Page 17 of The Spinster and Her Rakish Duke
Her sister’s blue eyes were bright with unshed tears as Samantha approached. “Samantha …”
“Oh, Jane.” The words came out more broken than she intended, and suddenly her sister was in her arms, holding her tightly.
“I’ll visit very soon,” Samantha whispered against Jane’s golden hair. “I promise. Perhaps in a fortnight, once we’re settled.”
“I know you will.” Jane’s voice was muffled against her shoulder. “I just… I shall miss you terribly.”
“And I you.” Samantha pulled back to cup Jane’s face in her hands. “But you’ll be perfectly fine with Uncle William. And Lord Ashford seemed quite taken with you at the garden party.”
Jane’s cheeks pinked slightly. “He did ask Uncle William if he might call.”
“There, you see? You’ll hardly have time to miss me with all your suitors.”
But Jane held on when Samantha tried to step away, her fingers gripping Samantha’s arms. “Are you certain you’re happy? This all happened so quickly, and you seem …”
“I’m perfectly content,” Samantha said firmly, though the lie tasted bitter. “This is what’s best for everyone.”
Finally, Jane released her, though her eyes remained troubled. Uncle William approached, his own eyes suspiciously bright.
“My dear girl,” he said, embracing her warmly. “You’ve been like a daughter to me these past years. I pray you’ll find every happiness at Valemont.”
“Thank you, Uncle William. For everything.”
He nodded, then turned to the duke. “Your Grace, I trust you’ll take excellent care of my niece.”
“You have my word,” the duke replied solemnly.
With final embraces and promises to write, Samantha found herself being handed up into the duke’s well-appointed carriage.
The interior was luxurious, with deep burgundy velvet seats and gleaming brass fittings, but she barely noticed. She was too focused on the weight of what she’d just done.
The duke settled across from her, his long legs taking up more space than seemed fair. Through the window, she could see Jane waving, Uncle William’s hand on her shoulder.
Then the carriage lurched into motion, and Norfeld Hall disappeared behind them.
Along with Samantha’s spinsterhood.
For what felt like an eternity, neither of them spoke. The only sounds were the rhythm of the horses’ hooves and the occasional creak of the carriage springs.
Samantha kept her gaze fixed on the passing countryside, but she could feel his eyes on her, studying her profile with that unsettling intensity. He made her want to hide herself.
Finally, when the silence had stretched beyond bearing, his voice cut through the quiet.
“Are you ever going to talk to me?”
She turned to meet his gaze, noting the slight tension around his eyes. “I find the entire situation rather ironic, actually.” She said, a ghost of a smile threatening to pull at her lips.
“Ironic?”
“I spent the evening trying to prevent my sister from falling into scandal, and instead I managed to create one of my own.” She shook her head ruefully. “If someone had told me a week ago that I’d be married to the Duke of Valemont by now, I’d have suggested they see a physician.”
“Neither of us could have predicted Lady Willington’s performance,” he said reasonably.
Samantha let out a short laugh. “Certainly not.”
“What does that mean?” Now, his brows lowered slightly over his eyes.
She studied his face, noting the way his eyes sparked with interest. “It means I never imagined I’d find myself married to someone like you.”
