Page 44 of The Replacement Duchess

“Did the Duke not wish to stay? He usually does.”

“He… he had something to do today that required his attention.”

“Ah, so there are things more important to him than his betrothed?”

“You are being unfair, and you know it.”

“I only say it in jest. He likes you a great deal, I can tell.”

“Do you think so?” Diana asked. “I never can tell. Sometimes, it feels as though he could truly like me one day, then other times it feels as though he would find far greater happiness if he were with another.”

“Di, you do not see the way he looks at you when you are not looking at him. His eyes follow you. Even when he and I converse, he is looking for you and he is not secretive about it.”

“You are only saying that to make me feel better.”

“I would never do such a thing, not by lying at least. He is a good man, I truly am starting to believe it, and he would never do anything to us that is not in our best interests. You know that I am right.”

“I do.”

“Then all is well, and I cannot wait to visit you, although I must say that with how Father has been of late, I may have two households that I enjoy being a part of.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that you were right. I have been unfair to him. After all this time, he truly does seem to have changed for the better, and I ought to stop holding the past against him.”

Diana chewed on her bottom lip.

“There is something that you are not telling me, isn’t there?” Samantha asked.

“If there were,” Diana replied carefully, “would you want to know?”

“Of course, I would, unless it were a surprise that you had planned for me, but from the look on your face, it would appear that that is not the case.”

“It is not, unfortunately.”

“Then what is it? If it is important, I would like to know sooner rather than later.”

“It is about Father. The Duke has it on good authority that he is still drinking.”

“Ah.”

“So I suppose you were right, after all.”

“I wish I was not. I would have much preferred to be completely wrong and had a father who cared about us enough to keep himself in line.”

“Are you upset?”

“It is hard to be when you hardly expect anything different than disappointment. But it is quite alright. He has simply returned to how he was before. It hardly changes anything.”

But Samantha was still eyeing Diana carefully, an eyebrow raised. “Unless there is something that does change things?” she asked.

“Well, yes there is. He is going to the gentlemen’s club and asking people to invest in his business.”

“Father does not have a business.”

“Which is precisely why I am confused. He usually likes to talk to anyone and everyone about his grandiose plans, when he is capable of doing so of course, but this time he has kept it from us completely. I do not understand.”

“Do you think that he will tell you? He hardly ever gives us honesty.”

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