Page 103 of The Replacement Duchess

“That is where you are wrong, My Lord.” Colin smiled politely. “My presence shall always be tolerated, for I am a duke, and your son-in-law. It is therefore your duty to do as I ask, lest you appear to be unwelcoming to those above you, and we both know that you cannot have that.”

“What do you want?”

“You are going to be a wonderful father from this moment on,” Colin continued, his smile unwavering. “You will cater to Samantha’s every whim until the day she is married, which will be when andonlywhenshe deems the time to be right.”

“Do you not understand that it is her job to be married to whomever I choose?”

“In some families, yes, that may be the case, but not this one. You will be a good father who allows her to make her own choices. I believe that sounds reasonable, does it not?”

“Not when she is as willful as?—”

“It is reasonable, is it not?” Colin repeated. “Again, I would truly hate to think that you would disagree with a duke.”

“You listen here. You will not come into my home raving about your title as if it means anything at all. I do not care who you are, you will not tell me how to raise my daughters.”

“You have not raised your daughters,” Colin snapped. “You have not done a damn thing for them all their lives, and that is why you are so angry that I am here, isn’t it? You cannot stand that there is someone that has seen your treatment of them. Well, I hate to be the bearer of such terrible news, but thetonhas all seen it.”

“What have they seen, exactly? A poor man who lost his wife tragically and has had to care for his children alone, with no heir? They pity me for it.”

“They hate you for it. They may be fools, but they do see things. They all talk about it—how you neglected them all this time, and how you are the worst father in London. I have been kind to you, for your daughters’ sake, by not telling them all that it is the truth, but I will not extend such a kindness to your son.”

“And then where will Samantha be? You wouldn’t dare compromise her.”

“Ah, yes, the lady that wishes not to marry would be unable to marry. Truly, what an unspeakable fate that she does not want at all.”

Samantha laughed at that, and Diana could not help but join her.

“You will not disrespect me in my own home,” the Earl roared. “I will not stand for it, and I will have you out immediately.”

“Very well, and word of your mistreatment of your children will also be out, and then where will your son be? I guarantee that he will not wish to be a part of such a scandal.”

Diana looked at her father, the man who had tried to make her feel fear all of her life, and almost pitied him. Had he been anyone else, she might have, but he was the man who had done everything in his power to make her miserable, and she could not forgive him for that, so even though it made her a truly awful daughter, she had to admit that she delighted in it, only the smallest amount.

“You will be good to her,” Colin repeated. “And should I hear anything otherwise from her, I shall ruin you. Diana is my wife, so she shall be protected from it, and Samantha is happy to be ruined, so it will not reflect badly on her in any way that matters. The choice is yours, My Lord.”

He did not wait for an answer, instead turning to leave.

“And what about your reputation?” the Earl called out with a smirk, causing the Duke to turn around. “What makes you think that anyone would listen to a murderer?”

It was then that Diana remembered what thetonthought of her husband. It was impossible that anyone truly believed it, of course, and even if they did, he was still a duke, so it would be foolish for someone to go against him, but it was a blow to her confidence.

It did not appear, however, to have any effect on Colin.

“They do not need to listen to a murderer,” he replied, grinning as he walked towards him. “I am sure you would try to refute any claims I made, but then again, a man cannot speak ill of another if he is dead and buried. Might we leave it there?”

At last, the Earl seemed to lose all of his words. He was simply an older man cowering before a younger one, and once more Diana realized that she should feel pity for him, but she did not. She only wished to laugh; Colin would not harm him, but it appeared that her father did not have the intellect to know that.

“Good.” Colin nodded. “Now, I am going to leave with my wife, and Samantha will stay with you. She shall have anything her heart desires, and I will not hear news of otherwise. I do hope that is clear.”

This time, he did not wait for a rebuttal. He simply nodded to Samantha, who curtseyed to him, and then he took Diana’s hand and led her outside.

Stepping into the sunshine, Diana could not help but laugh. She had felt so tense throughout the confrontation, and now that she was outside, she felt free to release it all, and it came out all at once.

“That,” she gasped, “was brilliant.”

“I did not frighten you too terribly, did I?”

“Certainly not. You were perfect.”

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