Page 56 of The Replacement Duchess

“Then stay,” she pleaded at last.

She could not have said anything more beautiful in such few words.

“Is that what you want?”

“I do not want anything else. I do not know what you have in store for me tonight, but I want it. I want you. It is all that I want.”

And perhaps it was because she never truly had expressed what she wanted, but he nodded and lay down in the bed beside her. He told himself that that was the reason, at least. She was a friend, and his friend wanted company, and he could give her that. He ignored the way she looked with a single curl falling over her face as she fell asleep once more, and the fact that there was a delicate smile on her lips, and the way she was still wearing that dreadful corset and was somehow managing to sleep with it on. She was his friend, and a good one too, and he was going to protect her.

Yet, even though he was exhausted, it took a long time before he stopped watching her and closed his eyes.

The following morning was strange. Colin was quite convinced that Diana had moved into his arms during the night, but when he awoke, she was no longer there, so he assumed that it had been a dream. It had felt so real, though.

He had been married but a day and he was already convinced that he was becoming mad.

In fact, were it not for the fact that he was in the Duchess’s room, he would have believed that he had dreamt the entire night up. Diana was gone, along with any trace that she had been there at all.

It had not been a dream, of course, and he found her in the drawing room, drinking tea with a lady’s maid. He had found one for her, knowing perfectly well that her sister would need the one that they shared far more.

“You are finding your way already, I see,” he said brightly.

“Good morning, Your Grace!” she said brightly, immediately going to pour his tea. “Yes, I apologize for disappearing, but I simply had to look around.”

“I do not blame you, although I was hoping that the housekeeper would take you for a tour herself.”

“She did.” Diana laughed softly. “It is the afternoon, you know.”

As it turned out, Colin certainly had required sleep.

“Ah, well, in that case, I am glad that you know your way around.”

“It shall take some time for me to remember it all, but yes. It was quite thorough, too, and so I shall have no excuses if I am dreadful.”

“You will not be dreadful, I assure you.”

“The Viscountess Livingston is truly dreadful, you know,” the lady’s maid said kindly to Diana. “That is where I am from. Believe me, you cannot run a household as terribly as she does. She runs through at least ten servants a week if you can believe it.”

“Ten?” Diana echoed. “Very well, I am not sure whether that concerns me even more or if it soothes me. I am quite sure that even I will not be that terrible, at least.”

“You will not.” The lady’s maid smiled.

Colin was quite proud of himself that he had managed to find the perfect lady’s maid for his wife. They would be friends, he was sure of it.

“Emma,” he said gently, “might you give my wife and me a moment? I require a word with her.”

“Certainly, Your Grace.” Emma nodded, before giving a quick smile to Diana and leaving.

“She is wonderful.” Diana beamed. “Thank you for finding her for me.”

“There is no need to thank me. Now, last night, you told me that you needed to tell me something, as it is troubling you. I wish to know.”

Suddenly, she seemed completely uneasy around him. He did not like how uncomfortable she was, nor how quickly it came over her.

“If you are still not ready to tell me?—”

“No,” she said quickly. “No, it is quite alright. I will tell you now. I simply—Well, I do not know where to start.”

“Take all of the time that you need,” he said kindly, “I am here.”

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