Bewitching the Duke

“I see.” He cleared his throat and then said, “Would you mind if I watched what you do?”

“It is your home, you may do as you like.” Just the idea that he would be following her around sent a nervous energy through her.

“I will come with you.”

For the next few minutes, she tried to ignore the man next to her as she walked through the room. Even though he remained quiet, she could hear his every breath. Her hands trembled slightly as she lifted the bowl with sage up and down.

“How does the sage work?” he finally asked.

Selina shrugged. “I’m not really certain.”

“Then how do you know it works?”

She stopped and looked over at him. “Some things you must believe in without proof.”

“Ah, faith.”

“Yes.”

He shook his head. “I’m finding the idea that burning sage will get rid of the negative feelings in this house a little odd.”

Selina tightened the grip on her bowl. She placed it on a bureau before turning back to him. “Then why are you allowing this? And why are you even following me around the house?”

“I honestly don’t know,” he admitted and then walked away slowly.

Selina spent the afternoon finishing the third level. Once she was done, she decided to spend the evening with Kate. Not that she was hiding from Colin. That night, she returned to her bedroom on the third floor, knowing she’d never sleep in the room next to his.

The next two days followed the same pattern. She spent as much time as possible with Kate. When she knew Colin was occupied in his study or out riding, she’d worked on the second floor. Now finished with the east wing, she moved toward the west wing . . . and his bedchamber.

She waited until she noticed him leave the room before heading inside. She hadn’t been in this room since the first morning she’d met him. Today, the curtains were already open and sunlight filtered through the diamond-shaped panes. There was nothing feminine about this room. Dark wood paneled the walls and deep red carpets covered the floors. The large bed looked like mahogany to her, along with the bureau and small desk in the corner. The bedcoverings were the only lighter thing in the room and Selina still thought them to be too deep a shade of gold for her tastes.

Not that any of that mattered. This was his room, certainly not hers. He could decorate his bedchamber in black if he wished it. She must get back to work before he returned from his ride. She’d spent so much time procrastinating, he might even come back now.

She picked up her bowl and walked the room. She refused to think about how she slowed to a stop and stared at his bed. Telling herself not to wonder which side of the bed he slept on, she turned away. She crossed the room and held up her bowl until she heard the door squeak open.

“I didn’t expect you to be here,” he said in a strangled tone.

“You did tell me to cleanse the house . . . that includes your bedchamber.”

He leaned his tall body against the door, effectively blocking her only escape from the handsome brooding man. “I suppose I did say that.”

The man was driving her mad. Could he possibly have no idea that she heard every breath, felt every movement he made? Didn’t he realize how much she desired him?

“Well?” she demanded. What did the man want from her now? Was she supposed to stop cleansing his room?

She looked over at his blue eyes and stopped fidgeting. It was as if the room suddenly became smaller until the only thing that mattered was him. She wanted to kiss him again. Feel his lips against hers. Feel the sensation of his velvety tongue swiping across hers.

“Selina?” he said in a hoarse voice.

“Yes?”

“Remember how I said I would never ask your permission to kiss you?”

She frowned slightly. “Yes?”

“Good.” He closed the distance between them and suddenly his lips were on hers. He moved them backward until he had her against the door . . . a very closed door, cloaking them in privacy.

Chapter 14