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“I certainly do not; now, if you insist on being here, then you can at least show the other guests some respect.”

The lady scoffed and left the room, flashing a last sour look at Samantha before disappearing.

“You mustn’t listen to her. She thinks she is far more interesting than she truly is, not to mention important.”

“At least now that she is gone, I can ask you who she is.”

“Her name is Emma Norton. She is being courted by Nicholas, Graham’s brother.”

“Graham… Oh! The Duke?”

“The very one. Gosh, the day that I met her, she told me that my gown was outdated and my hair appeared as though a bird had gotten trapped in it and flew around trying to escape.”

Samantha’s mouth practically fell open.

“But she is so — and do not mind my saying this — but she seems much younger than you.”

“She is, by five and ten years.”

“But that is —”

“Incredibly disrespectful, yes. I would never dream of speaking to an elder in such a manner, but Emma is, well, Emma.”

“And nobody has ever told Miss Norton how to behave?”

“Ah, yes, I forgot,” Lady Penelope smirked. “You have never met her parents. They have never once told her not to do something. It was easier not to, they said. It was a rather radical choice, and now that it has had the effect it has had, they refuse to see her.”

Samantha’s brows furrowed. That was almost unfair to the poor girl; she had no choice in how her parents had raised her in the same way that Samantha had, yet while Samantha was pitied by at least some, Miss Norton seemed to be almost blamed for it.

“My apologies, Lady Penelope,” Samantha’s father said suddenly, “I require a moment with my daughter.”

“There is no apology necessary, My Lord,” she nodded, throwing Samantha a sympathetic look before returning to her father, “I have stolen quite enough of her time as it is.”

Samantha did not wish to speak with her father. Had he discovered what she had done the night before, he would not be angry with her, quite the opposite. Instead, he would be overjoyed and planning their wedding which was the last thing she wanted.

He could not know. He could never know.

“Good morning, Father,” she said politely once they were out of earshot. “I trust you slept well.”

“Do not play innocent with me.”

Samantha felt herself turn cold.

“My apologies, Father. I do not know what you are referring to.”

“Of course, you do. Think about it. Why did I bring you here?”

“Because I was invited.”

“Because you need a husband,” he corrected, already sounding as though he was tired of her. “You shall soon be put on the shelf along with the other ladies too dim to understand their place. I made it quite clear to you that this is your last chance, and I meant every word that I said.”

“Lady Penelope is a spinster,” Samantha argued. “And she is quite happy as is Lord Drowshire. There are no demands for her to marry.”

“And her situation is not as precarious as yours, you know that perfectly well.”

“Regardless, do you not think that you might have given too much value to marriage? You are not married, and you never intended for Diana to marry. Why can I not be the same?”

“Diana was always going to marry. I simply did not expect to make such an advantageous match for her. You were alwayssupposed to be the one I found success with, and Diana would marry whoever wanted her. As for myself, I am a man. I do not need help from anyone whereas you ladies require someone that can do everything for you whilst you sit with your needlework or whatever it is you fill your time with.”