Page 42 of The Replacement Duchess

“But there are many gentlemen who do not carry out such a duty, regardless of whether or not they should. Besides, it is notas though you have any obligations to me as yet, for we are not married.”

“Do you wish to know something, Lady Diana?”

“Certainly.”

“I did not defend you because you are to be my wife. I defended you because I like you a great deal. Such matters as whether or not I have yet to put a wedding ring on your finger do not change how I act. You can take that as you wish, whether you like or dislike my feelings towards you, but that is how it is.”

“I am quite content with that.” She smirked. “Now, what is it that you wished to tell me?”

Suddenly, he did not wish to. He knew that her relationship with her father had been fragile of late and that she had been trying to trust the man for the first time in her life. This was going to destroy that irreparably, and he wanted her to have a little more time with the belief that her father had changed.

But he knew that it would either be him who told her or someone else, someone who was aiming to hurt her.

“It pertains to your father,” he sighed.

“He has been brilliant of late, hasn’t he? I must admit, I had my doubts at first, but so much time has passed and he is still thefather I have always wanted. Samantha is less trusting of it, but I truly do think that he has changed.”

“What exactly has changed about him?”

“He has breakfast with us now, and that may sound like nothing, but after so many years of having absolutely nothing from him, that hour a day feels like an eternity. In a good way, of course.”

“To be sure.”

“And it is though he truly does understand us when we speak with him now. He used to make this sort of grunting sound in response, but now he truly does listen. It is something that I never saw happening, but it is lovely. It makes me wish that it had always been this way, but I know that it is better that he is making an effort now rather than never having done so.”

“And you truly believe he will stay this way?”

“Why do you ask?” she said quietly. “Do you not? Oh, God, do not tell me that he has asked to speak with you. I dread to think what he might tell you about me. I have not done anything terrible, I assure you, but he is still harboring some resentment to me after what happened with Samantha, and?—”

“Your father has been drinking.”

“Drinking?” she echoed. “No he hasn’t. I am yet to see him with a drink in his hand. Not only that, but he has been home all day with Samantha and me.”

“He has been seen at White’s. He has been drinking there, then begging some of the gentlemen there to invest in his business venture, not that anyone is certain of what it is. I do not know what he is doing that makes it possible for him to resume fatherly duties so effortlessly, but the gentleman who told me is not a fool.”

But he could tell from the look of disbelief on her face that she did not wish to listen to him.

“Are you angry with me?”

“No,” she whispered. “No, of course not. I only—I thought he was going to be better now. I knew that it was wrong of me, but a part of me hoped that I was putting my trust in him for a good reason this time. I feel like such a fool.”

“It may be that I am the one that is wrong.”

He said it too quickly, and he bit his lip immediately. He knew that Charles was right. He knew that the Earl was doing precisely what he had been accused of. There was no doubt in his mind, but for some reason, he had instinctively tried to say something that would make Lady Diana happier.

“I hope you are wrong,” she said softly. “I hope that this is simply a misunderstanding and that all will be as it was and my father truly has changed. I shall speak with him tonight about it, and see if he has any explanation.”

“Would you like me to be there?” he offered. “I could stay here. If he has any questions, I would be happy to tell him all that I can. I want the two of you to find an understanding, no matter the situation.”

“You are kind, but I think it might be best to keep this matter in the family for the moment, just while I learn the truth of the matter.”

He must have looked as hurt by that as he had felt, because the moment she saw him, she seemed to panic.

“Not that I do not consider you my family!” she said quickly. “I do, in the same way that you do the same for me. I only mean that my father sees me as his daughter, but until we are married, he will not yet see you as his son, and frankly, I believe he is so afraid of you that he will not dare confess anything if you are present.”

“No, of course. I know what you meant.”

“Did I hurt your feelings, Your Grace?”

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