“Colin, you are not ready to leave yet.”
“Either you help me or get out of my way. But I will find her today.”
“Your Grace, you are going nowhere.”
Colin looked toward the door where Mrs. Featherstone stood in the threshold with Miss Featherstone behind her. “Good morning, Mrs. Featherstone. While I appreciate you tending to me last night, I am perfectly well.”
She walked into the room and pursed her lips. “Indeed. Since I am quite certain you have no book or practical knowledge in healing, I will be the judge of your health. Now sit down.”
Something about the tone of her voice made Colin falter. She reminded him of his own late mother.
“Where is Selina?” Mia asked in bewilderment. “While her wound was superficial, she still shouldn’t be doing too much today.”
“That is why I am leaving. I need to find her.” Colin reached for his shirt and suppressed a groan. Just that little movement had sent shooting pain from his shoulder down his back.
“Your Grace, I will ask you once more to sit down,” Mrs. Featherstone demanded. “Mia, go find Selina and make sure she is all right. Once you find her, send word to His Grace. In the meantime, I will keep the duke in bed where he belongs.” She gave him a hard stare until he sat down.
He only obeyed her command because he knew her advice was sound. He really was in no condition to go riding across the countryside trying to find Selina. But he needed someone to go after Mr. Wells. “Miss Featherstone, while you are looking for Miss White, can you ride to Lord Hartsfield’s home and tell him I must speak with him immediately?”
She tilted her head and smiled at him. “That shouldn’t be a problem.” She opened the door and motioned to someone in the hall. “His Grace needs to speak with you.”
“Thank you,” Hart said as he walked past her. “I didn’t think a little thing like a pistol wound would keep you down.”
Colin knew his friend only teased to rile him. “I’d like to see you try it sometime. Then you’ll have this bossy termagant commanding your every move.”
“Now, now, Your Grace,” Mrs. Featherstone said with a smile. “You just do as I say and I won’t be so harsh.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Hart sank into a chair by the window. “So how bad is it?”
“The wound? I will survive—”
“I meant the reason you need to see me at eight in the morning.” Hart crossed his arms over his chest. “You know who shot you, don’t you?”
“Yes, but they were aiming at Miss White, not me.”
Mrs. Featherstone gasped as she lifted the linen off the wound.
“Am I all right?” Colin asked, suddenly concerned.
“I apologize, Your Grace. I heard what you said just as I lifted the bandage. Why would anyone try to hurt Selina? The tenants love her.”
Colin told them both about Mrs. Wells. “Selina said she did notice him just before he shot us.”
“You have to find her, my lord,” Mrs. Featherstone said to Hart.
“No,” Hart said, staring at Colin. “I have to find Mr. Wells.”
Colin nodded. “Exactly.”
Selina finally reached her cottage and wiped away the vestiges of her tears. Her feet ached from walking in her dancing slippers. She wanted nothing more than to soak in a tub of hot water for an hour. But she couldn’t.
She could not remain here. As much as her heart ached, she had to leave him . . . and the tenants and the servants. The long walk had cleared her mind. He would never understand what happened that night. Nor would he ever forgive her either.
There was only one option left to her.
Unable to reach the buttons on her silk gown, she grabbed a knife and sliced it down the front. She would not cry over a ruined gown. Even if it was the most beautiful thing she had ever worn.
She divested herself of her stays in the same manner. Who creates clothing that requires another person to help its wearer in and out? It was insane.
Once she returned to her worn cotton dress, she pulled out her valise and packed only a few dresses and the things most important to her. She would ask Mia to bring her other items once she was settled.
She closed the door behind her and as much as she didn’t want to, she headed on the long walk to Tia’s house. Her friend wanted to chase Middleton’s younger brother to London. Now was her chance. Selina doubted Middleton would concern himself with the wise women on his estate. He usually spent more time in London than out in the country, anyway.
As she walked away, she refused to turn back and look at the estate she loved so much.
“Where else could she be?” Kate asked as they slowly returned to the Littletons’ home.
Mia was never one to cry but she blinked back the tears as she jumped off the horse. They had searched everywhere. “I honestly don’t know. I can only hope Lord Hartsfield found her.”
“Or at least found Mr. Wells,” Kate added.
“That is still no guarantee that she is safe.” Fear gripped her. Mia had to be missing something.
“We have to tell Colin,” Kate said.
“I know.”
Mia followed Kate up the steps of the grand house. Where could Selina have gone? While she’d never been to London, Selina had told her she had no desire to go there.
Kate opened the door to the duke’s bedchamber only to find him pacing the room. “Why are you out of bed?”
“Did you find her?” he demanded as he halted his stride.
Kate shook her head. “We searched everywhere we could think of, Colin.”
Mia cleared her throat. “If I may, Your Grace?”
“There is no need for formalities. Say what is on your mind.”
“We searched her cottage and interviewed the tenants and servants. No one has seen her, but I did notice the remains of the gown she had been wearing and some of her things were gone. We then rode to my mother’s home and checked there. It didn’t appear that she had been there.”
“Then where the bloody hell is she?”
Mia excused the coarse language when she noticed the pained look in his eyes. This was not just about one of his tenants missing. He loved her. She pressed her lips together to keep from crying. “I don’t know, Your Grace. We then went to my sister’s house and she hadn’t seen her either.”
“Would she lie to protect her?”
Mia bit down on her lip. “I don’t believe she would, Your Grace. I told her that you were terribly worried about Selina’s safety.”
“Thank you both.”
“Colin,” Kate implored, “you really shouldn’t be out of bed.”
“I am fine. Mrs. Featherstone told me I could get up but to be careful not to pull my stitches.”
Kate gave Mia a beseeching glance. “Your Grace, even though my mother told you getting up was all right, you must have a care. You did lose a lot of blood last night. It can take a few days to fully recover from that alone.”
“I realize that, Miss Featherstone.” He must have heard how harsh he sounded. “I apologize.”
“I understand, Your Grace. You are worried.”
Her mother walked back into the room with a tray of soup. “Back in bed, Your Grace. I have a light supper for you. And do not think about telling me you can’t eat. You will eat or I will spoon it down your throat myself.”
Mia almost laughed aloud at her mother’s attitude and the duke’s reaction.
“Very well,” he conceded. “But I will not lie down. I will sit at the table.”
“As you wish,” her mother replied.
Kate glanced about the room. “Where is my mother?”
“She is resting.” Mrs. Featherstone placed the tray on the table. “She feels terribly guilty about what happened so I gave her a little something to help her sleep.”
“Why would she feel guilty?” Mia asked. It wasn’t as if she had paid Mr. Wells to shoot at them.
“Selina didn’t want to attend the ball. My mot
her and I insisted. I . . .” Kate’s gaze remained on the rug. “I coerced her into coming.”
“And how did you do that?” he asked.
“I might have told her that I would tell you about where she’d been living after she left her cottage.”
Heavy footsteps approached the room. The door hurled open and Hart pushed a man and a woman into the room. It was one of the first times Mia had ever seen him so forceful. Her heart increased its beat against her chest.
“Mr. and Mrs. Wells, Your Grace,” Hart said with a bow.
“Your Grace,” Mrs. Wells started, “I had no idea what my man was about last night. I never would have tried to hurt you.”
Mia shrank back into the corner as the duke rose slowly from his seat. “Hurt me? Do you think I give a damn about myself? You and your husband attempted to kill Miss White. And for that I will see you both hang.”
Mrs. Wells fainted into a lump on the floor. Mia knew she should do something but was unable to move. Sudden fear of the two men overwhelmed her. Thankfully, her mother checked on the younger woman and found hartshorn to waft under her nose.
Mrs. Wells awoke with a jerk. “What happened?”
“We were trying to determine why you and your husband would attempt to kill Miss White,” the duke said in a menacing tone.
“It wasn’t me,” she insisted. She pointed at her husband. “It was all him.”
“Your Grace,” Mr. Wells said, “I didn’t mean to hurt you or Miss White.”
“Oh?” The duke raised a dark brow at him. “Then what was your intention?”
The man had the grace to flush and then stumbled over his words. “We, I just wanted to scare her. I, we just wanted her to know the pain we have suffered. I was hoping this would make her want to leave the estate.”
The duke glared at the man and then grabbed him by the lapels. “Do you think she didn’t feel any pain when your wife lost that child? I found her outside of my house that night, crying in the rain because she was so upset about what had happened.”
“I had no idea, Your Grace. I wasn’t aiming for her or you, Your Grace. I aimed high but the sight is off on my pistol. I would never try to hurt you.”
The duke pulled the man closer. “Where is she?”
The man frowned. “Who? Miss White?”
“Of course, Miss White. She left here this morning and hasn’t been seen again. Did you hurt her?”
“No, Your Grace,” Mr. Wells said quickly. “I ain’t seen her since last night at the ball.”
“Get him out of here, Hart,” the duke said, pushing Mr. Wells away.
“What do you want me to do with them?” Hart asked as he grabbed them both by the arm.
“Escort them off my property.” The duke stared at them both. “And do not ever return.”
They both nodded and as they left Mia finally stepped forward again. “Your Grace, in order to help find her, we might need to know what exactly caused her to leave so suddenly.”
The duke sat back down and stared at his cooling soup. “When she was telling me what had happened with Mrs. Wells, I made a comment about her mother.”
Mia looked at her mother and frowned. “What did you say?”
“I told her that what had happened to Mrs. Wells was no reason to shoot a person. And that I had wanted to kill her mother after I lost my wife and son but had never acted on that thought.”
“Oh, dear God,” Mia said and then slapped a hand over her mouth.
Chapter 26
Selina woke the next morning after a fitful night on Tia’s small sofa. Tia had been so happy to see her last evening and had started packing for London immediately. She would leave on the next post this afternoon.
“You’re awake,” Tia said, fumbling with the kettle. “I was just putting on some tea.”
“That sounds lovely.”
“Once you’ve had breakfast, I’ll show you where everything is. Do you want me to introduce you to the tenants?”
Selina rose and folded the blanket. “No. I would prefer to keep my presence here quiet for a short time.”
Tia shrugged. “Very well. Do you want some toast or eggs?”
“I can’t eat this morning.” Her stomach was in knots. She had lain awake half the night wondering if Colin was all right. Then berating herself for caring about a man who could be so cruel.
“I have no appetite either. I can’t believe I’m going to London to find Jonathon.”
Selina took a seat at the small, scratched table. “Do you really think this is a wise idea?”
“Of course it is. That dratted Middleton forced Jonathon to go to town to get away from me. He thinks I’m going to seduce his brother.”
“Isn’t that exactly your plan?”
Tia rolled her eyes. “Not exactly. I hope to ring a proposal out of him first. Then I shall seduce him.”
“Good luck.”
“Thank you!” Tia fluttered around the fireplace and readied the tea. “I just wish you had made this decision a fortnight ago. It may take me some time to find Jonathon in town.”
“You don’t know where to find him?”
Tia laughed. “He is either at the viscount’s town home or at the Albany. Where else would he be?”
Selina rubbed her forehead. Her friend needed to be stopped but she was more stubborn than Mia when she made up her mind. Nothing was going to stop her from going to London. “Do you have a place to stay?”
“Yes, I wrote to one of the former tenants’ daughters. She has a small place with her husband. She will let me stay there until Jonathon proposes.”
That was one saving grace, Selina thought. She sipped her tea and worried again about Colin. It was a little too early to have started a fever. She shook her head, angry with herself for caring.
“So why did you leave, Selina?” Tia blew at her tea and then sipped it.
Selina stared at the steam rising from her cup. Slowly, she told her friend everything that had happened.
“Selina, he was devastated by the loss but it’s been eight years. You said he had changed over the past two months. You have to tell him.”
“I cannot,” she cried. “I can’t look into his eyes and tell him the truth. He shall hate me forever.”
“But you can’t live a lie either. He deserves to know.”
She’d never felt like such a coward in her life. “I know. I just need a few days to think about the best way to tell him.”
“There is no best way,” Tia said softly. “Just tell him. If he loves you like I believe he does, he will forgive you.”
“He should have been told eight years ago.”
“Your mother was protecting you.”
If her mother had really wanted to protect her, she shouldn’t have been too drunk to deliver a baby that night.
Colin rose from his bed determined to return to his home and start his search for Selina. Mrs. Featherstone had given her blessing as long as he remained feverless. Other than his shoulder still giving him pain, he felt fine.
Kate opened the door to his room. “The coach is ready, Colin.”
“Excellent. Any word?”
“Nothing. Mr. Roberts sent Randall over this morning to say there was still no sign of her at the house or her cottage.”
He nodded sharply. “Did you think of any place she might have gone?”
“No, I asked Miss Featherstone again last evening before she left. Did she seem particularly upset by what you’d said? I thought it odd that she appeared so pale after you told her about the exchange between you and Selina.”
“I agree. I will go to Hart’s today and speak with her. I do believe she is withholding information.”
The entire ride home, he stared out the window, praying he would see her walking along the road. But he arrived home with no sign of her. Even though Mia had already checked her cottage, that was the first place he went. Entering the cottage, he found the remnants of that beautiful green gown she’d worn. He picked up a piece and s
tuffed it into his jacket pocket.
He returned to his house and checked every room. With a house this size, he knew she could be hiding here again. After turning up nothing, he sat down in his study and poured a brandy.
“Did you find anything?” his stepmother asked, walking into the room.
“No, I have no idea where else to look.”
“I am so sorry, Colin.” She walked to the small table and poured herself a glass of brandy.
He had never seen his stepmother drink anything but a glass of wine or sherry. And never at three in the afternoon. “It is not your fault or Kate’s. I know what you were doing. It was the right thing to do. Bringing her to a small country ball would give her the confidence she needed to see that she could marry me.”
“That is what I thought.” The duchess sat down across from him. “She is a lovely young woman, Colin. And I only want to see you happy. Eight years is too long.”
“I know that now, Mother.” It was the first time he had ever called her that. He had been nine and defiant when his father had married her. Colin had refused to call her anything but the duchess or Georgina.
She wiped away a tear. “You will find her, son. I know you will.”
He finished his brandy. “I will find her. I’m heading to Hart’s to speak with Miss Featherstone. I believe she is hiding something from me.”
“Good luck. If she makes an appearance here we shall send word.”
More determined than ever to find her, he headed in the direction of the Featherstones’ cottage. Again, he scanned the woods as he rode hoping for a sign of Selina. He reined in at the cottage and carefully dismounted. His shoulder was still aching.
“Your Grace,” Mrs. Featherstone said, opening the door. “What brings you here? Is your wound bothering you?”
“Only a little. I came to speak with your daughter. Is she at home?”
“She went to help one of the servants.”
“Thank you. I shall ride up to the house, then. Thank you again for caring for me.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
Colin rode up to the main house. After giving his horse to a stableboy, he was welcomed inside.
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