Apparently the Duchess was easily pleased: she smiled at everything, and seemed just as happy when someone brought her a branch of cherries as she did when the Duke decided to marry her. She also blushed easily. The Duchess’s genial nature was enough to throw the Duke into a jealous, psychopathic rage, and he "gave commands" (45) that meant "all smiles stopped together" (46). We’re guessing this means he had her killed although it’s possible that he had her shut up somewhere, such as in a convent. But it’s way more exciting if you interpret it as murder, and most critics do.