the wiser, so no shame there."

The earl nodded his agreement, glancing out the window as the sun finished its venture to the bottom of the horizon. "Perhaps we should attempt supper again?" He looked to the Duchess with a small, apologetic smile. "You do forgive me for my actions before, right? You know it was but a father's grief getting the best of me. I think Marcus is a wonder young man, truly."

Terryn leaned up and kissed him, allowing herself to smile before settling back into his chest. "You are ever the optimist. Though the thought of becoming forest robbers still seems rather fascinating to me. As for the New World...well, I hear it is full of savages and some new plant called tobacco that makes men cough and smells terrible. I have no use for it."

The earl had to admit; Emily Winters ran a tight ship. "I wish I could get my servants to jump without being told to. Then again, Terryn is always too kind to them. She would be my undoing." He chuckled, recalling the time when his daughter, as a young girl, swapped clothing with a young scullery maid who had taken ill and did her job for a day. The two looked more than just a bit similar, and it was only when he checked on her in bed and the called her "m'lord" that he realized he had been fooled.

"Savages bore me. From what I hear, they're rather dim, trading large masses of land for next to nothing. I want a challenge." She began playing with his sleeve, wrinkling it up between her fingers and then pulling it taut, for no other reason than she felt like it. "Perhaps I can sneak my way into the clergy or something. i might be the next Pop Joan. I hear that they are very vigilant these days, so it would certainly be good sport." She looked up at him before placing a kiss on his neck. "Of course, I would need to be careful. Legend says Pope Joan was discovered when she went and gave birth in the middle of a procession. I just need to avoid having a babe in broad daylight."

"I would imagine." There was little secret that the Winters family had a good sum of money, thanks mainly to their estates, highborn marriages, and shrewd coin consultants. "Perhaps after Terryn is wed, I will become your valet. I daresay it will give me something to do with my time."

"Oh, I would enjoy that." Terryn let her hands trace up his arm and settle around his neck as she pulled herself up to his lips. "We could be scourges, sailing the seven seas. We can go over to the Caribbean, where all the Dutch and Spanish are landing. That way, you get to see your new world and we can bring home some rum. Father got a bottle of it from a friend last year. It was strong, and I only had a little."

The earl had to clear his throat to hide the small chuckle that had eked out. "Perhaps you should keep them tied to you. That way you can just pull them back." He waved one of them over, a young woman who liked she still had a bit of a spirit in her. "Please fetch the young Duke and Duchess, inform them that supper is being served."

Terryn groaned. "Great-grandchildren as well." She considered making noises to scare off whoever was there, but thought better of it as she opened the door. Looking down at the serving girl, who was a few inches shorter than she was, she raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

The young lass curtsied politely, her eyes respectfully averted. "Your Lord Father has requested that you and the Duke join them for supper, m'lady." She curtsied again.

Terryn sighed. "Very well, tell him we shall join them momentarily." She shut the door as the girl sped off and turned back to her husband with a dark grin on her face. "I have half a mind to make them wait. Punishment for worrying me with expectations."