Page 47 of The Unwanted Duchess

She had not meant to be so cold to him, but she did not know how else to be. The truth was that she was not happy to meet him, and she was not glad that he had at last made his way to England. She could not care less about him whether he was her brother or her half-brother or of no relation at all. This was a stranger, and so she would treat him as such.

“I know that you do not like me,” he noted, “and I understand. I am not a fool. I know that our situation is… unconventional, but your sister seems to like me at least a little.”

“My sister can find it in her to like anyone.”

“Very well. I only wish to congratulate you. I do not mean to —”

“To show your face just as I am leaving?” she suggested. “I know, it is simply a coincidence that you have found the time now that you will be the only one in the household. The perfect time to take it over, yes?”

“Samantha, I —”

“Your Grace,” she corrected. “You and I do not know one another, and I am a duchess. I know that where you come from, you do not have such practices, but if you insist on being here, then you ought to play the part.”

She hated herself as soon as she said it. She had become the very same type of person that had chastised her for years, and she had said it all too easily.

“I understand that you are angry, believe me I do, but you must understand that I am not here to claim the title or steal the estates or anything of the sort. I am only here to help you.”

“Do you have any idea how awful it has been for my sister and me?” she asked, trying to keep her voice calm so that they were not heard. “Our father has wanted nothing to do with us all of our lives simply because we were not heirs, but the moment he learned of you, we became less than nothing. We were burdens, and he has made it his aim to remove us from the equation ever since. I may not have liked my life, but it was mine. Now I am forced to play the role of duchess because he dragged me to some party and threatened me that if I did not find a husband, he would do it for me. Now, you are here, and I do not doubt that you are just like him.”

“You are wrong,” he said firmly. “Do you want the truth? I hate that I have to be here. I wish to be back in Scotland where I do not have to uphold all of these airs and graces that you insist upon here. I want to return home, and I will just as soon as my affairs are in order here. I do not trust this country, nor the people here, but I wish to do right by you and Diana. If you loathe me entirely, then that is perfectly fine. I shall continue to do what I came here for regardless.”

Samantha wanted to apologize for her outburst as she knew she had no reason to speak to him in such a manner, but before she could say anything, he was gone once more.

“So?” Diana asked, appearing once more. “What do you think?”

“I do not know,” she sighed. “I do not trust him although I truly do wish to, and I have most certainly offended him deeply.”

“That is quite all right. He seems quite understanding, and so I am sure you will settle any disagreements.”

“Do you honestly trust him?”

“No, but it is as you say, I want to. We have nothing to lose by doing so, and what harm could it do to expect the best of someone rather than the worst, just this once?”

“I suppose so.”

“You always tell me that I understand situations well,” Diana reminded her. “Have some faith in me. I know that I am right. Now, where has your husband gotten to?”

“I do not know. I have not seen him since our dance.”

“Ah, so you remember some things?”

It was undeniable; Diana never missed a trick.

“I suppose I do,” she replied with a smile. “And where is your husband?”

“I cannot be too certain, but I believe that he has gone to fetch our carriage. You shall be leaving soon, and I have no interest in staying here any longer than necessary. I do not know these people.”

Samantha also noticed that she did not recognize a single guest there, save for her sister and father. She had expected Nicholas and Miss Norton not to be there, but Penelope’s absence was strange. Then again, her father had been in charge of the guest list, and so it was far more likely that these were his own acquaintances than anything else.

“I believe I should like to leave, yes,” Samantha sighed.

“Then we shall locate your husband and have you racing away,” Diana said, smiling brightly. “Now, remember what I said. Have faith in me. All will be well if you simply trust others, no matter the cost.”

Samantha thought about her sister’s words as she got into the carriage with her new husband. She had been expecting the worst of him since the moment they had met, and whilst he had given her reason to in some ways, he had also proven her wrong, and it was time for her to trust him.

He was good to her and kind, and he truly had changed since they had met. He had promised her that he would be a good husband, and she had told him that she would believe him.

And she would have, had he not looked so utterly defeated as the carriage pulled away.

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