Page 40 of The Replacement Duchess

“He has, but who knows how long this will last? He is fragile right now, and if you ask me, I believe it is only a matter of time before he goes back to how it was, and Samantha doesn’t deserve that.”

“No. No, she does not. It is not a question. She is welcome to stay any time. You need not ask me permission, either. She need only arrive, and we will handle the rest.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You need not thank me,” he said gently. “It is as I told you. We are to be a family, and that includes your sister.”

“A family.” She nodded. “I do like the sound of that, you know.”

“As do I.”

They returned to the others, and it was as though Lady Diana had become the lady he met once more. She smiled and laughed and told people precisely what she thought, which seemed to earn a few gasps and glances, but Colin did not care.

She was bright once more, and she was beautiful.

CHAPTER 11

The festivities of the garden party did not last.

The following morning, Colin’s sleep was interrupted by Charles. In any other household, there would be a butler who welcomed guests and asked the man of the house if they could enter, but such a thing was not in place for Charles. Fortunately, he had the decency to wait outside of his bedchambers for him to dress.

“Tell me why I allow you to show up here unannounced,” Colin groaned, opening his door.

“Because I am the only friend you have,” Charles replied brightly. “Now, there is something I must discuss with you.”

“Can you not wait until I am a married man to bring business to me?”

“It is your wife-to-be and business matters that have brought me here.”

At this, Colin perked up.

“If you are here to propose something, I must decline, especially if it pertains to my wife.”

“It is quite the opposite. I wish to make you aware of something that I have heard about.”

“Very well, I shall have Cook prepare some biscuits.”

“And perhaps something a little stronger than tea. Believe me, you shall need it.”

Soon enough, the gentlemen were seated in Colin’s study, eating. Colin eyed him carefully, unsure of what he was going to say about Lady Diana.

“The Earl was at White’s last night,” Charles began.

“That is a gentlemen’s club, not exactly a place of business, unless you are the owner.”

“Which is precisely my issue. He was in a drunken stupor, his usual state if I am not mistaken, and raving about some business plan he has, and asking anyone who would listen to invest.”

“The Earl has not been drinking. Lady Diana has told me herself. You must be confusing him with someone else.”

“Unlike you, Abaddon, I am aware of those in Society. Believe me, it was him.”

“And what is it that he wants them to invest in, exactly?”

“I do not know, nor does anyone really. He was quite incomprehensible. It is as I said, he was in there raving.”

“Do you suppose Lady Diana is aware of it?”

“If she has not mentioned it to you, I suppose not.”

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