Page 3 of The Replacement Duchess

“Very well. One it is, and then when you have a wonderful night and you are begging me to attend another together, I shall laugh brightly and remind you that I told you so.”

“If you insist, but that will not happen. I have done all of this before, remember?”

“That was different. That was seven years ago, when Father had forced you out when you did not wish to be and you were seen in London for the first time since?—”

Neither one of them could bring themselves to say it, even then.

“What I mean to say is,” Samantha continued, “it was a shock to them all, and they were bound to talk. This time is different, though. This time, I shall be there too, and it will be the two of us facing it, if there is even anything to say at all.”

“Of course, there will be things to say about us.”

“With all of the scandals in London? You cannot believe that. There will be some viscount that has had an illegitimate heir, or a daughter of some duke that hopes to marry a commoner, or some other such thing that is far more interesting than the two Winston sisters re-entering Society.”

“I do not believe that even slightly.”

“And you are probably correct not to.” Samantha grinned. “But we will not know for sure if we do not try. If it is truly terrible,then we shall leave immediately and never attend another ball, and I shall never pester you again.”

“Yet another thing that I wholeheartedly do not believe.”

“Well, this time you are wrong. I promise not to mention it ever again if you truly do hate it.”

Diana hated that she couldn’t say no to her sister.

The following day, the two of them ransacked their wardrobes, searching for a gown each. There had not been any money for their clothes in a long time; their father was positive that it was a waste of money, as they would only outgrow them. Neither sister felt like telling him that they were ladies now and would not grow any taller than they were. It would have been pointless to do so.

“What about this?” Samantha asked, pulling a pale green gown out of the pile. “This would be perfect for you. It is the same color as your eyes.”

“It is also a size too small. It always was. I shall already be quite uncomfortable all evening, and so I should like my gown to not add to that.”

“That is a shame, because it is the best gown we seem to have.”

“Then you can wear it. You are smaller than me, and you ought to outshine me anyway, as you are the one on the marriage mart.”

“I could never outshine you,” she sighed. “But it is such a lovely gown. Very well, I shall. And you can wear… this one!”

Diana’s breath caught in her throat. In her sister’s hands, there was a light blue gown, one that was all too familiar to her even if Samantha did not recognize it.

“What is it?” Samantha asked. “Do you not like it?”

“I like it all too much. It’s Aunt Roberta’s.”

It had been one of her favorites, and throughout the two years that she had stayed with them, Diana had watched her walk around in it and dream of having one of her own one day.

“Then you simply must wear it.” Samantha nodded firmly. “If it fits you, then it is meant to be. Let us try it on you!”

“No!” Diana yelped, and her sister jumped back slightly.

“What is it?”

“It is just so perfect. It is not mine to wear. Besides, what if it does not fit me at all? It shall only waste time.”

“But it looks to be your size. What is the worst that could happen?”

I could look at myself,Diana thought to herself,and not be half the lady she was.

“It isn’t the right one,” she replied, shaking her head. “What about this one?”

“That hideous yellow one? That simply will not do. No, it will be the blue one. At least try it on.”

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