Page 87 of The Replacement Duchess

“No—no! That will not be necessary,” a second one said quickly. “The Duke need not know about this.”

“I should think not, for I would hate for you to be out of work, as given the Duke’s opinion of all of this, I can assure you that you would never find employment elsewhere. Now, I will not ask a third time, and so this is your final chance. Where is my sister?”

The footmen glanced towards one another before one of them stepped away.

“I shall take you, Your Grace. It shall be a few days’ travel, but we are aware of inns to stay in.”

“We will go until we no longer can,” Diana instructed as she boarded a carriage. “We must find her at once. Do you understand?”

“Yes, of course.”

“And if any harm has come to her, it shall be your necks,” she thundered, turning to the others.

“Yes, Your Grace.” They nodded in unison.

And with that, the carriage lurched into action. Now that she had gotten what she wanted as far as leaving for her sister, she felt herself relax the smallest amount and instantly felt for the man driving her there. She had only meant to frighten him into telling her what she wanted to know, not threaten him.

She knocked on the wall to get his attention.

“Yes, Your Grace?” he asked.

“I only wish to apologize,” she explained. “I know that this was her fault and that she can be quite persuasive. I did not mean to say those things. I only wish to find her.”

“Of course, Your Grace. I understand, I would do the same for my own sister if required. You need not apologize.”

She was supposed to be the brilliant and kind duchess that the village had needed, and she had thought that she had succeeded, but sitting in the carriage, being driven by the man she had spoken to so unkindly, made her wonder if that were the case.

Perhaps that was why she was following after her sister.

She could not picture Samantha as a nun. She had all of the virtues of one, to be sure, but it simply did not seem to be the correct way for her to live. Diana wondered if that was what she truly desired. Samantha was an intelligent girl, and she was not one to make such a snap decision like that without having a good reason for it, and now here she was on the run.

The journey continued for hours. The sun dipped in the sky, painting it orange, and then eventually the driver knocked for her once more.

“Yes?” she asked.

“I am afraid we shall have to stop soon. The horse requires rest.”

“Of course,” she sighed. “Very well.”

Diana did not wish to stop. She wanted to continue until they reached the monastery so that she could find Samantha and at least listen to her, but she understood that that was impossible. She had to find it in her to be more understanding than she had been of late, as it might have helped her marriage to have been so.

“Your Grace!” the driver called suddenly.

“Is there a problem?” she replied.

“No, but it is urgent. Look!”

The carriage came to a stop, and when Diana looked out the window, she saw another carriage with the Abaddon crest. She dove out of the carriage, knowing all too well what that had to mean. She went directly into the inn and saw an older woman.

“Evening,” the old woman said brightly. “What can I do for you?”

“My sister,” Diana stammered, “she is here. She must have arrived recently.”

“Ah, the young lady? I thought you looked familiar. Yes, she is here. Right this way.”

Already, Diana could feel relief washing over her. Samantha was here, and she was safe, and she was not in some monastery alone.

Samantha seemed equally relieved to see her.

---