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“I feel the same way. I knew he was not an honest man after what he did to me, but I assumed it was out of desperation. I wish I had arrived sooner so that I could have learned the truth and told you.”

“It would not have made a difference even if I had found out before the wedding. That is not how it works in London.”

“Another reason to loathe it.”

“Why do you hate England so much?”

“Anything good that has ever happened to me happened in Scotland. Everything bad that has happened to me has happened in, or come from, England.”

“Including your two sisters?”

She did not know why she was teasing her brother as if they had known each other all their lives. She had only truly just met him that evening after all. Even so, there was something about him that made her want to trust him, and that was not something that happened incredibly often anymore.

“The two of you are an exception though I cannot truly speak for Diana yet. I suppose she hates me.”

“I do not think that Diana hates anyone. Not even our father though she claims to. She is not the sort of person to hold any hatred.”

“Then she might wish to know me after all.”

“There is certainly no harm in trying. We could go there together. She would be more inclined to listen to you if I were there.”

“I may just have to take you up on such an offer.”

“Then we shall arrange it. Now, as for what I am going to do about our father…”

“It might be better to simply leave him be.”

“I cannot forgive him for what he did. Surely you do not expect me to?”

“Of course not, but you do not need to forgive him in order to leave him be. He is a lonely man. He lived that way, and he will die that way, and he will have nobody to blame for that but himself.”

It did, Samantha thought, feel like justice in a way. But she was angry. She wanted to do something about it rather than simply allowing him to do whatever he wanted to whomever he chose with no consequences. She had allowed him to do it all of her life, and she was tired of it. She could not take it anymore.

She would not take it anymore.

“I suppose you are right,” she lied. “Besides, I would much rather discuss more pleasant matters, such as a meeting with Diana. She will love you once she gets to know you.”

“And what of the Duke? Does he have any sisters? Brothers?”

Samantha did not know how to answer him. He did, of course, but it was not as though Adam would ever meet any of them. Samantha had only met one, and it was not by choice, and she would never see him again. It was better not to tell him of their existence, but she did not wish to lie to him.

“I have brothers,” Graham said, entering the room. “Three, to be exact, not that I speak to any of them.”

It appeared that he was more than happy to tell people about them.

“Graham?” she asked.

“My apologies, Samantha, but my ears were burning.”

“I was not trying to be anything but kind, Your Grace,” Adam explained.

“I am aware. Might we have a word?”

He did not sound angry or unpleasant in any way. Samantha gave Adam a look, and he shrugged at her before leaving with Graham. She did not wish to eavesdrop on their discussion, and so she would not know what Graham wanted, but that did not matter. She had a far more pressing matter to tend to.

She ran to her room, grabbing the first piece of parchment that she could find and taking the quill that was sitting on her desk.

Graham,