Page 82 of The Replacement Duchess

This was in part because she liked Helen a lot, but also because Diana knew completely and utterly that Samantha would adore her. They were so similar that it was impossible for it to be otherwise.

“And this is my sister Samantha,” she added, to which Samantha curtseyed. “She is visiting for a while.”

“That is so lovely,” Helen sighed. “It is lovely to meet you. Are you married?”

“Heavens, no.” Samantha laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Oh! Then what do you do with your time?”

“I like to learn all that I can without ever setting foot in any institute of education,” she sighed. “As for yourself? Are you married?”

“No, although I would very much like to be. My mama says that my time will come, but I simply cannot wait! I shall be twentysoon, and then what will come of me? I shall be a spinster by then.”

“Well, my sister did not marry until she was five and twenty, so who is to say that you will not make an advantageous match? It seems to not matter whether or not you are a debutante.”

“I hope so. Do you truly not plan to marry?”

“No, and frankly, it is tiring having that always be the first question that people ask me.”

“My apologies.” Helen nodded. “In that case, might you prefer to tell me what it is that you are currently reading?”

“NowthatI would be glad to discuss.” Samantha smiled. “It is a book about plants, and their names and uses. I was never one to fully grasp botany, but this one is brilliant for simple explanations, and I hope that with time, I shall be able to understand the more complicated parts.”

“I cannot say that I understand botany myself, but I do so love flowers. Might you know the language of them?”

“Of course! Every young lady should, as should every gentleman wishing to please one. That is part of the reason why I wished to learn more about plants, and then it all sort of continued.”

“That sounds brilliant. May we all be so lucky that we might be able to learn.”

“It is a gift, to be sure. I simply wish that I could attend university.”

Diana laughed. “If you attended university, I would never see you again. You would simply finish one course and then begin another, repeating the cycle until you are old and gray.”

“And I would be so incredibly content with that.”

“I would be content with embroidering flowers,” Helen pointed out. “Rather than baking bread with my mother every day.”

“You know how to bake?” Samantha asked.

“Of course! My family owns the bakery. It is not exactly the sort of thing I like to do, but it keeps my family afloat, and I shall do anything to make that continue.”

“I would so love to work.”

“Believe me, you would not. It is hard.”

“But at the end of the day, you can look around yourself and feel a sense of accomplishment. I, meanwhile, can only look at the pianoforte I have been playing or the socks that I have darned. I feel more like some exotic bird.”

“Then perhaps we could trade places one day?” Helen joked. “Then we can both live the lives we have always dreamed of.”

“Should it ever come to that point, I shall agree to that.”

“Yes.” Diana nodded. “Except for the fact that thetonwould know something was amiss instantly.”

“Theton,” Samantha pointed out, “has seen us perhaps thrice in total. They shall not notice a difference, and it is not as though Father would care.”

Diana wanted to argue that he would, but she was not one to lie.

“In which case.” Helen smiled. “I shall await your sudden invitation. It will be most joyful, I am sure.”

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