Bewitching the Duke

“I have no choice,” Selina admitted. With all the workers about now, he was all over the house. She rarely left her room because she feared he would discover her.

“Do you really think that’s wise?” Tia asked. “Why not come home with me? In fact, you could be the wise woman for Middleton’s lands so I can leave for London.”

“You’re not going to London, Tia,” her sister said firmly.

“I am and no one will stop me.” Tia brushed a lock of red hair out of her eyes. “Selina can stay at my cottage while I’m gone. That way, she is out of the duke’s ire.”

“No,” Selina said. “I will not be evicted from my lands.”

Mia cleared her throat. “They are actually his lands, Selina.”

She frowned at her friend. “I know that. But still, I will not leave.”

Chapter 10

The next few days were uneventful as Selina did everything she could to stay out of the duke’s sight. Unfortunately, the man didn’t seem to leave the house often

enough that she could roam either the house or the estate. She was not a woman who enjoyed sitting around doing nothing like the ladies of the upper crust. She paced her large room, pausing by the window for a breath of fresh air. She desperately needed to be outside, riding or walking, anything to feel less constricted than she did in this house. While it was a lovely room, every day it felt more and more like a prison to her.

Finally, a knock on the door broke the tedium.

She opened the door just a crack only to find Randall in the hall.

“This just came for you, miss.” He slid the paper through the opening and then nodded his head. “Shall I wait for a reply?”

Selina stifled a laugh. “No, if I need to return a message, I shall ring for you.”

“It is no problem to wait, miss.”

“Randall, go back to your position before the duke wonders why you are not at your station.”

His eyes widened as if he hadn’t thought of that possibility. “Very good, miss,” he said, nodding.

She closed the door and then moved to the window where the light was better. She smiled as she opened the missive and read Mia’s note. There was a traveling fair in town and she begged Selina to meet her there this afternoon at one.

Selina glanced at the clock and nodded. She had an hour to determine the best way of escaping the house without Colin noticing her. After changing into her light yellow muslin dress, she walked to the door. She cracked it open and looked both ways before running to the servants’ staircase. He certainly would never use them but it didn’t stop her from peering down the steps before creeping down them. When she reached the second floor, she stopped. This was one of the most likely places he would be this afternoon.

Voices echoed from down the hall. She breathed in deeply to slow her racing heart. As the voices diminished, she peeked around the corner. Seeing no one in the hall, she rounded the corner and continued to the lower level.

Again, she stopped and listened for voices. As no sound reached her ears, she slipped down the hall searching for an exit that wouldn’t reveal her to the duke. She departed from the library door to the terrace. Finally, she could breathe. Even if he found her here, she could use the excuse that she was here to see a servant.

As her heart finally slowed its staccato beat, she walked across the lawn and headed toward town. It would take her an hour on foot, but for the chance to see her friends, it was worth it.

By the time she reached the outskirts of Cheadle, she could hear the noise from the churchyard and square. A rush of excitement pushed her lips upward. She’d attended this fair since she was a little girl. She still remembered her father hoisting her up on his shoulders so she could watch the happenings. One time she even saw a man with a monkey on his shoulder, holding on just as she had with her father. After that day, her father had always called her his little monkey. She wiped away a quick tear that fell down her check. She still missed him.

“Selina!”

She turned at the sound of Mia’s voice. Her friend rushed to greet her with a hug. “I’m so glad you were able to come,” Mia said.

“Me too. I had to sneak out of the house so he wouldn’t see me,” she said with a slight giggle.

“There you two are,” Tia said as she approached them. “You must try these almonds. They are the best I’ve ever had.”

Selina took one from the bag and then chewed the nut. “Is that cinnamon?”

Tia nodded. “Yes!”

“Let me have one too,” Mia said as she reached into the bag. After she popped one into her mouth, a slow smile lit her face. “They are delicious!”