Bewitching the Duke

“Thank you, no. I am off to the village.” He bobbed his head. “Good day.”

Mia glanced at the missive and decided to open it in case Tia needed assistance with a delivery. Scanning the note, she muttered, “Stupid girl.”

Then she read more and raced out of the house. She lifted up her skirts and ran up the hill toward Hart’s stables. She had to get to the duke’s home as fast as possible. The earl wouldn’t mind if she took one of his fastest horses to deliver this message.

“What are you about this morning, Miss Featherstone?”

She slowed down and breathed in deeply. She shouldn’t be surprised to see him at the stables. He was always an early riser. “My lord, I need to borrow your mare.”

“Is there a problem with your horse?”

“She’s too slow. I know where Selina went. The duke needs to hear about this.”

Hart’s face relaxed and his molded lips lifted. “Then there is no need for a horse. He is in my house probably still abed.”

“He’s here?”

“Yes. Most likely with a raging headache like I have this morning.” He laughed gruffly.

“I will give you something for it.” She followed his quick stride, barely able to keep up without breaking into a run. Obviously, his headache was not as bad as he stated.

Hart ran ahead and into the house. Just as she arrived, she heard him tell a footman to wake the duke immediately. “Come with me. We shall wait for him in the library.”

Mia walked down the marble-floored corridor to the library. She had only been in here a few times but loved the pale blue walls and shelves filled with books.

“So where is she?” he asked after the tea arrived for all of them.

“She went to my sister’s house. I must have arrived before Selina did so Tia hadn’t seen her at that point.” She stared down at the letter in her hands and fought back tears.

“What is wrong, Miss Featherstone?”

“She’s gone,” she whispered.

“Miss White is gone?”

She shook her head. “No, Tia. She decided to chase after the viscount’s brother. She went to London. I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again.”

“I’m sorry, Mia,” he whispered.

“What is going on?” the duke asked as he entered the room. “Why the hell am I up at his hour?”

Mia smiled at the grumpy man. “Your Grace, we have found her.”

“What? Where?”

“She is at my sister’s house.”

“Thank God,” he said and raced from the room without even saying good-bye.

Selina spent her morning in her new home organizing the shelf near the fireplace so she could find what she needed. She then checked Tia’s herbs and found her supply lacking many basic items. She created a list of things she either would need to buy or forage for in the woods.

But none of the busy work kept her from thinking about Colin. She still worried that a fever may have set in. Perhaps he was lying in bed right now . . . dying. Oh, God, she couldn’t think like that. She had to stop before she went mad.

Tia was right. At some point, she would have to face him and tell him the truth.

The front door suddenly hurled open and Colin filled the doorway. Her heart pounded as he stared at her with a mix of anger and relief in his eyes. He slammed the door shut.

“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded. He advanced on her position by the cabinet that held Tia’s herbs. “Do you have any idea what you have put me through the past two days?”