Page 44 of The Unwanted Duchess

“I intend to take care of her if that is what you mean. I am aware in general of how the two of you were raised, and you must know that I wish to take that pain away from her.”

“And what of your childhood?” Colin asked, leaning forward. “I must say, I am not familiar with your family name.”

“That is for the better, I suppose. I am not particularly proud of where I come from, but I prefer to rely on the name that I have made for myself rather than the one that I inherited. As a duke yourself, I am sure that you know the feeling.”

This seemed to satisfy Colin, who promptly sat back in his chair.

“My sister tells me that you will try to enroll her in university,” Diana continued. “Will this be before or after you have children?”

“At first, I said it would wait until after, but I soon changed my mind. If it is what your sister wants, then it is what she will have at any cost. Money is no object to me. If anything, I wish to burn through it as quickly as I can.”

“So, you are untrustworthy with money?”

“Not at all. I have simply been left an inheritance that is worth more than I know what to do with, and I am more than happy to spend it as I see fit, and if my wife wishes to have tutors or attend university, then let me simply say that it can and will be done. I want her happiness every bit as much as you do.”

Samantha wondered how Diana would take that. For years, she had been the only one to want Samantha’s happiness, and for someone to say they wanted it just as much as she did was rather dangerous.

Fortunately, Diana liked this response and at last sat back in her chair like her husband.

“Very well,” she accepted. “In which case, it is wonderful to meet you, and I simply cannot wait to get to know you more.”

At last, Diana was back to normal. They all laughed gently, and Diana sighed and took a deep breath.

“My apologies,” she smirked. “I only asked because I doubt that my father has, and I cannot have my sister running away with a man that does not have her best interests at heart.”

“I would not marry her if I did not.”

“You need not say such things. My sister has explained your situation, and whilst I am surprised that she managed to make such a blunder, I will tell you that we understand your position more than you might think.”

Samantha tensed. She knew that her sister was not trying to infer anything, but it still did not feel nice to have Diana speaking so brazenly about what had happened. She felt like a child and as though she had to sit quietly while those of age spoke with one another.

The three of them began discussing matters that Samantha did not know too much about, and for the first time in her life, she felt as though she were not truly a part of things when she should have. At the party Lord Drowshire hosted, she did not knowanyone in attendance, and so it was perfectly normal to feel different, but now? She was sitting with her fiancé, her sister, and her brother-in-law, and she could not think of a single thing to say. All that she could do was watch them converse and wish she knew what to say.

Diana made Graham laugh. She made him really, truly laugh. Samantha had never seen him so happy, and she did not know how to feel. They had enjoyed each other’s company and talked about their childhoods and all that they had faced and overcome and needed, but was that enough? Would she make her husband happy, or could he find someone better suited to him? It was nauseating.

A few hours later, Graham thanked his hosts and left. Samantha stayed behind, and Colin quickly made himself scarce so that the two sisters could speak with one another.

“You seemed rather tense,” Diana said gently, “Were you all right? I should have asked sooner, but I did not wish to make a fuss.”

“I was perfectly fine. It was rather unnerving to see you both change so drastically when you were speaking to him.”

“Surely you understand why we did that? We had discussed it beforehand, that we were going to try and intimidate him. Do you suppose it worked?”

“I do not believe so, no.”

“Then that is perfect. We cannot have you married to a gentleman that cannot hold his own, and as far as I am concerned, he most certainly can.”

“I’m nervous, Di,” Samantha said suddenly.

“That is to be expected. Your wedding is in two days. I would hope you feel something, at least, else it would be proof that you did not care at all. Everything will work out beautifully though, you will see, and if it does not, then you always have us. I promise.”

Samantha thought about her sister’s words as she travelled home. She had always had Diana, but that evening, she had felt ignored, and even after she had come to her with her problem, it almost felt as though Diana had dismissed her. She had never done that before, and Samantha hated it. She could not help but feel as though she was losing her sister, the one constant in her life, and all because she was to be married. It was unfair, but she tried to remain calm. If this was how it was going to be, at least she would have a husband that cared for her.

That was, if he did.

Regardless, she did not have time to be concerned. She was to be married, and whether she liked it or not, there was no way out of it. The contract was signed, and the event was merely a formality.

She did not wish to be confronted by her father when she stepped inside. She did not wish to answer his questions aboutwhat they discussed and why he was not invited and when he would receive an invitation as she knew the honest answer was that he never would, but she did not dare tell him that. Instead, however, he seemed all too happy to see her which somehow frightened her even more.

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