Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Unapologetic Lady Islington

The morning after the formal dinner was a calm one, as the Islington family gathered for breakfast in the grand dining hall of their estate. The scent of freshly baked pastries and the clink of fine china filled the air, but there was an undercurrent of tension that couldn't be ignored.

The Duke and Duchess of Islington sat at the head of the long table, exchanging glances across the silverware and plates. They had been stunned by Eleanor’s behavior the previous evening. The same Eleanor they had once thought of as a quiet, refined woman—a lady who would seamlessly slip into the role of Theo’s wife, who would obey the rules of high society without a question—had instead become someone they did not recognize. And it was this change that had left them unsettled.

Eleanor had been outspoken, not only in her conversations with Theo but also in the presence of others. She had voiced strong opinions on political matters that were often reserved for the men of the room. She had commented on family matters with a sense of conviction that bordered on the rebellious. She had even gone so far as to challenge her husband’s long-standing views on the estate’s finances. Gone was the woman they had thought would become a meek and docile bride. Instead, there was a fire, a fierce independence in her that not only surprised but angered them.

The Duke, in particular, was the one most affected. He sat, looking out the large windows of the dining room, his sharp gaze betraying his disquiet. He had always prided himself on the power and influence the Islington family held in society, and Eleanor’s behavior had threatened that in a way he hadn’t anticipated. His daughter, Catherine, sat across from him, twirling her silver spoon with an air of nonchalance, but her eyes flicked to her parents every so often.

"Have you seen how she behaves now?" the Duchess finally asked, her voice clipped, her features tight with frustration. “She’s anything but the reserved, proper lady we imagined for our son.” Her fingers rested on the delicate china cup, her lips pursed as she took in Eleanor’s behavior. "Theo has no idea how to control her. She speaks as if she were one of those modern women. This was not the plan."

The Duke’s face darkened. He had expected a more traditional marriage—one where Eleanor would submit to the societal rules they had lived by for generations. The thought of his family being represented by someone as... boisterous as Eleanor was beginning to make him furious. The only thing keeping him calm was his desire to maintain appearances. He would not let anyone see how much this bothered him.

“She is undisciplined,” the Duke muttered, his voice low. “And it’s not just her behavior. It’s the way she speaks about our family’s matters. The way she’s questioning things that have been accepted for decades. This cannot continue.”

“Perhaps you should have seen this coming,” Catherine interjected, her voice light but carrying a hint of amusement. “She’s never been one to fit the mold, Father. I think Theo rather likes that about her, though.”

“Likes it?” the Duke barked, his voice rising. “It’s a disaster.”

Theo, who had been quietly sipping his tea, glanced up at his parents, his gaze thoughtful. He had witnessed his wife’s behavior the night before, and while he admired her confidence and outspokenness, he knew it had rattled the foundations of the family he was born into. He hadn’t expected Eleanor to fall into the traditional role of a quiet, subservient wife—but this was beyond anything he had anticipated.

“I’m not sure I see the problem,” Theo finally said, his voice calm yet firm. "She speaks her mind, but that’s not something to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s something I admire about her. She doesn’t hide behind false pretenses.”

The Duke’s sharp gaze shot across the table to his son. “Theo, this isn’t a matter of admiration. This is about decorum. Tradition. Family. She’s making a fool of herself, and by extension, you. She’s upsetting our entire standing. This must be corrected.”

Theo set down his teacup slowly, his gaze steady. He wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, especially when it came to the woman he had chosen to marry. His mind raced with the memory of their conversation last night, the way Eleanor had so unapologetically expressed herself. He was proud of her, but he knew this wasn’t the time to openly challenge his parents in front of the whole family.

“I’m not ashamed of her, Father,” he said, his voice low but firm. “Eleanor speaks her mind because she believes in what she says. That’s more than I can say for half of the people in this room.”

The tension thickened in the air, but no one dared to speak out of turn. It was the Duchess who finally broke the silence, her voice cold and clipped.

“You’re blinded by love, Theo. She doesn’t know how to act like a lady. I’ve given her advice, and she’s ignored it all. And now you’re telling me that this is acceptable behavior?”

Theo remained silent for a moment, his eyes darkened with frustration. But just as quickly, he realized he wasn’t about to allow his parents to dictate how Eleanor should behave. She was strong, independent, and unapologetically herself—and he loved her for it.

“Perhaps the problem is not Eleanor, Mother,” Theo said slowly, “but your expectations of her. She is not a doll to be dressed up and molded. She is a woman with thoughts, with opinions. You may not like them, but they are hers, and I wouldn’t have her any other way.”

The Duchess inhaled sharply, her face reddening with anger. She was unused to being contradicted, especially by her son. But before she could respond, the door to the dining room opened, and Catherine stepped inside, a smile on her face but a knowing glint in her eye.

“It’s been a long morning, hasn’t it?” Catherine asked, looking around at the tense faces. She was always the more diplomatic of the Islington children, the one who knew how to toe the line between defiance and submission. “Father, Mother, I think you’re missing the point. Eleanor isn’t the problem. She’s just... well, Eleanor.”

The Duke scowled. “That’s precisely the problem, Catherine. She’s too loud, too defiant. She’s not the meek woman we expected. And worse, Theo supports her.” His voice was filled with disbelief. “I had hoped my son would understand the importance of decorum. The importance of family reputation.”

“Do you know why I support her?” Theo asked, his tone unwavering. “Because Eleanor is real. She’s not pretending to be something she’s not. And that’s more than I can say for anyone else. I’m proud to be her husband, and I won’t apologize for that.”

Catherine gave her brother an approving smile but turned back to their parents, who were both visibly seething.

“Let it go, Father, Mother,” Catherine said, her voice calm but laced with a subtle challenge. “The more you try to control Eleanor, the more you will push her away. She’s not some delicate flower to be nurtured. She’s strong, and she will always speak her mind. And if you don’t accept that, well...” She shrugged. “You’ll be the ones to suffer.”

The Duke’s nostrils flared, but he said nothing more. He knew that continuing this argument would only make him look like the villain. He had raised his children with the belief that family was everything. But this new dynamic—his son supporting his wife’s defiance, and his daughter now siding with them—was unsettling. It felt like a challenge to everything he had worked to build.

Edmund, who had been quietly observing the entire exchange, cleared his throat.

“The truth is, Eleanor doesn’t fit into the mold of a traditional lady, and that’s not a fault,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve seen her in action—she’s passionate, intelligent, and she speaks her mind. That’s more than I can say for many women in our circles.”

The Duke looked at his son-in-law, his face hardening. “So, you too, Edmund? You condone this behavior?”

“I condone Eleanor,” Edmund replied evenly. “I think we all should.”

There was a long silence as everyone at the table considered Edmund’s words. And in that silence, the truth became clear. The Islington family was not the monolithic, traditional entity it had once been. Theo, Eleanor, Catherine, and Edmund were pushing against the boundaries that had once defined their family. And as much as the Duke and Duchess wanted to deny it, they knew that their power was slowly slipping from their hands.

With a resigned sigh, the Duke finally set his cup down. “This isn’t over,” he muttered. But even as he spoke, he knew the battle for Eleanor’s submission was one he was losing. The Islington family was changing, whether he liked it or not.

And for the first time, Eleanor’s unapologetic nature seemed to have won.