Page 78 of The Replacement Duchess

Diana knew that. She knew that all she needed to say was that she had been finding it difficult to adapt to married life andSamantha would help her, but she could not bring herself to. Her marriage, as far as Samantha was concerned, was her escape from the life that they had been living. It was a chance at a new life, and Diana knew that. She had been so incredibly fortunate, and she was destroying it by wanting more.

“Everything is fine,” she said gently. “Marriage is not completely easy, and there have been trials to be sure, but it is nothing that I cannot navigate.”

“Of course, for you are the most capable person that I know.”

“And you and I both know that you do not know many people.”

“Be that as it may.” Samantha laughed. “That is not to say that you are not brilliant. You are, and I know it, and the Duke knows it, and soon enough, the county will know it. How is that going, by the way?”

“Now that is something that I am extremely happy with. Would you like to take a tour with me?”

Her sister’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, can I? Will the Duke be accompanying us?”

“I do not think so,” Diana mumbled. “He… He has a lot of work to do at the moment.”

“Oh… Well, you can always ask, can’t you?”

She could, of course. Colin would not be angry with her for asking him to join them in the village, but she could not bring herself to do it. He had sent her away the night before, and it was unlikely that it would be any different simply because Samantha was there.

Then again, he did feel a great deal of empathy and sympathy for Samantha, given her situation. Perhaps, given the fact that she would only be there a while, he would pity them and join them?

That was what Diana hoped as she approached his study, with Samantha on her heels. She knocked, and then she heard him invite her in.

“Good morning,” she said politely.

“Good afternoon,” he replied, and Diana remembered that she had, indeed, slept for far too long.

“My sister and I are going into the village,” she explained. “And we were wondering if you might join us.”

“As much as I would love to, I cannot.”

“Very well.”

Diana saw how Samantha glanced between the two of them, the confusion evident in her eyes.

“That is a shame, Your Grace,” Samantha sighed. “My sister tells me that you have a lot to do, and I understand, but I have missed having a brother of late.”

He seemed to soften at her words.

“Perhaps tomorrow?” he offered, and Samantha lit up once more.

“That would be brilliant.”

Diana hoped that her confusion and subsequent excitement were simply due to the fact that Colin had always allowed her to have her own way, and she liked it and was thus confused at not having it, but the second they boarded the carriage, the younger sister’s face fell once more.

“Now that we are completely alone,” Samantha sighed, “and as you will not tell me of your own accord, I shall have to ask you myself. What is wrong?”

“Nothing,” Diana lied once more. “There is nothing wrong at all. The Duke perhaps has less time for me whilst he is otherwise occupied, but other than that, he and I could not be happier.”

“Then why did you speak to each other like that?”

“Like what?”

“Good afternoon, might you accompany my sister and me?” Samantha repeated, almost in a mocking tone. “I am not simply your sister to him. I am Samantha, or at least Lady Samantha. I am practically his sister by now.”

“Is that what this is about? Because I can always refer to you as Samantha rather than my sister if that pleases you.”

“You know exactly what this is about,” Samantha huffed. “Something has changed between the two of you, and I want you to tell me what it is.”

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