“I do not want any part of this on my lands,” he replied, staring at Selina, who wouldn’t return his gaze.
“We are almost finished, Your Grace,” Mia replied. “All we have left is the sacrificial burning.”
“The what?” Did they actually toss a sheep or some other animal on the fire?
“We sacrifice an object belonging to the lord of the land,” she said. “The earl offered a lock of his hair. Viscount Middleton offered a handkerchief.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and slowly walked up to Selina. “And exactly what did I offer?”
“Nothing, Your Grace,” she mumbled.
“But I thought you had a book,” Tia said in a questioning tone.
Selina shot her friend a glare. “I was wrong.” She moved her hands behind her back.
“Give me the book, Miss White,” he ordered.
“I already said I don’t have a book.”
“The one in your hand.” He held out his hand, waiting for her to place the book in it.
“Your Grace,” she started as she brought her hand in front of her. “Please, don’t be angry. Once I saw the inscription, I knew I couldn’t burn the book.”
Colin frowned as he took the book from her. Glancing down at the cover his anger exploded. “You thought to burn this book?”
“No,” she mumbled. “Not once I saw the inscription.”
“Where did you get this?” he demanded as the other two women backed away.
“It was on your desk in the library.”
He lifted her chin to look her in the eyes. “You were in my house and stole from me?”
“You left me no choice in the matter. I knew if I came to you and explained the situation you would have laughed at me. Or worse, called me some kind of witch because we believe in these rituals whether you do or not.”
Somewhere deep in his brain, he knew she was right. Nonetheless, he couldn’t grasp the fact that she almost burned the last gift ever given to him from his late wife. He treasured that book.
“Don’t ever step foot on my property again,” he growled and then turned away from the fire.
“Your Grace, I am dreadfully sorry,” she cried. “I promise I wasn’t going to burn the book. I saw the inscription. I know what she meant to you.”
He turned back and glared at her. “You have no idea what she meant to me. Unlike many of the arranged marriages in society, I actually loved my wife.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said softly. “Please, let me continue to help your tenants and servants.”
“No. Don’t set foot on my property again.”
Selina watched him ride away as tears filled her eyes. Damn that stubborn man. Why couldn’t he realize that all she wanted to do was help keep the lands fertile? While it might seem like a silly ritual to him, it was important the tenants know it had been performed.
“What are you going to do?” Mia whispered as she put her arm around Selina’s shoulders.
“Nothing. I will not stop helping those people. I don’t care if he calls the constable to drag me away. They need me.” Selina inhaled deeply. “I won’t stop performing my duty.”
Mia nodded. “Will you be coming home with me?”
“No. I’ll go back to my room at the house.” She gave her friends a watery smile. “He will depart as soon as the wedding is over. All I have to do is avoid him for another few weeks. How hard can that be?”
“Another few weeks?” Mia whispered. “The wedding is six weeks away. Do you really think you can evade him for that long?”