Page 58 of The Replacement Duchess

“But it is clearly something that you are thinking about.”

“It is not. I do not wish to talk about it, and I would appreciate it if you could respect that.”

Diana did respect his wish, of course, but that did not make it any easier to pretend he had not revealed such information to her.

“Of course.” She nodded.

“Thank you. Now, if you are not completely worn out from your tour this morning, might you be interested in a second tour given by me? I can tell you some more personal aspects of the house, rather than the facts and figures that you were no doubt given before.”

“There was certainly a good amount of them, yes.” She grimaced. “And you mustn’t tell her, but I do not remember a good amount of them. I was far too tired for it to sink in properly.”

“My lips are sealed,” he promised. “In that case, it will be good for you to go around a second time.”

They finished their tea, and then she was quickly whisked away through the house once more. It was vast, though a little outdated in terms of style. Diana did not mind that at all, of course, as her last home had been much the same whilst also being very small, indeed.

There would be a lot for her to tend to each day, even with all of the help that was there. It was quite daunting, but having raised Samantha, she was quite sure that she could take on such a role. Then they passed by a door, and Colin did not open it.

“What is that one?” she asked, pausing by the door.

Her husband seemed uncomfortable at the mere sight of it.

“It is nothing. I believe it is for storage.”

But Diana was not simple. She knew that the expression on his face meant that there was something inside. She raised an eyebrow at him, and when he motioned for her to follow him, she refused, her feet planted firmly where they were.

“Come along,” Colin said firmly, but she remained still.

“If it is for storage, I ought to know what is inside,” she argued. “It is for me to tend to, is it not?”

“It is of no concern to you.”

“I thought this was my home in the same way that it is yours.”

“It is, but there are some things that are not for you to see.”

“Not in a home that is mine, there is not.”

“Diana—”

“Colin.”

“Can you please not argue with me on this?”

“I thought you did not want a wife that simpered and did as she was told?” she pointed out. “Besides, I told you what was troubling me. Then you refused to tell me the same for you, and now here you are, doing it again. This is unfair, and you know it is.”

“It is completely different.”

“How?”

“I do not need to explain myself to you.”

“Yes, you do. I am your wife.”

“And sometimes husbands know things that they cannot tell their wives.”

“So you are hiding something from me?”

“Please stop doing this.”

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