Page 86 of The Replacement Duchess

“Of course. I have no feelings on the matter, thus my personal beliefs do not affect what I tell you to do. In any case, if I ever felt for a lady the way you feel for your wife, I would not be nursing an ailment at a friend’s when I could be at home being tended to there. I would not have even drunk in the first place.”

“I have made a terrible mistake, haven’t I?”

“Yes, but not one that cannot be fixed. Now, rest well, and when you are ready to return home and speak with your wife, do so. The two of you could have the most beautiful thing, so long as you stop letting your pride get in the way.”

Colin, at last, gave in to his condition and slept a while longer. Charles was not there when he awoke, and he was glad for that because it gave him time to think.

He had truly made a mistake. Diana had her flaws, to be sure, but he was realizing all too late that he was falling for her and he was too far gone to do anything to stop it. He had always liked her well enough, to be sure, but love? It had never been in question—that had been the point of their marriage, to begin with. Now that he thought of her, though, and the way she might have given up on him after he had rejected her, he was paralyzed.

He had to go to her.

He left some coins on Charles’ table, to thank him for his hospitality and his advice, and rushed out the door. He was partly glad that his friend had been absent, as he had never accepted payment from him.

The house was quiet when he returned. At first, he thought nothing of it; her sister was visiting, and there was plenty to do in the village, so it made sense that they would be making the most of their time together. Then he saw how the servants avoided his gaze. Something was amiss, and he knew it, but nobody seemed brave enough to tell him.

“Miss Thornton,” he called, chasing after the housekeeper, who seemed startled to see him. “What is going on?”

“It is the ladies, Your Grace,” she explained, a pained expression on her face. “You see, they are not here, and they have not told us where they are.”

“Is that all? They are likely merely in the village.”

“We had thought the same until—well, this was found in Lady Samantha’s room on the floor. It was addressed to the Duchess, and… It is better that you read it for yourself.”

Colin looked at the opened letter in Miss Thornton’s hands. He had returned home to fix what had happened with his wife, not to read something that was addressed to her. It was an invasion of privacy, one that he was shocked to discover his staff had committed, but he saw the concern on his housekeeper’s face, so he had no choice. He gritted his teeth and looked down at the paper.

Di,

I have written this letter a hundred different ways, and each time I have thrown it into the fireplace. I have been trying to tell you for a while now, ever since your wedding in fact. Now that I have seen your life, however, I finally feel ready to tell you no matter how I do it.

I am leaving. Father has been trying to find a match for me since you left, and I cannot bear it any longer. He does not care to whom I am betrothed, simply that I am not there when his son arrives. I do not even know if he knows of our existence. Ido not mean to be a burden, nor to cause you any pain, but I cannot do it anymore.

And so, I have decided to run away to a monastery. You may think me a villain for leaving without a goodbye, or a coward, but that is something that I shall have to live with. Failing that, you could come with me. If you are truly unhappy, then do something about it and leave. We could do just as we have always wanted and stay just the two of us, never needing a man to handle our affairs for us.

If you wish to come with me, ask one of the footmen. They know where I am, and I have given them the last of my pin money to ensure their silence. If you are happy, and you do not wish to follow me and instead wish to work on your marriage, then that is perfectly fine. I wish you all the best, but this will be goodbye.

I shall adore you forever, Sister.

Best regards,

Samantha.

Colin’s hands were shaking. He could not believe a single word that he had read. It was enough to know that Samantha was gone and he had hardly spoken to her at all. She was a sister to him, and he had been so determined to hide away that he had missed her completely.

Then he realized that Diana was not at home, which could only mean one thing.

Their marriage had not been perfect thus far, but had it been beyond repair for her? Had it truly been so taxing on her that she wished to run away from him? Just before, she had wanted them to be closer, that much was clear, and now she was gone. Perhaps his rejection had been the last proof she needed to know that he did not love her, and at last, he realized, standing in that room with the letter pinned between his fingers, that that could not have been further from the truth.

He had pushed her too far away, and now she was gone, and he had never given himself the chance to tell her that he needed her.

He loved her.

CHAPTER 26

“Where is she?” Diana ordered as she stormed towards the footmen.

“We do not know what you mean, Your Grace,” one of them replied, though he seemed quite afraid of her.

“You know exactly what I mean. Now, I have been good enough not to tell the Duke of this, but if you wish for me to tell him of the bribery that you have willingly engaged in, then I can certainly arrange that.”

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