Bewitching the Duke

“It was not any great deed. Bertha was in the next room. I’m quite sure she would have assisted you.”

Selina averted her eyes and shook her head. “No, she would not have. She is terrified of her brother. She has come to me several times with bruises and scrapes that I know he caused.”

“Dammit,” he yelled. He turned around and strode back in the direction they had come from. “I should have known about him. I’m the goddamn duke!”

“Colin, where are you going?”

“To get that man off my land.”

Selina trotted to catch up with him. “Well then, wait for me.”

He slowed down and smiled back at her. “You don’t seem too angry that I’m forcing him to leave.”

“Not at all. That man is dreadful. I honestly don’t know what might have happened today if you hadn’t shown up.”

They arrived back at the cottage to hear pottery being smashed and shouting inside. Colin burst into the house and dragged Mr. Baker outside. “Get in and see to Miss Baker, she’s hurt.”

Selina raced inside to find Bertha cowering in the corner of the room. Shards of pottery were strewn on the floor around her and blood dripped down her face. “Oh, Bertha, I’m so sorry.”

Slowly, Bertha rose to her feet. Her skinny arms trembled. “Not your fault, Selina.”

“I should have told the duke sooner. I forget that he doesn’t know as much about his tenants as I do.” Gently, she wiped away the blood and examined the cuts on her face. “These should heal in no time. They aren’t deep.”

“Thank you, Selina. If you hadn’t forced the duke to return, I don’t know what might have happened.”

She searched her bag for willow bark. “I didn’t force him, Bertha. As soon as he heard what has been happening to you, he turned around and came back. His Grace will not tolerate that kind of behavior on his lands.”

Bertha looked up at her with big brown eyes. “His Grace is forcing Edward to leave?”

“Yes.”

“But where will I go?”

Selina put the small bag of herbs on the table. Without Mr. Baker’s support, Bertha would have nowhere to live. “I don’t know,” she admitted. Unlike Mrs. Patterson, Bertha couldn’t work at the manor house while trying to care for her father.

“You will stay right here,” Colin said as he came back in. “Once your father is well . . .” He left the “or dead” unspoken. “I will find you a position.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. But what’s going to happen to Edward?”

“I told him I want him off my land immediately and to never set foot on it again.”

Bertha nodded and a look of relief washed over her. “Thank you again, Your Grace.”

“If he gives you any trouble, just let me know,” Colin said. “Good morning, Miss Baker.”

Once they left the house, Selina giggled. “You rather enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

“Enjoyed what?”

“Taking that man to task.”

“I will not stand having a man on my land who hurts women and children.”

Selina nodded. “Or the elderly.”

“Exactly.” He lowered his head and kissed her softly. “I protect what’s mine.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. Was he implying that she was his?