Bewitching the Duke

Selina blinked back tears. She was no great lady and never would be. Why would this woman tell her such nonsense? She pulled her hands out of the fortune-teller’s and rose. “Thank you.”

She reached into her purse and pulled out a few coins. Her hands shook as she tossed the money on the table.

The woman was wrong. Still, as she walked away from the seer and toward her friends, her body trembled. There was something about that woman that frightened her and Selina had no idea why.

“Come along,” Hart grumbled as he led Colin toward the stables.

“Why

are we going into town?”

“Because you need to have some enjoyment while you’re here. Kate will be arriving in a week or two, so your life will be nothing but preparing the house and yourself for the wedding. This is your last chance at freedom for a few weeks.”

His friend knew him far too well. Once Kate arrived, his thoughts would be on the wedding and, more than likely, the memories of his marriage to Mary. Perhaps a day without worries would be helpful . . . possibly even amusing. “Very well, then.”

Hart’s brows rose slightly as he let out a quick laugh. “I honestly thought I’d have to drag you there.”

Colin shrugged. “You are right. I shall have too many things on my mind in the next few weeks to enjoy myself. So this is my last day for a pleasant outing.”

They waited outside the stable for Colin’s horse to be brought out. As they passed the time, Colin noticed a rider on the horizon and wondered who could be visiting today. The rider approached the stables just as the stableboy handed the mare’s reins to Colin.

“Middleton?” Colin said, surprised that his neighbor and friend was even out in the country.

“Shocked to see me out here?” He laughed as he removed his hat and brushed his dark blond hair back off his forehead.

Hart chortled. “You love London. What brought you out here?”

Middleton shook his head. “Family issues. And summer does become a bit oppressive in London.”

“We’re off to the village. Will you join us?” Hart asked.

“Of course. I hear there is a fair in town. Perhaps a pretty girl, eager to please a lord, for each of us. Or maybe we should pretend we are of lower class and find some amusement there?”

It wouldn’t be that far of a stretch for Middleton, Colin thought. The son of a second son of a viscount whose father had gambled away what little fortune he had, Middleton only inherited the title after a few oddly suspicious accidents in his uncle’s family.

“Let’s be off,” Hart said.

They rode toward town and talked about the lands they grew up on, the current weather and the conditions of the crops. Once they reached Cheadle, they left their horses at the livery and walked toward the square.

The eyes of the villagers immediately went to the three lords walking through their town. Colin glanced around and felt slightly uncomfortable, as if they were intruding where they shouldn’t. A few people nodded to them but said nothing in greeting.

“Perhaps this wasn’t a good idea,” Colin started.

“Nonsense,” Middleton replied. “There is no reason we cannot be here.”

Hart nodded. “For once, I agree with Middleton.”

Middleton laughed so loudly several people turned to stare at them. “You are only here for one reason.”

Hart’s cheeks reddened slightly.

“And what would that be?” Colin asked.

“There is no reason I want to be here other than to get you out of your crumbling house.”

“Of course,” Middleton said with a smirk. “It has nothing to do with the fact that Miss Featherstone was meeting her sister and Miss White here today.”

“Exactly,” Hart grumbled. “It has nothing to do with that.”