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Samantha regretted ever mentioning Adam. This is what her life was destined to be as far as her father was concerned — talk of his son and nothing more.

The carriage ride home seemed to take even longer than the one on the way there, and Samantha was almost grateful to see her house as she exited the carriage. There had been so much work undergone that it was unrecognizable, and she assumed that was all part of her father’s plan. Reinvention. He was no longer Johnathon Winston, the father of two terrible and useless daughters. He was the Earl of Colton with an heir and a lovely home that events could be held in.

A facade, but that did not seem to matter to him any more than his two eldest children did.

With all that had happened, Samantha saw that a letter had been delivered for her and almost did not open it at all. She wanted to leave it there, to not give any satisfaction to whoever had sent it, but then she recognized the handwriting and could not resist. The handwriting, that was, and the seal of the Duke and Duchess of Abaddon.

My Dear Sister,

By the time you receive this, you shall have returned from that wretched party. I hope that it was not truly the most awful andterrible thing to happen to you ever, as you thought it might be. I hope, at the very least, that you found something enjoyable about it, even if it were the smallest and most insignificant thing.

Colin and I, as well as our children, have taken residency at our London estate for the season. We had not planned to, but Colin has some matters to tend to here. Perhaps you might wish to join us for tea? Perhaps even stay a few weeks, but you and I both know that Father would be furious if you did that.

I hope to see you soon,

Diana

Samantha could not believe her luck. The London estate that they had purchased was a mere twenty-minute walk away, and suddenly, she felt herself become much more awake and alert than she had been. A walk was precisely what she needed, and if she just so happened to stumble upon her sister’s home, well, that would simply be a lovely coincidence.

That was the excuse she gave her father, at least, when she told him she required the presence of a maid for the afternoon.

“Come in,” Diana said briskly as soon as she saw her. “You must tell me everything.”

“Well, the household was nice,” she began, “There were plenty of flowers. You would have liked it, I think, and —”

“Not the household, the people,” she smirked. “Otherwise, the next thing I know, you shall be telling me all about the books you read there.”

“Oh! Yes, the people. Well, there was Lady Penelope, who I truly did enjoy the company of. She was a lot like you. Then there was Lord Drowshire, who I believe you have met before.”

“Yes, Oliver,” Colin nodded as he entered the room. “A charming man. He would have made a good husband for you, had you been willing.”

“Dear, you and I both know that Samantha has no interest in such things. She has her own mind.”

Samantha laughed along nervously, and the second she did so, her sister shot her a look.

“Samantha, please do not tell me you are engaged to Lord Drowshire.”

“No! No, of course, I am not. He is a perfectly lovely gentleman, but no.”

“You see?” Diana smiled triumphantly at her husband. “There is nobody in the world that I know better than my sister.”

“Diana —” Samantha began, but Diana did not seem to hear her.

“If my sister were to become engaged, or to even be courted by some gentleman or other —”

“Diana —”

“I would surely be the first to know about it.”

“Diana, I am engaged,” Samantha said quickly, and both of them turned to her.

Colin seemed to be smirking at his wife, but Diana looked wildly at her.

“Whose fault is it?” she asked, “Who has done this to you?”

“Nobody, Sister. It is my own fault, truly.”

“Samantha, you would never choose to be married. Someone has caused this because you are not even reckless enough to bring it upon yourself.”