“Thank you, Your Grace,” the maid said, smiling in a way that told him that she was seeing right through him. He turned away from her. He had no doubt that gentlemen were often bending to the indomitable will of the Lady Selina. He was different, though. He’d prove it.
In a few strides, he’d caught up to Lady Selina, who was strolling slowly toward the overlook. She glanced over at Pilot.
“Who’s this, Your Grace?” she asked.
“Pilot,” he replied, watching as she held her hand out. Pilot nuzzled the palm of her hand with his nose.
“He’s a beautiful animal,” she commented, “looks very fast.”
“He is, My Lady,” he said. “Do you like horses?”
“Yes, Your Grace,” she replied, then stopped by the side of the road, adding a few blue wildflowers to her bouquet.
“Well,” she said, looking down at them. “I do declare this bouquet finished.” She turned toward her maid. “Will you hold these, Faith?”
“Of course, My Lady.” The maid took them.
“Your Grace,” Lady Selina murmured, turning her gaze toward him.
“Yes, My Lady?” he asked curiously.
“Don’t think I haven’t forgotten what you said the other night,” she told him. “That was very bad of you.”
“What, My Lady?” He knew exactly what she was speaking of.
“I need your full honesty, Your Grace,” she said. “I will do the same for you because we must be on friendly terms.”
“Full honesty, and nothing less, My Lady.”
She nodded, her eyes looking out over the horizon. “Please, do not think me too bold, but I must know, Your Grace—were you flirting with me? If you were, I cannot have it.” She looked at him.
“I wasn’t, My Lady,” he said. “I was simply trying to have a serious conversation with you. Believe me—I would never treat you so abominably.”
Her look softened. “Such an odd subject,” she commented. “I don’t think any gentleman has ever mentioned love and not been teasing me.”
“Do you want my full and honest confession, My Lady?” He was surprised at how frank he could be with her. He didn’t think that he’d been able to talk to anyone except for Stephen like this.
“Yes. Let’s have that, Your Grace.” Her brow was raised, and her lips were pursed. He was, as always, dying to know what she was thinking.
“I have never been in love,” he admitted, his eyes on her. They had both stopped walking. Pilot nuzzled him on the shoulder. “I would like to be. But I am not.”
“I see.”
When she didn’t go on, he realized that she was allowing him to go on. “I always thought that there would be that spark.”
“The one that you only read of?” Lady Selina had a small smile on her face, though her eyes had a sad, empathetic cast to them.
“Yes.”
“I have to agree with you, there,” she said. “But I have the luxury of time and independence should I not find it.”
“You do?” He was surprised. He had never heard of a young lady of aristocratic means declaring that she wouldn’t marry unless she wanted to. All the ladies of the ton were obsessed with acquiring the best match and being happily wed before turning two-and-twenty.
“My parents are very much in love,” she said, walking on. “They’ve told my brother and me explicitly that we are to marry for nothing less, Your Grace.”
“What are they like, My Lady?”
“Whenever one enters a room, the other’s eyes light up,” she said, her eyes distant. “It’s as if they are looking at the answer to all their prayers. You can tell by the way that they speak to each other, the respect with which they treat the other, and the way that no one else exists when it’s just the two of them, off in the corner.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“It is the most beautiful thing,” she agreed. “I can marry for nothing less.” She looked at him, seriously. “You’ve already agreed to marry my cousin.”
“The Banns have been announced, just the day before you arrived.” He felt like there was a prison, wrapped around his heart. He would gladly unlock it for Lady Selina, but honor dictated otherwise.
“If you wanted to wait for love, then why did you agree, Your Grace?”
He sighed. “I didn’t realize just how important it was to me.”
“Why are you paying me so much attention? She notices, you know.”
“Because the first moment I laid eyes upon you, I felt as though I’d been struck by lightning.”
She was turned away from him, so that her bonnet covered her face. He wanted her to look at him. He waited, his heart pounding in his chest. He had just revealed all, as though he had laid out his heart like a hand of cards for her to see.
“That’s infatuation, Your Grace,” she said, firmly. “Nothing more. You know nothing about me.”
“I don’t have to, My Lady,” he said, causing her to finally look right at him. She blinked in surprise. “When did your parents know that they were in love?”
“The moment they met,” she whispered, those honey and spring-green eyes wide. Her lips had fallen open.
“Tell me that you don’t feel the same,” he demanded. “My Lady—I’m going to prove it to you,” he said. “I’m going to—"
She sighed, causing him to stop. “Please, Your Grace, if you’re going to do it, do it for yourself, but not for me.”
She was right, of course. “I promise you, My Lady. Nothing will tarnish your name. However, if I could ask one thing of you,” he pressed, as a plan began to form in his mind.
“What is it, Your Grace?”
“Would you meet me out here?” he dared to ask. They were on the hill, which overlooked Kirby Hall. There were a few trees, scattered about.
“That would be a scandal, for certain,” she said, her eyes wide with anger.
“Just us talking here is a scandal,” he pointed out. “Please. I want to prove to you, to spend more time with you. If you do not feel the same, then do not come. But tomorrow, I will be waiting for you, just over there. If you do not come, then I will know that you don’t care for me.”
She sighed heavily, her eyes on Kirby Hall, in the distance. “I will consider it, Your Grace.”
“That’s all I ask, My Lady.”
“Come, Your Grace,” she said. “We must be getting back to Kirby Hall. I believe that you have news for my uncle?”
“I do, My Lady.”
“Come,” she said. “You can tell me all about it as we walk back, Your Grace.”
“Isn’t that a bit lurid for a Lady?”
“Is it that my constitution is too delicate, or that you don’t want to share the news, Your Grace?” she asked wryly.
“Very well, My Lady.”
Chapter Six
As the Duke told her of what he’d discovered, Selina listened with interest. It seemed that deserters from the regiment had ambushed Lord and Lady Morton!
“Do you believe that they’re trying to escape to Scotland?” she asked.
“Perhaps,” he replied. “Or toward the continent, if to the South.”
“What intrigue!” she murmured, her mind spinning a little. It was a bit like a novel—Lord and Lady Morton’s daring escape after a brush with evil men.
“Are you actually not frightened, at all, My Lady?”
“Not even close, Your Grace,” she replied. “I never go out unaccompanied. I remain on the estate when I take my walks, and I don’t lose sight of the house. It’s about being smart. Not taking unnecessary risks. However, I refuse to remain indoors, closeted like an anchorite.”
“That’s very admirable, My Lady.” He was looking at her in that way, again. Like she was some kind of a miracle. She didn’t want to lose her mind over it. Gentlemen had a way of seeing her as much better than she was.
When they arrived at Kirby Hall, Mr. Wickes met them at the front door, as one of the grooms took the Duke’s horse to the stables.
“I thought they were headed to visit Lady Morton,” Selina said, feeling nervous. Here, she had sat out on the overlook, as though unobserved, since everyone except her uncle would be away from Kirby Hall.
“No, My Lady,” Mr. Wickes said. “I believe they’re going on the morrow.”
Selina nodded. “I must go upstairs and change first. I believe that the Duke is here to see Uncle Latimer.”
“I am, in fact, here to see Lord Kirby,” the Duke confirmed, suddenly all business.
“Goodbye, Your Grace,” Selina said, curtsying. “Thank you for making sure that we returned home safely.”
“It was my pleasure, My Lady,” he replied, bowing, “and Miss Faith.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Faith said, curtsying.
Selina and Faith walked up the stairs, while Mr. Wickes led the Duke of Gillingham off toward Uncle Latimer’s study. Selina walked briskly down the hallway, Faith a step behind her. She was dying to know Faith’s thoughts on all that had occurred.
It was silent in the hallway, and the thick runner carpet muffled their footsteps. Selina ignored the stares of her uncle’s ancestors from their hallowed frames.
Opening the door to her room, she pulled off her bonnet, tugging at the ribbon. As soon as Faith had shut the door, Selina turned to her.
“So, Faith, I’d like to know your opinion on the Duke.”
“He talks a lot, My Lady,” Faith replied, always the keen observer of gentlemen. Selina always found her opinion invaluable—gentlemen often overlooked her, while she saw them quite clearly. “His Grace says a lot of bold things. Not that the gentlemen never say bold things to you, My Lady, but he’s practically a married gentleman.”
“That was bothering me, too, Faith.”
“Are you going to go tomorrow, My Lady?” Faith whispered.
Selina thought for a very long moment. She found that she wanted to go, despite her reservations—and it wasn’t because he was handsome, or that he protested to want to love her. It was because she found herself feeling the same. “God help me; I think I will, Faith.”
Their eyes met. Faith nodded. “All right, My Lady.”
“Not a word, to anyone, Faith.” Selina set her bonnet aside.
“Your secrets are always safe with me, My Lady.”
Selina smiled, taking a seat at the dressing table. “Thank you, Faith.” In the mirror, her face was flushed. She knew that it was more than just her exertions outside that made her so crimson.
“If I may say, My Lady—he hasn’t broken the engagement,” Faith said, standing behind her, and pulling out the pins that held her hair back. It fell in blonde waves over her shoulders.
“Nor will he any time soon—it would be a scandal,” Selina murmured, watching her maid in the mirror as she brushed her hair out.
“Will he be able to convince the Lady Leah to dissolve it?”
“Probably not, Faith.”
“Will you be sad about it? I mean, you’ll have to attend his wedding.”
Selina exhaled. Faith had a point, one which she hadn’t considered. “You’re right. If that’s what it comes down to, I suppose I’ll have to have him secretly labeled a blackguard for toying with my affections.”
“I don’t want to see you hurt, My Lady,” Faith said sadly.
“I don’t want to be hurt, Faith,” she said. “I’ll do my best to keep my head.”
“Very good, My Lady.” Faith expertly rolled Selina’s golden hair into a bun, slipping pins in quickly. “What will you wear to tea?”
“Good question,” Selina replied. Deciding what to wear was always easy. Deciding what to do about a handsome Duke who was to marry her cousin, on the other hand, was not.
Selina wanted to do what was right. She knew how she felt about him—a certain preference over other gentlemen. He was handsome, kind, and completely ready to sweep her off of her feet. The fact that he was engaged, but not in love with Leah made her question whether it was right to continue.
* * *
Jasper rode out to the overlook the very next day. His pulse raced—what if she didn’t show up? He’d been up the night before, making plans. He wanted to spend time with Lady Selina. To show her that this wasn’t a passing fancy or trying to get out of a loveless match. The two of them had a shot at real love. He knew it.
He arrived early, tethering Pilot, so he could graze nearby. Then, he sat down on a fallen tree just out of sight of the road. If he was questioned, then he didn’t want to have to admit that he was there waiting for a lady who was not his fiancée.
He watched as the sun progressed in the sky. She must be running late. Suddenly, he realized that she must not be coming. How could he have been so wrong? He stood up.
There was nothing left, but to return home. His pride, wounded. He’d been certain that she loved him—that her affections were the same.
He heard her voice.
“Well, Faith,” Selina said. “I suppose we were wrong!”
“I’m surprised, My Lady,” Faith said. “But it might all be for the best.”
“Indeed, Faith. Come, we’ll enjoy ourselves.”
His pulse raced—she’d been on the other side of the hill, where the overlook was located, on the side which looked upon Kirby Hall. He’d avoided it—after all, it was visible from Kirby Hall.
“My Lady,” he called out. The two looked up at him. They were sitting on the other side of the hill. Lady Selina was dressed in pale yellow, which brought out the honey in her eyes. She had on her straw bonnet, with its black ribbon.
“Your Grace! We thought that you weren’t coming,” Lady Selina said. He held up his own basket.
“I think we had similar ideas, My Lady.”
“Come, sit, Your Grace.” She beamed at him.
* * *
Now that they were both there, she wondered what he had planned. They both sat for a long moment, smiling at each other.
Faith stood up. “I’m going to go and seat myself on that stump over there,” she said. “To read my book.”
“Very well, Faith,” Selina replied. “Enjoy.”
“Of course, My Lady,” Faith said, walking over to sit down. She sat, her book up, so she could watch everything and hear all.
“She’s very well-read, your maid?” the Duke asked.
“Extremely, Your Grace,” she replied. “My mother always hires maids who are interested in improving themselves. It helps, when one is always accompanied, to have the pleasure of intelligent company. Faith is a ravenous reader and an excellent conversationalist.”
“Your mother is very progressive,” he commented.
“Naturally, Your Grace.” Her mother would have positively bloomed to hear such a compliment.
“Do you often meet up with gentlemen, out in the fields like this?” he asked with a smile, clearly teasing her.
“You’d hardly expect me to own up to it,” she replied archly, “Your Grace.” She could tell that he was searching for something to speak of.
“I apologize, My Lady.” He laughed, softly, coloring.
“Accepted, Your Grace.”
She beamed at him, watching as a slow smile spread across his face. He was blushing a bright crimson. It was endearing, how truly off-balance the Duke was.
“Your Grace,” she said. “Tell me, are you at all interested in scones? My Aunt’s cook makes phenomenal ones.” She opened the packet filled with several freshly-baked blueberry scones. She held it out to him.
* * *
Leah and her mother arrived at the Morton’s estate, Tilney Wood. The day prior, they had sent word asking if she was able to see visitors, so soon after the attack. Lady Morton had replied, saying that she was indisposed, but to come by on the morrow, at eleven o’clock, for a small luncheon.
As soon as the butler announced them, Leah and her mother entered. Mrs. Morton stood, shakil
y. Leah had always loved the Morton’s parlor—it had a stained-glass window, of a rose, which bled ruby-colored light into the room, which Lady Morton had done up in light pinks and creams with dark hardwoods. Leah planned to have a stained-glass window in her own parlor, as soon as she was Duchess. There was a round window that she had in mind.
Sins 0f An Intoxicating Duchess (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 6