Page 5 of The Duchess' Replacement

“I’m done.” She spat. “I’m not waiting for someone to rescue me any more. I’m going to find out what happened myself.”

Charlotte sat shocked as she watched her daughter run from one side of the room to the other collecting her shoes and an overcoat.

“What… what do you mean? Sarah.” Charlotte reached out, but Sarah stepped around her outstretched arm. “What are you doing? Where are you going?”

Sarah paused at her bedroom door.

“I’m going to the man himself. I will get an answer as to why he left me standing at the alter. I will rescue myself.”

CHAPTER 2

Charles slammed his tumbler down on the sideboard. Whisky splashed out of the glass onto his hand.

“Dammit.” He brought up his hand and sucked the spilled drink off his wrist. He glanced at the clock. He hasn’t seen his brother since he saw Eli’s retreating back leaving the house this morning. Charles thought he was going to the church, but it turns out his bloody brother had other plans.

Charles threw back the rest of his whisky. He was right when he threatened to drag Eli to the church himself. It was the only way he could have ensured the bloody bastard would have gone through with the marriage. The damned fool.

The girl’s face flashed in his mind. Big, blue eyes, rounded and confused as she tried to see who was walking out of the church’s door. He could no longer watch the poor girl stand there in front of everyone while his brother was god knows where, doing god knows what.

Fortunately for Eli, Charles could not find him. Not for lack of trying. Charles sent his men to Eli’s favorite haunts and they all turned up empty.

Disgrace and disgust bubbled up within him.

“That stupid, son-of-a-”

His words were cut off by loud banging coming from the hallway.

“What the dueces was that?”

Another loud bang thudded followed by a female voice raging at who mostly likely was his poor butler, Samuels.

Charles charged into the hallway to see what the commotion was and stopped dead when he recognized the slight frame.

“I’m sorry, Miss, His Grace is not to be disturbed.” Samuels voice rang out amidst the banging.

Charles approached his butler who had his arms out trying to hold back the tiny tyrant from entering his house.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not here to see His Grace.” She all but spat the title. “I want to see his brother, Eli. I demand I see him at once.”

If there was any doubt who it was, her voice confirmed it.

The girl. Lady Sarah.

He was never formally introduced to the girl while his brother was courting her but he overheard several of their conversations. She normally had a jovial timber to her voice that had just a touch of velvet underneath it.

It was not surprising she did not sound so jovial in this instant.

Her eyes were just as big as they were in the church, but this time instead of confusion and embarrassment they showed fire and vitriol.

“Samuels.”

At the sound of his name, the butler turned, looking helpless.

“I’m sorry for the interruption, Your Grace. She is insisting on coming in.”

The girl’s eyes flashed and narrowed. “She is right here and can speak for herself.”

Charles rolled his lips to stop from smiling.

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