Bewitching the Duke

“But what about on a night like this when things go wrong? How do you deal with the emotions?”

She cast him a gentle smile. “That is life. There is good and bad. No matter how hard I try I can’t save everyone.”

“I might believe you if I hadn’t seen how upset you were over Mrs. Wells’s loss.”

She blinked furiously as if reliving the memory. Colin instantly regretted the remark. He had been enjoying her company tonight and with one comment, he’d brought back the memories of her emotional night by the reflecting pond.

“Some days are harder than others,” she whispered. “Seeing a child die is the worst.”

He knew that all too well. He closed his eyes as the memories returned as if it had happened yesterday, not eight years ago. “Why can’t I forget?” he whispered.

A warm hand touched his thigh. The idea that she would touch him to comfort him warmed his frozen heart.

“Because you loved her,” she said softly. “But maybe it’s time to let go.”

He opened his eyes to find her on her knees in front of him. Her green eyes were wet with tears for him. “I don’t know how.”

A large tear fell on his knee. “Your wife would never have wanted you to lock away your heart. She would have wanted you to love again, Colin.”

He looked away from her unable to face the pity he saw there. “You can’t possibly know that.”

“No woman who truly loved her husband would want him so lonely.” She dropped her head on his knee. “You need to return to London and find a woman who will love you.”

He leaned his head back against the chair and sighed. While he’d done much to ruin his reputation over the past eight years, he knew nothing was so awful that couldn’t be forgiven with his title. The women of the ton would be overjoyed to have a chance to become the next Duchess of Northrop. But he doubted one would come to love him as Mary had.

His hand reached down and caressed Selina’s head. Her tears had stopped but her head still lay on his thighs. He wanted to grasp her arms and then pull her onto his lap. Only that would lead to things he should not even consider. Kissing her that night by the reflecting pond had been a mistake. A glorious, passionate error.

Or was it?

That night he’d felt alive again. It had been the first time in eight years that he’d truly desired a woman. He wanted Selina in his bed. But how could he ask such a thing from her. As if sensing his desire, she rose and moved away from him.

He caught sight of her toes sticking out from the hem of her dress and smiled. She had no sense of propriety at all.

“Where are your shoes?”

She stared down at her feet as pink tinged her cheek. “I-I left them at the door. They were muddied.”

“Muddied? We haven’t had rain in a week.”

“Well, I found a patch,” she said with a nervous laugh.

He smiled over at her. There was something about this unconventional woman that made his heart feel lighter. “I would appreciate it if you stayed with me tonight.”

Her green eyes widened slightly. “What do you mean?”

His fists clenched when he realized her mistaken meaning. “I meant stay in the house. So that if my sister needs you tonight you are close.”

She stared at the floor. “Of course. I will relieve the duchess so she can sleep.”

Colin rose from his chair and held out his hand to escort her to Kate’s room. He had to get Selina out of the study before he offered to take her to his room. Distance. He had to keep a strict distance between them.

Chapter 13

Selina walked up the stairs with Colin directly behind her. She was a coward. There had been abundant opportunities to offer herself to him while in the study and she’d said and done nothing. She would certainly understand if he rejected her. He might not even find her attractive in that manner.

And yet, she thought he might. Even now, she could swear he was watching her hips sway as she walked. What would he do if she just turned and moved into his arms? As she reached the top step, she realized nothing would happen. He clasped her elbow and led her to his sister’s room.

“Good night, Selina,” he whispered near her ear.