Selina walked from the stables tired after a long morning of tenant visits with Colin. Every day for the past week they had been greeting the tenants together. Then every afternoon she had spent learning new dance steps with Kate. Selina wanted nothing more than to lie down and take a nap. But now she had to be fitted for a gown for a ball that she had no business attending.
No one would take her for Kate’s paid companion. For some reason, Kate wanted her there but Selina doubted it was just as a companion. She wondered briefly if Kate was trying to help her find a husband as a way of thanking her after the miscarriage. Or even more unthinkable, Kate might believe Colin would be a perfect husband for her.
That was a mad idea, indeed.
Kate would know that Selina wasn’t fit to become a duchess. It was laughable to think Colin would even want her to be his wife. She didn’t think he had changed his mind about marriage and children at this point.
Even if he did look more handsome than she had ever seen when he had Mary on his lap last week. There was something about a man holding a child that touched her heart completely.
Colin cleared his throat and then clasped her elbow. “Come with me for a moment.”
He led her to the reflecting pond. They both sat on the edge. She looked over at his windblown hair and was tempted to push the black hairs out of his face.
“Thank you,” he said softly and then kissed her hand.
“For what?”
“Showing me what I needed to do with my tenants. I feel horrible about how they’ve been neglected for the past eight years.”
She smiled. “Good. I’m glad you have seen what needs to be done. Now, will you act upon it?”
He nodded and kissed her hand again. “I plan on speaking with my steward tomorrow. I want money allocated to fix the cottages. If the tenants need something, I want them to go to Mr. Hughes and understand that he will act immediately.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, touched by his words. She never expected he would react this way. All she’d wanted him to do was meet the people who lived and worked his land. “I need to go now.”
“Where are you off to?”
“Your sister wants to speak with me.” She had no idea why she didn’t mention the ball. Perhaps it was because she didn’t want to see his reaction. He would probably ridicule her for going.
“Very well, I will see you at dinner then.” He rose and held out a hand to her.
“I do believe it’s time I returned to Mrs. Featherstone’s home. I have spent an extra week here only to please Kate. And she no longer needs me.”
“No,” he said quickly. “Stay here.”
“I do not belong.” And staying would mean returning to his bed again. While she wanted that desperately, she knew making love with him was only an illusion. One she must stop. She’d been able to avoid him the past few days by staying close to Kate. But she could sense his frustration rising. He wanted her again . . . and she was weakening.
“We will discuss this later.”
She nodded. “If you wish.”
She walked back to the house and up to her room on the third floor. She had thirty minutes before she was supposed to meet with Kate. She fell to the bed and stared at the white ceiling.
Being with Colin the last week had left an impact on her that she’d never expected. He touched her heart when he let little Mary on his lap and when he offered Mrs. Patterson a position. There were several times during the day that she would catch him staring at her. And what she saw in his eyes frightened her—admiration, desire, and quite possibly love.
Could the Duke of Northrop be in love with her?
Could she be in love with him?
The second question was far too easy to answer. Yes. Somehow, the arrogant man had gotten under her skin and deep into her heart. And he could never find out that she loved him.
Today she had realized the truth about him. The man was far more softhearted than she’d thought. She wasn’t sure why it surprised her. This was the same man who hadn’t been with another woman for eight years. He had loved his first wife so deeply that he’d never imagined wanting to be with another.
But he had been with Selina.
He’d told her he desired her even more than his late wife. And that led her back to her first question. Could he be in love with her? She was starting to believe it true.
If that was the case, she had to leave. He would hate her if he ever discovered the truth. No matter how he felt about her, the secret she had kept from him would destroy any chance of love for them.
The ball was in a few days. As soon as it was over, she would leave. Or at least pretend to return to Mrs. Featherstone’s. Then once he left, she could go back to her cottage and try to forget him. She wondered if that would ever be possible. As long as she lived on the estate, she would be reminded of him.
She brushed a tear off her cheek.
She glanced over at the clock and then quickly changed into her lavender dress. The first fitting for her gown was in five minutes. Perhaps Kate would give some indication why she felt it necessary for Selina to attend this ball. If not, then she would corner her later and demand the truth.
After checking her appearance in the mirror, she paused. Neither Kate nor her mother had told her where to meet them. She shrugged and decided to try Kate’s room first.
She raced down the servants’ staircase to the second floor. She rapped on Kate’s door.
“Come in,” Kate’s voice called from inside the room.
Selina opened the door and then smiled. Kate stood on a small stool as her maid finished a few touches on the beautiful gold gown.
“Kate, you look so beautiful.”
“Thank you. In another minute, you will be next.” She giggled. “I found the most perfect gown for you.”
The door to the bedchamber opened and the duchess walked inside. She nodded her approval. “That is beautiful.” She strolled closer. “Although, I dare say a bit immodest. Perhaps a bit of fichu at the bosom.”
“I am almost a married woman, Mother.”
“You should have already been married,” the duchess muttered.
“I will be married in no time at all. I might as well enjoy a ball or two before that happens,” Kate retorted.
“Very well, where is the dress for Selina?”
Kate pointed to the linen press. “The sage-colored one. It will match her eyes.”
Selina sat in the tapestry chair by the window feeling more uncomfortable by the minute. Perhaps she could make some excuse. She started to force a cough just as the duchess turned with the most beautiful gown Selina had ever seen. That masterpiece could not be for her to wear.
The duchess held it up. “What do you think, Selina?”
The green silk dress had silver thread shot through it, which made it catch the rays of sunlight filtering inside. With candlelight, the gown would shimmer. The bodice had cap sleeves hemmed with ivory lace. “It’s more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen,” she whispered.
“Excellent,” Kate said. “Go try it on. I’m done now.”
Even knowing she shouldn’t, Selina couldn’t help herself from trying on the dress. She went behind the screen and a maid assisted her with her clothing. The silk dress caressed her skin as the maid buttoned up the back.
“All set,” she said.
Selina walked around the screen and both women gasped. She turned and stared at her reflection in the mirror. “I look like . . .”
“A duchess,” said Kate with a grin.
“It is so beautiful.” Selina held out the skirt and then twirled.
“Now let Sally check the fitting.” Kate helped Selina up on the stool.
For the first time, Selina looked at the gown in a critical manner. It fit her almost perfectly. As if it had been made for her. But that wasn’t possible.
Sally checked the fitting and nodded. “Perfect. I just need to hem it.”
“I am a bit taller than she is, Sally,” Kate commented.
Hardly a bit, Selina thought. Kate was several inches taller and this dress only needed to be an inch or two shorter. Not to mention the most obvious difference, Kate was larger in the bosom than Selina. These two ladies were definitely up to something. Instead of confronting them now, she would wait until she could get Kate alone.
Of course, that was an impossibility. As soon as they had finished the fitting, the two ladies whisked her off for dancing lessons. They had even brought in a dance instructor from town today.
Mr. Bryant taught her several country dances and even the scandalous waltz, although the duchess frowned the entire time he danced with Selina. She was certain she would never remember them all.
“I shall be back tomorrow at four,” he said as he packed up his music. “We will review the dances we learned today and maybe have time for a few more.”
“More?”
“A lady must know all the current dances,” the duchess interjected.
“Yes, a ball will have many different sets. You must be prepared to dance them all.” Mr. Bryant added.
That would never happen. Already her feet ached and it had only been two hours. While Mr. Bryant departed, she glanced around. It was time to get Kate alone . . . except she had already left while Selina had been talking with Mr. Bryant.
“Your Grace, do you know where Kate went?”
“To get ready for dinner. You must go now too. A lady always dresses for dinner and after an exertion like dancing for two hours, you must wash.”
“Of course,” Selina mumbled. Even the duchess was acting oddly. Calling her a lady. Dressing for dinner. Oh dear God! They couldn’t possibly believe she and Colin were in love. But as she walked to her room, certain comments came back to her.
Kate had said Selina looked like a duchess when she tried on the ball gown.
The duchess has said a lady must know all the current dances. And had said something similar about dressing for dinner.
No, no
no!
She was not about to let them continue that line of thought. She quickly washed and dressed in her yellow muslin for dinner. Then she raced down the servants’ stairs to find Kate before it was time to eat.
She rapped forcefully on Kate’s door. “Kate, let me in this instant.”
The door creaked open but it was Sally who stood on the other side. “Lady Katherine has gone to the main salon for sherry before dinner.”
Frustration rolled in her. Maybe she could catch Kate before Colin and the duchess joined them. But just as she reached the last step, she heard Colin’s voice upstairs.
“Selina, let me escort you.” He hurried down the stairs.
“Good evening, Your Grace.”
A dark brow rose. “So formal.”
“Yes, we are about to have dinner. Your sister and stepmother will be there too so formality is to be expected.”
His full lips quirked. “Indeed.”
They walked into the salon and Kate’s eyes widened. Oh, she was up to something. But now Selina would have to wait to discover what Kate plotted.
“Good evening, Kate,” Colin said, then kissed his sister on the cheek. “What have you been doing today?”
“Mother brought in a dance instructor to teach us some new dances.”
“New dances?” he asked as he took a seat on the sofa. “The Season only ended a few weeks ago. How could there be any new dances?”
Randall brought glasses of sherry to all of them. Selina remained standing near a window. Randall gave her a wink as he handed a glass to her.
“Actually,” Kate continued with her lie, “there are a couple of new dances and I finally received permission to waltz so I needed to learn that dance.”
Selina shook her head as she sipped her sherry. The lies kept piling on. Kate danced the waltz like an expert. Why was Kate refusing to tell Colin that the teacher was here for her?
The duchess arrived just as Randall announced dinner. They all retired to the dining room.
“Good evening, everyone,” she said as she took her seat.
“I heard quite the tale of you helping one of the tenant boys last week,” Kate said as she glanced between Selina and Colin.
“I could never have helped Davie without the duke’s assistance,” Selina replied as heat filled her cheeks.
The duchess stared at Selina for a long moment. “Tell me, dear, how exactly did the duke decide to join you?”
Oh dear, the woman was prying. “The servants could not find me so they asked the duke if he had seen me. He decided to help them look for me. Once I heard what had happened, I went outside and the duke insisted on accompanying me.”
The older woman pursed her lips before nodding. “I see.”
“It was good fortune that he did,” Selina continued. “Davie’s shoulder was dislocated and I needed someone strong to help hold him down while I set it.”