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 mother 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.
“Excellent,” the duchess said under her breath.
Kate waited until she was certain Selina had departed. Then she giggled softly. “Did you see her reaction? She was positively irate that I would force her to go to a ball.”
Her mother laughed too as she placed her teacup down. “You had better be right about those two.”
“Mother, this is the first time in years I’ve seen Colin smile, really smile. Not that fake one he gives people to be sociable. I even heard him laugh. He loves her whether he realizes it or not yet. But he will.”
“I have to admit, he does seem different.”
“And getting Selina out to a small ball in the country will help her see that she can do this. She might never want to attend the Season but over time she will gain some confidence.”
Her mother nodded. “True, but your brother needs to make an effort to get her into Society. If we paint her as the daughter of a country squire, she will slowly be accepted. But under no circumstances can anyone discover her true background.”
“Do you think anyone would know her?”
“The only two I can think of would be Hartsfield and Middleton.”
Kate sipped her tea. “Yes, but they are his friends. I believe they would support him when he marries her.”
“
If
he marries her. He may still let convention decide his life,” her mother replied.
“I know he loves her. I have seen the way they look at each other when they think no one is watching.”
“True but that might just be lust.”
Kate shook her head. “It’s love.”
Her mother released a long breath. “I do hope you’re right. That boy needs to love again.”
Colin waited for Selina outside by the horses. He couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. After all, he’d been home for a month and still hadn’t greeted his tenants. One more thing for them to hold against him.
His lips turned upward as she walked across the grass. Her slender hips swayed under the yellow muslin dress. His smile turned into a large grin as he noticed her beautiful blond hair was put up into a loose chignon. Tendrils blew across her heart-shaped face. His heartbeat increased the nearer she came.
“Are you ready?” she asked once she’d reached him.
“Not really,” he admitted.
“They will be pleased to meet you.”
He assisted her onto the mare and then climbed on his horse. “If you say so. I am not quite certain they shall all be happy to see me again.”
They started at a slow trot. “You might be surprised. The key to getting to know your tenants is listening. Put away your fears and just hear what they are saying. Most of their issues are with the upkeep of their homes.”
If their homes were anything like his own, he could understand their irritation with him. He would have to talk to his steward and get the needed repairs done on the tenants’ homes to appease them.
They arrived at the Pattersons’ home first. Colin looked up at the house in the daylight and could see the repairs needed on the thatched roof. After he helped Selina down, they walked toward the house. Little Mary opened the door before they reached it and ran toward him. She launched herself into his arms.
“Thank you,” she said as her chubby arms latched around his neck.
Surprised at the warmth suffusing him, he held the little girl tight against his chest. “What is this about?”
Mary pulled back and looked at him. “Davie said you saved Miss Molly.”
“Miss Molly?”
“My doll,” she said with a giggle.
“Mary, you are getting to be such a big girl,” Selina said. “It’s almost your birthday, isn’t it?”
Mary’s brown eyes sparkled. She lifted her hand and put up four fingers. “Four.”
“Very good,” Colin remarked. Slowly, he put her down and instantly missed her.
“Is Davie at home?” Selina asked.
Mary nodded. “He’s in bed. Mama told him not to move.”
Colin could only imagine the pain that caused the boy. Nothing would stop him from getting outside when he was a lad. Mary took his hand and led him inside.
“Mama, he’s here.”
“Who is here—” Mrs. Patterson stopped and curtsied. “Your Grace.”
“Mrs. Patterson,” he said with a nod. “How is Davie this morning?”
“He’s mad that I won’t let him out of bed.”
“I’ll go take a look at him,” Selina said and then left the room.
“Can I get you some tea, Your Grace?”
Even though he didn’t want tea, he didn’t wish to insult the woman. “Yes, that would be lovely.”
“Please sit down,” Mrs. Patterson said as she put the kettle on to boil.
As soon as he sat, Mary clamored up on his lap. She stuck her thumb in her mouth and rested her head against his chest. He smiled down at the little cherub, again wondering what it would feel like to have his own child sitting on his lap.
“Looks like you made a new friend, Your Grace.”
“She told me Davie admitted the truth.”
Mrs. Patterson pulled out teacups as she nodded. “She knew Davie didn’t get the doll when he fell out. She’s a right smart girl. She knew he couldn’t get it with his arm in a sling.”
“Mrs. Patterson, what do you need around here?”
She glanced back at him as she poured the hot water. “What do you mean, Your Grace?”
“I know your husband died. I’m just wondering what type of help you need around the house. Is the roof leaking? Do you need a footman to come by and help you with any repairs?”
She blinked furiously. “My roof started leaking this spring after a windstorm.”
“I shall get a man to come by and fix it.”
She placed a teacup in front of him. “Bless you, Your Grace.”
“What else do you need?”
“Nothing,” she replied, staring into her cup.
“Why, Mrs. Patterson, I do believe you are holding something back.”
She wiped away a tear. “Your Grace, I love it here. My children are so happy . . .”
“But . . . ?”
“I have to leave. The little bit I earn from sewing won’t pay for what I need. I have a brother in Suffolk who will take us in.”
Colin could tell from the quivering tone of her voice that there was more going on than just her leaving. He wished Selina would return. She would be able to get Mrs. Patterson to talk about it. Or perhaps, he could try.
“Why don’t you want to live with your brother?”
“He’s a terrible man, Your Grace. I fear he may do . . . unnatural things to my babies.” She continued to stare into her tea.
Colin closed his eyes for a long moment. There was no chance he would let this woman take her children to her brother’s home. “Mrs. Patterson, would you consider working up at the manor house for me?”
She looked up. “What do you mean?”
He laughed softly. “My home is in disrepair. Most of my servants are twice your age. I need to start bringing in some younger servants so the older ones may think about retiring.”
“You want me to go into service?”