Bewitching the Duke

Mrs. Roberts looked down at the floor. “I apologize, Your Grace. Miss White gave me some herbs for my gout and they make

it hard for me to sleep. I thought I would get a start on freshening up the rooms on this floor. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“I did not realize you were having issues sleeping.” The plump old face of Mrs. Roberts was not what he’d seen in the window.

“It’s better than the pain of the gout,” she replied with a hearty laugh. “Come down and let me call for a bath for you.”

He nodded. Perhaps a bath would help clear his mind. After spending almost two hours searching for Selina, he’d finally given up. She did indeed know this land better than he. Although, he hated the idea of her walking all the way back to Hart’s estate in the dark . . . alone. He should do something about that but the only sensible option was having her return here. And that kiss tonight proved he desired her far too much to allow her near him again.

He followed Mrs. Roberts down the stairs to his room and waited for his bath. Hearing the floor creak above him, he ignored the sound. There was no spirit in this house. It was only his imagination. The floor creaked because it was made of wood, which expanded and contracted depending on the weather.

The only thing he couldn’t explain was the face in the window.

It had been there. And he knew without a doubt that the face had not been Mrs. Roberts’s. The woman’s face was much younger and thinner than his housekeeper’s face. He raked his fingers through his wet hair. The woman, like the sounds, was his imagination.

God, he could not wait for Kate and her mother to arrive. Even though having them here would drive him mad, at least it was a madness to which he was accustomed. The emptiness of this house had to be the cause of his foolishness. Well, that and a petite blond who was driving him insane.

Chapter 8

A loud knock on her bedchamber door woke Selina at seven the next morning. The servants knew she didn’t enjoy getting up early. There must be another tenant who needs her, she thought.

“Selina, please let me in.”

Hearing the worried tone of Mrs. Roberts, Selina assumed the worst. Perhaps their quick bedchamber move last night didn’t work and the duke had discovered that she was living under his nose. “Come in.”

Mrs. Roberts walked into the room and went directly to the linen press. “Get up, girl,” she said as she pulled out a cotton dress.

“What is going on?”

“His Grace just called for Zeus to be saddled. He said he was heading to the earl’s lands. We can’t take the chance he means to go to Mrs. Featherstone’s house and check on you.”

“Why would he do that?”

“He confessed to Mr. Roberts that he had seen you last night by the pond and that you had run away. The duke said he’d wanted you to stay the night here because of the rain and darkness. He searched for over two hours trying to find you last night.”

“Two hours?” Selina whispered.

“Yes. He finally decided you must have returned to Mrs. Featherstone’s cottage.” Mrs. Roberts laced up Selina’s stays. “He appeared very worried.”

Or worried that she might tell someone that he kissed her, she thought. “I doubt he cared whether I made it to Mia’s house or not.”

Mrs. Roberts draped the green cotton dress over Selina’s head. “Of course he cares. But he is a troubled man. When I found him in your room last night, he looked slightly mad. He was soaked to the bone from searching for you.”

She’d barely slept last night from the guilt of leaving him in the rain. Selina nodded. “Thank you again for all your help last night.”

“Selina, you must be more cautious with the candles.”

“I will not use them unless I know he has retired.” As Mrs. Roberts buttoned up her dress, Selina asked, “How did you get everything out of that room before he arrived?”

“Randall detained him for a few moments. Just long enough to get the tub out of your room and into the bedchamber across the hall.”

Selina smiled, remembering the commotion of five footmen, Mrs. Roberts, and a few maids all getting her items out of the room before the duke arrived. This was not safe for them. “I really should consider moving to Mia’s house. It is not right that I put you and the other servants in a position that could cost you your jobs.”

“Hush,” Mrs. Roberts scolded. “You will do no such thing. Just remember to pull the bell five times like you did last night should we need to move you quickly.”

“I will, thank you.” Selina adjusted the bodice of her dress. “I can’t make it all the way to Mia’s house before the duke. He will have a head start on me.”

Mrs. Roberts pulled Selina’s hair up into a tight chignon. “No, he will need to dress and eat first. He always eats a large breakfast. While he does that, Mr. Sellers has a lad who will ride with you until you are at least halfway to the earl’s lands. He will take your horse and you will start walking toward Northrop Park as if you are coming to check on a tenant.”