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PROLOGUE

“God, why did he even come back?” Samantha asked, grunting.

The girls’ father had disappeared for two years, then returned, and seemingly was determined to make his two daughters all the poorer for it. It began when he sent his sister away once more after she had cared for them as if they were her own, then he went on to not care for either of them at all, and then acted as though they were the ones at fault for that.

“Let us just get him inside, and then we will discuss that later,” Diana replied, pulling the left half of his body towards the door whilst her sister pulled the right.

It had been seven and ten years since his return. One would assume that in those seven and ten years, the Earl might have had enough time to reflect, and to realize that he had two girls to care for, but he never had. Instead, he had cast them off to the maid they shared, who for all her kindness was not what one might call intelligent. The two girls had effectively been left tofend for themselves, and with Diana being the oldest, it had been on her shoulders.

Samantha cared a great deal about that; Diana never did.

“Why on earth do they even serve him?” Samantha huffed as they dragged him. “You would think that they would know better than to let him get himself into such a state as this.”

“They make money, I suppose. I imagine that he is one of their very best customers.”

“Yes, a gentlemen’s club would probably thrive on drunkards.”

“I am not a drunkard,” he slurred, and Diana dropped his arm.

“Very well,” she said firmly, “walk inside on your own, then.”

“I will,” he grumbled, trying in vain to haul himself to his feet.

On the fourth failed attempt, Diana pitied him and signaled to her sister to grab him again.

“So,” Samantha said carefully, “the Beckwith ball is on Friday, and I was thinking that we could both attend?”

“You would think that with how often we do this, we would have found a better method by now.”

“You are avoiding my question.”

“Perhaps you should take his arms and I take his legs? We would have to lift him, of course, but it might be easier.”

“Diana!”

“Yes?”

“The ball?”

“Yes, I hope that you shall enjoy it. I hope that you will find a wonderful suitor and escape this wretched house.”

“It is not wretched.”

“It is a little.”

It was true. Their house was not worn down by any means. They had restored it since the fire, and it had been decorated twice during their aunt’s stay, but upon his return, their father had refused to have anything fixed or renovated. It all had to stay the same, no matter what.

“Well, if you truly do think that.” Samantha smiled, though she was panting from her efforts. “Then it is all the better that you attend the ball with me. You can escape for a while, too.”

“I would hardly call thetonan escape. I do not know how you do it.”

“It is easy once you get over the first few comments. Not only that, but it is quite delightful to meet all of those people. Surely you must see the beauty in it?”

“Not at all,” Diana huffed.

“Then it shall be quite difficult for you to make a match for yourself. That means you will not leave this house, either. Isn’t that what you want?”

“It is what I want for you. It does not matter what I do.”