He was asking her a third time? The man had definitely lost his mind. “It’s not appropriate to dance with you again, Your Grace.”
“Of course it is,” he said with a pointed look at his sister. “Kate, didn’t you tell her that the two dance rule was only for acquaintances? For family and dear friends, that rule is invalid.”
Kate’s eyes widened as she considered his words. “That is true. I suppose Mother forgot to tell you th
at.”
“Yes, she did forget to tell me.” She stared at Kate. “Are you certain it won’t cause talk?”
“Of course not,” Kate replied.
The strains of a waltz started. “A waltz! It is my favorite dance.” Selina clutched Colin’s arm. “Come along.”
Once they reached the dance floor, the room started to buzz with excitement. Selina glanced around and noticed everyone talking. “What is going on?”
“I believe they think there will be a betrothal announcement tonight.”
“Oh, how wonderful,” she said as they twirled about. “I wonder who it might be.”
He gave her a wicked smile. “Yours.”
“My what?” Selina sputtered. How could they believe such a thing?
“Your engagement.”
She had shown no special interest to anyone . . . except Colin. “You lied to me, didn’t you?”
“Oh? About what?”
“This dance!”
“Shh, you’re causing a scene.” His lips twitched as if he found this matter quite humorous.
Humor was the last thing she thought of in regard to this mess. “Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious? My stepmother and sister seemed to think we should marry. Hart believes something in me has changed. And the only person responsible for my abrupt change is you.”
The room was spinning faster than they were. She closed her eyes to find some sense of normalcy. But he had changed her life just by taking a third turn on the dance floor. “I think I feel sick,” she mumbled.
“Stay with me, Selina. The dance will be over soon and we can discuss this in private.”
They danced closer to the terrace where a slight breeze moved the curtains.
“Bloody hell.” Colin turned them so quickly she almost lost her footing.
“What—” The rest of her sentence was cut off by the sound of a pistol firing.
Then Colin went limp in her arms. “Oh my God!” she screamed as they fell to the floor. As her head hit the floor, her world went dark.
Chapter 24
Selina awoke in a strange bedchamber. The haze of the evening slowly washed away and she remembered what happened. She sat up quickly and then inhaled deeply as a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her.
“She’s awake.”
She blinked and focused on the sound of Kate’s voice.
“Where am I?”