The Duke's Obsession With His Wife — Chapter 16

A LIAR SHOULD HAVE A BIT OF FLAIR (1)

TWO EMERGING STARS LIGHT UP THE ART WORLD

THE BRISTON DUCHY HAS CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE ACQUIRED ALL FIVE PAINTINGS...

SUBMITTED TO THE EXHIBITION BY MR. EDWARD POYNTER, WHO WAS NAMED ARTIST OF THE YEAR.

WHAT'S SHE LIKE? IS SHE FINICKY?

OR PERHAPS SHE HAS A HOT TEMPER?

NEITHER. SHE'S ACTUALLY VERY KIND.

PERHAPS EVEN MORE SURPRISING, IT WAS LATER REVEALED THAT...

WHILE THE PAINTINGS WERE PURCHASED UNDER DUKE BRISTON'S NAME...

IT'S TRUE! THEY EVEN ATTENDED THE EXHIBITION TOGETHER.

SO THIS REALLY IS A LOVE MARRIAGE?

...THEY WERE SELECTED BY A CERTAIN LADY ANRI WENTWORTH, WHO RECENTLY MADE THE HEADLINES...

WHEN SHE WAS ANNOUNCED AS DUKE BRISTON'S FIANCÉ.

I BET EVERYONE IN EAST CARLTON IS TALKING ABOUT THIS!

THEY SURE ARE. EVEN THE POSTMAN STOPPED ME EARLIER TO ASK ABOUT THE NEW LADY.

PERHAPS WE ARE WITNESSING THE BIRTH OF A NEW STAR WHO IS DESTINED TO LIGHT UP THE ART WORLD...

...AND FOSTER A NEW GENERATION OF MASTERS, MUCH LIKE THE HOUSE OF MEDICIS IN THEIR HEYDAY.

I THINK IT WAS A FINE WAY TO MAKE YOUR HIGH-SOCIETY DEBUT. DON'T YOU?

WOW

ANRI?

SHE'S EVEN CALLING ME BY MY NAME!

I'M NOT SURE I DESERVE SUCH AN HONOR.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

SOON, YOU'LL BE THE NEXT DUCHESS OF BRISTON.

NOTHING WILL EVER BE TOO GOOD FOR YOU.

BESIDES...

THE CINDERELLA OF BRISTON: JUST WHO IS SHE?

AS YOU CAN SEE, PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN READING GOSSIP ABOUT YOU.

BUT I GUESS THAT CAN'T BE HELPED. THERE'S NOTHING PEOPLE LOVE MORE THAN A JUICY PIECE OF GOSSIP, AFTER ALL.

AHAHA...

I'VE SEEN THAT SMIRK BEFORE... ON EDWIN.

BUT NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO DENY THAT YOU HAVE EXCELLENT TASTE IN ART.

I FINALLY HAVE A RIGHT TO STRUT AROUND THE ART CIRCLES WITH MY HEAD HELD UP HIGH...

AND IT'S ALL THANKS TO YOU, ANRI.

YOU FLATTER ME, MY LADY.

I GOT SO FLUSTERED WHEN EDWIN REVEALED THAT I HAD PICKED OUT ALL HIS PAINTINGS...

BUT NOW I'M ACTUALLY GRATEFUL, SINCE THINGS WORKED OUT FOR THE BEST.

WELL THEN.

I DIDN'T COME ALL THIS WAY...

JUST TO SHARE THIS ARTICLE WITH YOU.

...?

...??

ANRI, MEET YOUR NEW LADIES IN WAITING.

M-MY NAME IS ANAIS, MY LADY!

I'M HONORED TO BE AT YOUR SERVICE!

ANAIS GRADUATED AT THE TOP OF HER CLASS FROM THE LARONA TAILORING ACADEMY.

BONITA, AT YOUR SERVICE, MY LADY.

IT'S AN HONOR.

BONITA'S FAMILY HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED THE BRISTONS FOR GENERATIONS.

THANK YOU, IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU BOTH.

I HOPE I CAN BECOME A DUCHESS WORTHY OF YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING SO CONSIDERATE, MY LADY.

NO TROUBLE AT ALL.

NOW...

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.

EXCUSE ME?

ANRI, MY DEAR, YOUR DAYS ARE ABOUT TO GET QUITE HECTIC... FROM NOW ON

FROM NOW ON.

IN ORDER TO SILENCE ALL THOSE NOSY, GOSSIPING FOOLS...

...WE'LL HAVE TO PLAN A WEDDING GRANDER AND MORE SPECTACULAR THAN ANYONE HAS EVER SEEN!

E-EXCUSE ME?!?

THIS IS...

THIS IS JUST WAY TOO MUCH!!

YOUR DAY WILL START AT 6 AM TOMORROW.

I BARELY HAVE ANY TIME TO SLEEP BEFORE I HAVE TO GET UP AGAIN.

WHY IS EDWIN IN SUCH A RUSH TO GET MARRIED?!?

STILL, EACH DAY FEELS MORE LIKE A DREAM THAN THE LAST.

I HAVEN'T FELT THIS WAY IN A LONG TIME.

I WONDER IF FATHER HAS GOTTEN THE NEWS BY NOW.

MAYBE IT'S A GOOD THING I'M SO BUSY.

IT KEEPS ME FROM THINKING TOO MUCH...

ONE WEEK LATER

IT'S LIKE YOU'RE FLOATING ON A CLOUD.

YOU LOOK GORGEOUS, MY LADY!

I MADE SURE TO INCORPORATE EVERY FASHION TREND THAT'S POPULAR WITH THE CAPITAL LADIES RIGHT NOW.

MY LADY,

THE DUKE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A WORD WITH YOU.

OH, I'LL BE RIGHT—

IT SEEMS...

...YOU'VE BEEN QUITE BUSY LATELY, MY LADY.

OH, I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU MEANT IMMEDIATELY!

I'M GETTING FITTED FOR MY WEDDING DRESS.

MY LORD?

IT'S TOO MUCH.

DOES IT REALLY NEED ALL THOSE BOWS EVERYWHERE?

AND WHY ARE THE SLEEVES SO PUFFY?

OH MY, IS THIS DRESS NOT TO YOUR LIKING?

BECAUSE I THINK IT'S LOVELY AND CUTE.

HMM, IT LOOKS RIDICULOUS TO ME.

FIX IT. MAKE IT LESS BUSY.

YES, MY LORD.

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! SO RUDE!

I'LL TAKE MY LEAVE, THEN.

A WEDDING INVITATION FROM THE HOUSE OF BRISTON...

OH...

IT'S THAT RISING STAR WHO WAS ALL OVER THE FRONT PAGE.

WELL, DOESN'T THIS LOOK FUN...

MAYBE I'LL GO SEE WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT.