Page 43 of The Duchess' Replacement

Sarah blinked owlishly at him. She looked behind her to see if a maid was standing there. He couldn’t be talking to her in such a casual manner.

She could count on one hand how many conversations she has had with her husband and none of them had him offering up information about his plans.

“Is all well?” Her voice cracked. Her cheeks heated at the awkwardness of the situation.

Charles shook his head. “Nothing to concern yourself with, just some business I need to attend to in the next town over.”

Sarah’s hackles rose. He was most likely establishing another deal that rob their people of a lucrative deal.

Charles swung his coat over his broad shoulders. “I just wanted to let you know you won’t be seeing me. Samuels knows how to get in touch with me if there is a problem.”

Sarah’s eyes drifted over to Samuels who was standing at Charles’s side.

She nodded in acknowledgment and watched as Charles turned on his heel and left without another word.

Sarah closed the book in her lap and jumped up, placing the book on the table.

She rushed out into the hall just in time to see Charles step out of the house. She walked quickly to the front door and watched the carriage pull away.

“Is he really going to be gone until the day after tomorrow?” She asked Samuels who was at the door.

Samuels dipped his head. “Yes. He will not return until the evening after next.”

A wicked smile danced across Sarah’s face.

“Perfect.” She squealed.

Samuels stepped in front of her as she tried to turn.

“May I be of service you, Your Grace.”

His old grey eyes looked alarmed which made her smile wider.

“If you could ready a carriage for me, Samuels, that would be wonderful. I’m in the mood to some shopping while His Grace is away.”

She brushed past him and walked towards the stairs with a little bounce in her step. Ideas were running rampant in her mind and she couldn’t decide what she wanted to do first.

“A carriage, Your Grace?” Samuels stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up to her. His eyes pleading for her to not do whatever it was she was planning on doing.

Sarah had to bite her tongue. Samuels may seem quiet and out of the way, but the man was a good judge of character. Recalling their first meeting together Sarah took some pity on the man. Between dealing with the Duke’s mood swings and now herself, poor Samuels didn’t get a break.

“Yes, a carriage.” She paused at the top of the stair. “Do you know if William is free?”

Samuels’s face pinched in thought. “I think so, Your Grace. Will you be needing him for your trip?”

Sarah continued up the stairs, wishing she could take two steps at a time. “Yes. Oh, and Lizzie. Could you find both of them and have them meet me outside at the carriage as soon as possible?”

“May I ask what you’re looking to buy, Your Grace? So I know where to direct the coachman.” He added when she threw a questioningly look his way.

“Ah, yes. I’m in the mood to do some redecorating. A stop at Miss Cordell’s will be first and we’ll go from there.”

“Redecorating, Your Grace?” Samuels’s voice squeaked in the most unmanly way causing Sarah to giggle.

Sarah wasn’t proud to admit but watching the color drain from Samuels face gave her a thrill. He was obviously, and with good reason, nervous about her plans. If he was anxious about her plans, Sarah couldn’t wait to see how the Duke would react.

She didn’t give Samuels time to voice any concerns. She turned and hurried down the hallway with bright floral patterns and different shades of pink filling her mind. Oh, and ruffles. The Duke must simply have ruffles. After all, the Duchess was in charge of the house and the Duchess loved ruffles.

It was high time Sarah made her mark on the household and she knew the perfect room to start with. The Duke’s study.

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