Bewitching the Duke

by Christie Kelley

  Following the path with light from the full moon, she walked toward the Pattersons’ house. A branch snapped behind her. Selina stopped to peer back toward the house.

  “Is there a reason you didn’t wait for me?”

  She let out a sigh. “I had no idea you would want to accompany me.”

  Colin caught up with her. “You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

  “How do you think I deliver babies? They rarely seem to arrive during the daylight.”

  “You should have a servant to go with you.”

  Selina laughed and shook her head. “You wealthy lords have no idea how anyone else lives, do you?”

  He stopped. “Of course I do.”

  “No, you do not. I barely afford the rent here. Many times, it’s only because the tenants all pitch in when I’m short. I can’t afford a servant or a horse.”

  “But I can,” he said slowly.

  “Do not even think it,” she scolded him. “I am not your mistress and will not take charity from you.”

  He nodded. “I understand.”

  She doubted he had any idea of what she went through every month. The tenants did their best to pay her but most had little to their own name. She sold her poultices and dried herbs at the market but the money rarely was enough for the rent.

  Not that she would have to worry about it this month. She’d be damned if she paid him a farthing while she hid out in his house.

  “How much farther is it to the house?” he asked.

  “Haven’t you called on Mrs. Patterson since your return?”

  He turned his head away. It was far too dark to notice if he had the good sense to look embarrassed.

  “You haven’t called on your tenants, have you?”

  “I don’t know them any longer,” he said softly. “I only know the names from the ledger my steward sends me every month.”

  “It’s time you paid a call on every one of them. And you shall start tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Selina,” he said, then paused for a long moment. “They hate me.”

  “They don’t hate you.” Perhaps extreme dislike in some cases but not all. “If you give them a chance to get to know you, they will come to appreciate all that you do.”

  “And what exactly do I do for them?”

  He would have to ask such a difficult question. “You provide them with a home. They have excellent farmland. You give them a generous stipend for their crops.”

  “I don’t make an appearance on this land for eight years. I don’t make necessary repairs on their homes or my own.”

  Hearing the guilt in his voice, she had to help him. “They will forgive you if you only give them a chance. They all know why you haven’t returned for so long. Let them into your life and you will find absolution and friendship.”

  “I don’t know how much longer I will be here, Selina.”

  Her step faltered. Even knowing a relationship with a duke was out of the question, she’d become used to seeing him every day. Talking with him. Making love with him . . . even if it was only twice.

  She didn’t want him to leave.

  And yet, she knew it would be best if he left.

  Then she could resume her old life. With no one to speak with except the neighbor’s cat who came to visit. She would miss the cur if he returned to London.

  “You’ve become very quiet,” he said in a soft tone.

  She glanced up to see the Pattersons’ house coming into view. She couldn’t admit to him that she would miss him. Besides, their relationship was wrong in so many ways. It would be far better if he left. “We’re almost there.”

  At least now, she could focus on Davie’s injuries and not the idea of losing the man she might just be falling for.

  Falling for?

  That could never happen. She couldn’t let it.

  She pushed the disturbing thought out of her head and knocked on the door.

  Mrs. Patterson pulled open the door. “Selina, thank God you’re here. . . .” Her voice trailed off as she noticed Colin. “Yer . . . Your Grace,” she stuttered. “Welcome to my home.”

  “I hope you don’t mind, Mrs. Patterson. Miss White had been at my home looking after my sister. I didn’t feel comfortable letting her walk here alone after dark.”

  “Of course.” She waved them inside. “Davie is in his bedroom, Selina. He’s in terrible pain. I think it’s broken.”

  “I’ll take a look. He most likely broke his arm in the fall and the pain is radiating to his shoulder.” She turned to Colin. “Your Grace, I might need your assistance.”

  Colin looked slightly taken aback. “You might?”

  She took his arm and led him away from Davie’s mother. “If the arm is broken, I might need you to hold him down while I set it.”

  “Can’t his father assist you?”

  She smiled at his squeamish tone. “No, his father died last year.”

  Colin closed his eyes and nodded. “Very well, then. Of course, I will help you. It can’t be much worse than assisting in a foaling.”

  “Mrs. Patterson, is Davie’s room the first door on the right?” she asked, turning toward the woman.

  “Yes, do you want me to come with you?”

  “No, you stay down here. The duke will assist me tonight.”

  Mrs. Patterson’s mouth gaped and then she recovered. “Call me if you need me. I’ll be putting Mary to bed.”

  Selina glanced about the room until she noticed the three-year-old sitting in a chair in the corner, sucking her thumb. “Good evening, Mary.”

  The little girl’s eyes grew large. She withdrew her thumb and said, “Hello, Miss Selina.”

  Mrs. Patterson came up beside Selina. “She’s still a little shaken from what happened. She was throwing her doll up in the air when it got stuck in the tree. Davie went up to fetch it for her.”

  “Will he be all right?” she asked softly.

  “Let me go look at him, sweetling.” Selina walked up the steps and Colin followed behind her. “I hope it’s not too serious.”

  Colin inhaled deeply and continued up the stairs. Nausea roiled in his belly. This was mad. He was no physician. And neither was she. “Do you think we should call for the doctor?”

  She stopped in front of a door. “No, I do not. I’ve seen that man do more harm than good.”

  She opened the door to Davie’s room with a smile. “Well, Davie, I hear you’re quite the hero tonight.”

  He groaned. “No, Miss Selina. I was just trying to help my baby sister.”

  “Like any good hero would,” Colin added.

  “Who’s he?” Davie asked.

  “If you weren’t already in pain, I’d punch you,” his older sister said. “That’s His Grace.”

  Davie’s eyes widened. “Sorry, Yer Grace. I never met you before.”

  “Meg, go down and help your mother get Mary to bed,” Selina ordered.

  “Yes, ma’am.” The girl ran from the room after a quick curtsy to Colin.

  He remained at the foot of the bed as Selina sat down next to Davie. He watched as she examined the boy’s arm and shoulder. Davie’s shoulder looked swollen.

  “Davie, were you hanging from the tree before you fell?” Selina asked and then moved to her bag.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Your Grace, I will definitely need your assistance. It looks like Davie didn’t break his arm after all.”

  “Then why do you need me?”

  “He dislocated his shoulder.” She turned back and looked at him. “I will need you to hold him while I put it back in place.”

  “Is it going to hurt?” Davie whispered.

  She walked over to the pitcher and poured some water into a glass. She mixed some powder into the water. “I’ll give you a little something to help the pain. Once it’s back in place, you’ll feel so much better. And you will get to wear a sling for a week or two. You shall be able to brag about your heroic deed to all your friends.”

  Davie smi
led as he took the glass from her. He scrunched up his face as he sipped it.

  Colin walked over to the bed and said, “My nurse always told me it was better to drink the bitter medicine down quickly.”

  “Exactly,” Selina remarked. “And then you get a lemon drop.” She waited until Davie had swallowed all the water before handing him the treat.

  “Thank you.”

  “Are you ready?” she asked Colin.

  No. He’d heard tales of how painful this was and he would never be ready to watch an eight-year-old go through it. He looked over at Davie who was starting to yawn. “Yes, I’m ready.”

  “I need you to hold him down. Even though I gave him the laudanum he still might fight you.”

  Colin nodded and then moved over to hold Davie in place. The door opened behind him and he heard Mrs. Patterson gasp. Selina never took her eyes off Davie. With a deep breath in, she rotated his shoulder until it popped back into place. Davie screamed and Colin held him tight.

  He glanced back to see Mrs. Patterson hold a fist to her mouth, tears streamed down her cheeks. “It’s all right now, Davie,” he crooned. “The worst is over.”

  He wiped away the tears from the boy’s cheek. “Shh, no one but us will know you cried.”

  Davie nodded. “Thank you.”

  Selina went back to her bag and pulled out a sheet of cotton. She folded it into a triangle and then moved to the bed. “Help him sit up.”

  Colin reached behind Davie and pushed him up to a sitting position. “Now you get that sling.”

  Selina arranged the sling in place and then started to pack up her valise. She pulled out a small bag and gave it to Mrs. Patterson. “Give this to him every four hours for the pain. I’ll come back and check on him tomorrow afternoon. I want him resting for at least a week.”

  Colin snorted. “Good luck. No eight-year-old boy is going to rest in bed for a week.”

  Selina glared back at him and then smiled at Mrs. Patterson. “At least try.”

  “You did a great job tonight, Davie,” he said, squeezing the boy’s hand.

  “No, I didn’t,” he mumbled.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I couldn’t reach Mary’s doll. I tried to jump for it and that’s when I fell.”

  Colin saw the disappointment on Davie’s face and knew what he had to do. “I’ll be right back.”

  “C-Your Grace, where are you going?” Selina asked.

  “I shall return in a moment.” He ran downstairs and grabbed the lantern from the table. He walked outside and held the light up toward the tree in front of the house. Smiling, he climbed up the tree and reached for the cloth doll stuck on a limb.

  With the doll in hand, he returned to Davie’s bedchamber. He held the doll behind his back. “Do you think the patient can get up for just a short moment?”

  Selina frowned. “I don’t . . .” Her voice trailed off as he turned just enough that she could see what he held. “I think he can get up for a moment.”

  “Why?” Davie mumbled.

  “The laudanum is making him sleepy,” Selina commented. “You need to hurry.”

  “Come on, boy,” Colin said, gently helping Davie out of the bed. “You must return the maiden’s doll.”

  “What?”

  “Your sister’s doll,” he said, holding out the toy.

  “You got it!”

  “Yes, but your sister doesn’t have to know that. You can tell her you were able to get it.”

  Colin walked with Davie across the hall to his sisters’ bedroom. Meg let them in and smiled when she saw what they held.

  “She’ll be so happy! She’s been crying ever since Mama put her in here.”

  Davie went over to his sister and sat on the bed. Mary looked up at him and cried harder.

  “Mary, it’s all right. Look at what I have for you.”

  Mary’s wet eyes grew large when she saw her doll. “You got Molly!”

  “Yes, His Grace helped me,” Davie said and then smiled back at Colin.

  Colin’s heart filled with joy. It had been years since he thought about children. He’d always wanted a large family, at least he had until Mary died, then his dreams of children died too. But now, he wasn’t certain. Still, the idea of losing another woman he loved still haunted him.

  He focused his attention back on Davie. “Come on, boy. Miss White will have my head if I don’t get you back into bed.”

  Davie kissed his sister’s forehead and then grabbed Colin’s hand. His heart squeezed as firmly as his hand on the lad’s. He wanted this.

  He wanted a child of his own.

  Chapter 18

  Selina awoke the next morning and knew she had to force Colin to get out and meet his tenants. After watching him last night with Davie, she’d seen a side of him she never expected. Never would she have thought that the duke would climb a tree to get a child’s doll.

  Colin had insisted she stay in the room next to his again last night. But she had decided that after they met with the tenants, she would make certain he knew she was not staying there any longer. She would insist he let her move back into her cottage.

  She needed to put some distance between them. Her heart was weakening and she knew falling in love with a duke was foolhardy. No good would come of that and the sooner she put a stop to their relationship, the less pain she would feel when he ended things. And if he ever found out the lies he’d been told by both her and her mother, he would despise her.

  She dressed quickly and went in search of him. She found Colin dining alone in the breakfast room. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning to you.”

  She sat down and a footman promptly filled her cup with tea. “Thank you.”

  “I shall bring you a plate, Miss White.”

  “I trust you slept well?” Colin asked and then sipped his tea.

  “Yes.” When they had returned from Davie’s home, he had tried to get her to sleep with him. But after almost being discovered that evening by Mr. Roberts she declined. She would be terribly embarrassed if anyone found out they had been lovers.

  “Your Grace,” Selina started and then paused as the footman placed a plate of eggs and ham in front of her.

  “Yes, Miss White?” His lips twitched as if he found the idea of them being so formal amusing.

  “I need to check on Davie and some of the other tenants this morning. Would you like to accompany me?”

  He stared down at his almost empty plate before finally saying, “Yes. I would enjoy that. It would give me the chance to greet the tenants.”

  “Wonderful. Shall we leave at ten?”

  “Perfect.” He rose from his seat. “Please excuse me but I need to get some work done before we leave.”

  She nodded. She couldn’t help but watch him as he left the room. He cut a fine figure in his buff trousers and brown jacket. Or maybe it was just the way those trousers stretched across his derrière.

  Spending more time with him was not a smart idea. She should be moving herself back to the third floor. But she had to force him to get to know his tenants again. They needed repairs on their homes as much as his house needed them.

  “Good morning, Selina.”

  Selina looked up from her half-eaten breakfast to see Kate and the duchess entering the room. “Good morning, Kate, Your Grace.”

  “Good morning, Miss White,” Kate’s mother replied formally. “You look quite pensive this morning. Is everything all right?”

  Selina shrugged. “I was just thinking that I must leave. Kate no longer needs me here. I believe I shall return to Mrs. Featherstone’s cottage.”

  Kate and her mother shared a long look. A footman broke their silent conversation as he placed a teacup in front of Kate.

  “Perhaps that would be for the best,” the duchess said softly.

  Kate openly glared at her mother. “I was actually hoping Selina might join us at Mrs. Littleton’s ball. We can say she is my paid companion.”

  Her mot
her tilted her head in thought. A footman placed a small plate of toast and jam in front of her. “Perhaps she could. But don’t you think some people might recognize her?”

  “I really have no desire to go to a ball,” Selina commented. Well, she did have the desire to attend but knew it was out of the question. “I don’t even know how to dance and the ball is late next week. Besides, I have nothing suitable to wear to a ball.”

  Kate waved a hand at her. “That is not an issue. My maid is a fabulous seamstress and can alter one of my dresses. As far as the dancing, you would only need to learn one or two dances.”

  Selina laughed softly as she nodded her head. Who would even ask her to dance? Perhaps Colin out of pity, but he would be the only one.

  “I do believe it would be a good experience for her,” the duchess said. “We shall start the dress fitting this afternoon at three, followed by a dance lesson.”

  Selina could only stare at the mad women across the table from her. “I cannot pass as a paid companion.”

  “Of course you can,” Kate replied. “You might not have all the social skills needed but you are intelligent and beautiful. The men only notice your beauty, but the women will note your wisdom.”

  “I really must decline.”

  Kate leaned in closer and said, “No, or my brother will discover who has been living on the third floor.”

  Selina felt slightly faint. Her new friend was threatening her. Why? What possible good could come out of her attending a ball? She didn’t fit in with these people. But she couldn’t let Colin discover her hiding place either. “Very well,” she bit out. “I will attend the ball with you.”

  “Of course you will,” Kate said with a catlike grin.

  “Excuse me, I must get ready,” Selina said as she scraped back her chair.

  “Where are you off to?” the duchess asked.

  “I have to see to a few of the tenants.”

  “Perhaps you should take the duke with you,” the duchess said softly. “He needs to reacquaint himself with his tenants.”

  Kate nodded. “That would be a good idea.”

  “He is planning to escort me,” Selina replied as she reached the threshold.