Page 10 of The Replacement Duchess

“Besides, there is nobody here. They are all watching the dance. There is only you and I out here, which is only one more than you might have preferred, and so I think you might be able to find peace with that.”

“You might see it as one more, but I see it as twice as many. It sounds far more that way, does it not?”

“Well, when you put it that way, I can see the problem. Whatever will you do?”

“I shall leave and find my sister.”

“What does she even want to speak about with that professor?”

“I am not entirely sure, she did not wish to bore me with it, even though she could not have done that. She is most interesting when she speaks of her passions. I would assume the current topic of conversation is science, as she so loves it.”

“Science?” he echoed. “She is a debutante, is she not?”

“It may come as a surprise to you, but ladies are more than capable of having their own minds and passions beyond the art of embroidery.”

“To be sure,” he said quickly. “Forgive me, I was only surprised that she had chosen science of all things.”

“It was never my preference, either. Sometimes I wonder if that is why she chose it as her favorite subject, but that is unfair to her. She also adores reading and mathematics, and?—”

“Do you talk of anything other than your sister and your desire to be alone?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Well, it seems that you can only speak about one of the two matters. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is something I have noticed.”

“We have had but one conversation, Your Grace.”

“Yes, but?—”

“And I must say, you have not told me all too much about yourself either.”

“There is not much to tell. I am a duke, and that is all you ladies ever care about.”

She scoffed at that, and she knew that he heard her.

“I could not care less about your title.” She laughed. “Why would it be of any consequence to me?”

“Because you are of marrying age. An unmarried duke should be held above all, should it not?”

“You certainly think rather highly of yourself. No, an unmarried prince would be seen in higher regard. In any case, it is of no consequence to me because I am not of marrying age, in spite of what you might think. I am a spinster.”

“You are hardly a spinster. You could have fooled me, at least.”

“I am five and twenty with no marriage prospects. I am a spinster. That is perfectly fine.”

“Why is that?”

“Because…” she said, trying to think of a good reason. “Because my sister is my priority. Not only that, but our father is… unwell. It is better that I remain at home and care for him.”

“Is that not a task for your mother?”

She bristled. She had heard so many times that her mother should have done different things, as if what had happened was her fault and not a horrible accident.

“My mother passed away when I was young,” she whispered.

“Oh, oh my, I do apologize.”

“It is alright,” she replied with a weak smile and tears in her eyes. “You couldn’t have known.”

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