Bewitching the Duke

“How can you believe that?”

“Miss Featherstone and her mother saved my mother’s life a few years ago. The physician said there was nothing he could do because she was dying from cancer. But with their herbs and loving care, three years later, my mother still lives. Not only that, but my mother is healthier than she’s ever been.”

Hart went quiet for a long moment before finally saying, “I owe them both everything.”

Colin wanted to rail at his friend for his foolishness. It was God’s will that his mother was still alive, not some damned women with their infernal herbs.

Selina paced the small confines of her cottage. The fury of meeting the duke yesterday had not diminished. How was she supposed to leave the estate, even if it was for only two months? There were two tenants who would deliver in the next week or two. She had to be here for them. Besides, where was she supposed to go? She’d never met her father’s family and knew of no way to contact them. Her mother, like Selina, had been an only child. That left her twin friends, Mia and Tia. Although, Selina knew neither of them had room at their cottages.

She walked to the window and looked out at the gray day. She’d lived in this cottage all her life. Her mother’s ancestors had lived either in this cottage or on this land somewhere. Why should she be forced to leave because he couldn’t forget the past?

As she stared out the window, she noticed Mr. Sellers arrive with a horse. Selina grabbed her things and rushed outside.

“Come on, miss,” Mr. Sellers said with a grin. “We don’t have that much time.”

“Thank you, Mr. Sellers.”

He nodded to her and then assisted her onto the mare. “Just doing my part.”

They rode quickly to the stables. She glanced up at the house and her heart started to pound against her chest. If the duke discovered her here today, she had no idea what he might do. There were still several rooms she needed to cleanse and it might take days to complete. But this was what she’d been raised to do. She wouldn’t let one insufferable duke stop her.

After Mr. Sellers helped her down, she ran for the house. Mr. Roberts opened the door for her.

“Do hurry, miss,” Mr. Roberts said. “He used to ride for at least an hour, so do what you can during that time.”

She removed her short boots and dropped them by the door.

“Miss, you really shouldn’t walk around in your stocking feet,” Mr. Roberts admonished.

The dear old man was always trying to drum some propriety into her head. He should know by now it would never work. “I won’t come in and track mud all over, causing you even more work.”

Mr. Roberts only shook his head. “Very well.”

“Have the footmen open the windows in the study, salon, and library. I will work there first.” She couldn’t go into his bedroom today. The idea of working in his bedchamber again sent an odd sensation to her belly. Far better to ignore that room for now.

“Yes, miss.”

While the footmen readied the room, Selina breathed in deeply to calm her nerves. She lit the sage and blew it out. A long line of smoke billowed up from the herb. Slowly, she walked into the library and moved counterclockwise through the room, taking a few extra moments in every corner.

“No dark spirits are allowed in this room,” she mumbled as she walked. “Only good will remain in this room.” The smoke scented the room even with the windows open. She passed the bookshelves and looked up at them in envy. If only she had access to some of his books.

Once finished in the library, she made her way to the salon. Repeating the same actions, she concentrated on her words and not the ticking clock. With two rooms finished, she moved to his study. She had at least fifteen minutes left.

Before she started, she glanced about the room. Everything in this room was meant for him. A large, cherry desk took up one end of the room. She could picture him sitting in that leather chair working on bills and plans for the estate. At the other end, a large fireplace would keep the room warm in the cold winter months. She could imagine curling herself up in the blue velvet chair by the fireplace, reading a wonderful novel for hours, while the duke worked at his desk.

“I must be going mad,” she whispered with a shake of her head.

She resumed her cleansing. But she lost her concentration due to a commotion from the back of the house. Loud voices continued to come closer until she realized it was the duke. Not knowing what else to do, she snuffed the sage and slipped behind the gold velvet curtain. Hopefully, he wouldn’t notice her feet sticking out. Fear of discovery caused her heart to pound against her chest.

She took a deep breath to calm herself and listen as he came closer. His footsteps sounded different today. His gait was uneven as if he wasn’t walking correctly.

“Why do I smell goddamn sage?” he shouted.

“Now, Your Grace, it’s just left over from what she did yesterday,” Mr. Roberts replied. “You must sit down and get off that ankle.”

“My ankle is fine,” he rasped.

“I could call for Miss White to look at it. I am quite certain it wouldn’t take long for her to arrive.”