Page 41 of The Replacement Duchess

Colin kept his voice steady, but inside he could feel the anger burning. The Earl was a fool at best, and he had already thrown his money into his drinking. He couldn’t seem to do anything but bring shame upon his daughters, and Colin hated him for that, especially given that the young ladies seemed to believe that he was changing for the better.

“Do you suppose they should know about it?” Colin asked.

“What would you want someone to do if you were them?”

“I do not know. I believe I would rather be kept in the dark about it so that I would not need to be involved in it all. Out of sight, out of mind.”

“Until they find out elsewhere, only to discover that you had known all along.” Charles nodded. “And given yours and your betrothed’s reputations, I imagine there are some that would be all too content to tell her out of spite.”

The moment Charles said that, Colin knew that he had to tell her. Just the day prior, they had been accosted by two people who were unafraid to belittle Lady Diana even in front of him. She had faced enough, having a father who exhibited behaviors that she knew about, but to have someone tell her themselves? It was not going to happen on his watch.

“I am grateful to you for notifying me of this.” He nodded.

“So you are going to tell her?”

“I have no other choice. I can only hope that she is not so furious that she takes her anger out on him then and there.”

“I find myself hoping that she does. Heaven knows she is within her rights to do so—the man is ghastly.”

“Yes, but he is her father and is responsible for her sister. She wouldn’t do that if it could change how her sister is cared for.”

“You seem to know the girl quite well.”

Colin could not help but nod. They had not known each other for a long time, but the parts of her that he had seen were enough forhim to know how she might react to things and what she might like to have happen.

“Might this be a good match, after all?” Charles asked.

“I like to think so. There is an understanding between the two of us, and I am trying to be amenable to her requests. So far, I have yet to tell her I cannot accommodate her.”

“And what about the situation… upstairs?”

“We will discuss that when the time comes, but it is only one rule, and with all that I have done for her, she will likely accept it.”

“And if she does not?”

“Then I shall decide what to do. It is all in hand.”

“For your sake, I hope that you are right.”

Colin thought about his friend’s words as he rode in the carriage to Lady Diana’s home. There were things that he had not told her, and it was easy to tell himself that she would not mind when she was not in front of him. Unfortunately, the time would come when she would be standing before him and he would have to reveal some awful things, and he did not know how she would react.

At least he was about to find out how she would cope with such news.

“Your Grace!” She smiled upon seeing him. “It is a surprise to see you this morning, but not to worry. I can have Cook arrange something if you wish.”

“That will not be necessary.”

“Oh? Is everything alright?”

“It may be nothing at all, but I must inform you of something. Might we find somewhere with some privacy?”

“We can go to the end of the gardens. We shall not be bothered there.”

As they wandered the gardens, Colin noticed how happy she seemed to see him, even if he had come with possibly terrible news. The good weather had continued, and the sunlight made her dark hair appear to be streaked with gold.

“I was hoping to see you, Your Grace,” she said gently. “I was hoping to thank you for what you did yesterday.”

“There is no need to thank me. It is my duty to care for you.”

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