Page 65 of The Unwanted Duchess

“Yes, although she has done a far better job of it than I have. You shall be stunned at all of her changes.”

“It is about time somebody fixed that place. That is wonderful news.”

“I have hardly done anything yet!” Samantha yelped. “Only a window and some paint.”

“And what a difference it has made. Truly, my mother’s room has not looked so wonderful in years. Then again, it has looked the same all my life, and it was hardly nice to begin with, so I am hardly able to prove with words how well she is doing.”

“Well, it cannot hurt to try,” Lord Drowshire smiled. “Come, let us leave the ladies to their business while we tend to ours.”

The two gentlemen disappeared, and Samantha found that her smile had not left her face.

“He likes you a great deal,” Penelope said warmly. “Excuse my boldness, but I did not see that coming at all.”

“Nor did I,” she admitted. “But it is nice.”

“Being complimented to such an extent as that is far lovelier than merely nice, Samantha. It is rare to see a man speak so highly of his wife.”

“How many husbands do you know, exactly?”

“I do not know many personally, but I know of plenty. Your brother-in-law, for example. He has Miss Norton on his arm, and although she is not the most pleasant person to be around, she is everything that he is looking for. Even he cannot find a good word to say about her. It makes you wonder why they find a lady to marry in the first place.”

“For friendship?” she suggested. “The Duke and I have friendship at least.”

“That is an exception. That does not tend to happen in marriages, even when they are as similar as Lord Nicholas and Miss Norton.”

“Then it is for convenience’s sake although I do think that one should complement their spouse. It is clearly not too difficult to do, given that the Duke can do so for me.”

“Samantha, you really ought to see yourself more highly than you do. It is only fair given that you are a good person, and you are well-liked. You are quite a capable lady too, by the sounds of it.”

“I like to think I am, but that does not change the fact that I am not used to such treatment with the exception of from my sister.”

“Then it is time that you adapt. You cannot live your entire life questioning whether or not you are liked when it is so blindingly obvious that you are.”

Samantha knew that her friend was right. It was not wise to question every nice thing that happened to her, even if it was her instinct. She was likable and was therefore liked. It was that simple, and she had to trust it.

“Now,” Penelope continued, “if we are in the mood to question everything, I have to ask. What happened between you and the Duke?”

“Recently?”

“At the party. You couldn’t stand him, and he made it quite clear that he thought little of you. Then, suddenly, the two of you were engaged. I am happy for you, of course, and he is a good man, no matter how convinced he is that he is not, but it simply does not make sense.”

“We found common ground, that is all.”

“And that was enough for you to change your mind about marriage? You told me you wished to become a spinster.”

“And that was not a choice that I could truly make. It was either the Duke or some friend that my father had waiting for me in London. If you were presented with those two options, what would you have done?”

“I was presented with the same, and that was why I left my parents behind and lived with my cousin. I know that we are not all so fortunate as that, but you have a sister. Samantha, I do not mean to cause you discomfort, but I have been concerned about it. It seemed so different to what you said you wanted out of life.”

She knew Penelope was right, and that only made her feel worse. She had wanted to be more than a wife, and for years, she had been determined to be the lady to change the way women were perceived and be the first scholar and make her own way, but that would forever be a dream she could not make come true.

“Penelope, if I tell you what happened, then you must promise not to tell a soul, not even your cousin. I cannot let it be known.”

“You have my word though I must tell you that my cousin is perfectly good at keeping secrets.”

“It is not that which concerns me, but what he would do if he found out. The Duke and I do not want anything more to come of what happened.”

“Very well. I shall not tell a soul.”

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