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Chapter Fifteen

D earest Ethel,

Were you here, I have no doubt that you would chastise me.

I have done something so horrendously foolish.

Again. I have kissed the Duke. Hugh. It was beneath the branches of a wisteria tree in the park.

We were meant to be on promenade and discussing the potential matches that I had found for marriage.

And in truth, it did begin that way, but then…

I cannot believe how easily I fell into his arms. I am ashamed to say that I continue to be charmed by him, and I do not know how to correct my situation.

Were you here, my dear Ethel, I know that you would have wise words to offer, no doubt delivered with a heaping dose of annoyance.

You have never shied away from putting me in my place, and I fear I need that perspective now.

Please return my letter. I am deeply concerned about what the future holds, and I worry about you as well.

You simply must return home. Soon.

Your friend,

Selina

That evening, the entire estate was set to attend a ball held by Selina’s dear friends Charlotte and Frederick.

Her sisters, however, had been informed by their mother that they must remain at home this time.

They had been caught chatting with each other too many times during their tutoring sessions over the past few days, and the behavior had caught up with them.

So, it was Selina, her mother, and the Duke attended the ball, riding in the carriage as a group, which was decidedly preferable to the arrangement that had been nearly carried out before Selina knew that her sisters would be remaining behind. She could not sit alone in a carriage with Hugh.

Again, they had not discussed their moment of intimacy, and Selina had set her mind to keep it that way.

It had been a grave error in judgment, and she needed to regain control of herself.

The best way she could think to do that was to flirt and entertain as many eligible bachelors during the ball as possible.

That way, she would be focused on her actual task, finding a husband so that she could move away from Soulden estate—and away from Hugh.

The journey to the Mullens Estate did not take overlong, and Selina remained quiet through the entire trip.

Once inside, she had begun her search for the first young man to whom she would acquaint herself, not looking back for even a moment.

There was a host of viscounts and dukes in attendance and, of course, Magnus, Charlotte’s brother.

While their last meeting did not end well, Selina hoped that she might be able to smooth things over with her friend.

He continued to be the best prospect. They were acquainted with each other already, both in need of marriage to solve a problem, and Selina had a feeling that he would not pressure her to perform wifely duties.

He truly was her best option.

Following their introduction, Selina sought Magnus out. She began to dance with him as soon as the first dance was called and the music started. She had taken it upon herself to get him to ask her which certainly went against the etiquette lessons she had instilled in Hugh, but she was desperate.

“Thank you for offering me a dance, Your Grace. It is lovely to see you again.”

Selina smiled at him, waiting for Magnus to respond when the steps of the dance would lead them back together again. It was only a brief few moments, but it felt like an eternity.

“It is. I apologize for how I left things when we spoke last. I know it was not you who wished for the encounter to sour.”

Spinning around and then meeting Magnus back in the middle of the line, Selina smiled and nodded.

“Of course not. I consider you a dear friend, and I know that we might be able to help each other quite effectively.”

Magnus’s posture seemed to relax, and Selina could hardly contain her relief. As they passed through the final steps of the dance, she cast a glance over her shoulder, feeling as if someone were sending invisible daggers into the back of her head.

Lo and behold, the Duke was watching her.

She threw him a few glares here and there during the next dance which she also took with Magnus, but she was surprised to see that Hugh’s gaze remained fixed on her the entire time.

There was not a second that passed that the man was not pinning her with his intense stare.

Will he not desist from sending his glares my way? The entire ballroom is sure to notice .

Selina’s frustration grew with each pass she made on the dance floor.

Magnus was called after by some of his business associates, and she was forced to engage in several more rounds across the dance floor with a variety of partners.

Each time she paused between dances or took a moment to laugh and flirt with the latest duke or viscount who sought her out, Selina would check over her shoulder at what expression Hugh wore.

It was clear that he was growing increasingly uncomfortable and irritated as she was, but he only had himself to blame for that.

He could have come to speak to her at any time when they were at home during the day or even now.

Hugh was fully capable of walking up to her and starting a conversation, and lord knew, the man did not care how it might look.

Though he’d been trying to adhere to the rules of polite society, Selina could hardly believe that he wouldn’t toss them aside whenever it suited him.

The music paused to allow those dancing to refresh themselves and obtain a beverage.

Selina slipped from the dance floor to the small balcony that sat just outside the room.

The curved structure was almost cramped, but it was perfect for someone—or perhaps a couple—to steal out into the night air and cool their heated skin.

“Not once,” she grumbled to herself, “not once has he tried to speak with me about the park.”

Selina was alone with no one to hear her complaints, thankfully, and her mind spun as she considered how abruptly things had changed beneath that wisteria tree.

She’d lost herself to the feeling of Hugh’s lips on hers, and then, nearly as quickly as it had started, he’d yanked himself back from her and fled without a word.

Something plagued him. Whether it was illness or a malady of the mind, Selina did not know.

However, he sent her mixed messages that she was still reeling from hours later.

Selina was desperate for her friend Ethel’s return.

She could not speak to anyone about her current predicament, and it felt incredibly lonely to carry the weight of it by herself.

Selina considered speaking with Charlotte about all this. They had grown quite close, but her friend’s life was already becoming overwhelmingly busy with her new husband. She didn’t wish to burden her. And that went double for Amelia.

I must do something. But what? What will get that man to either say something or…combust since he continues to send his fiery gazes at me?

And then an idea formed in her mind, wicked and risky, but Selina was through being stared at while no words were exchanged. She was done with allowing that man to decide how and when anything might or might not progress between them. She was seizing control for herself.

Spinning on her heel, Selina strode out of the balcony’s private space and straight back into the ballroom. She walked with purpose as she circled the room, spotting the Duke standing near the back of the room. He was speaking with one of the viscounts with whom she had not danced yet.

Perfect.

Striding up to the man, noting that he was nearly ungodly tall with fine blonde hair that curled around his ears, Selina put on her most effectual grin and stopped a few feet shy of where he stood near the wall.

Selina put her back toward him and then “accidentally” bumped into him as she placed her right foot behind her.

“Oh my goodness!” Selina let shock play on her face, clasping her hands in front of her mouth as she looked up at the Viscount. “I am terribly sorry. How terribly clumsy of me.”

Righting himself, the Viscount smiled gently down at her, dropping his conversation with the Duke mid-sentence.

“Oh, nothing to be concerned over, Your Grace. There was no harm done that a bit of sherry cannot fix.” His smile was warm enough, the scent of sweet drink flowing off him in waves.

“You are too kind,” Selina offered smoothly, curtseying gracefully before rising and offering a very particular type of grin. “Viscount Beaumont, correct? It is lovely to see you this Season.”

He looked pleasantly surprised that Selina had remembered him. In truth, she could only recall seeing the man at a few gatherings the previous year, but it was hardly the first time she pretended to recall someone more than she did.

“Why, thank you, Your Grace. It is a lovely evening. Such wonderful, spirited dancing. I shall make it a point to join during this next round.”

Chuckling melodically, Selina leaned forward, playfully patting the Viscount on the arm.

“Oh, please do! It is marvelous to skitter about the dance floor, and I am looking for several more fine gentlemen like yourself to fill up my dance card.”

Just out of the corner of her eye, past the Viscount, Selina could see the Duke standing just a foot or two behind the man. He scowled so hard she was sure his face might remain that way permanently if he did not blink or smile in the next few moments. Her plan was working.

“I do hope that I might find myself on your dance card, Your Grace.”

The Viscount put his hand over hers then clasped it with both, a clear invitation of interest. And then, quicker than Selina could blink, the Duke swooped up to her side, sliding his arm beneath hers and hoisting her away from the Viscount and toward the door to their right that led out into the hallway.

“Excuse us,” he growled though she couldn’t be certain if the Viscount had even heard him.

Hugh’s expression was fire and frenzy as he led them out of the ballroom and into the hall. Guests lingered there, making idle conversation. He dropped her arm but continued forward down a long hall that stretched around into the shadows somewhere unseen.

Well, he’s certainly upset. Ugh, I shall go smooth it over.

Sighing to herself, Selina made sure the few people around her didn’t notice as she followed the Duke down the hall. The entry to this secondary hall was still visible to the others, so she walked down further to where the lightning was almost non-existent.

Just as she rounded another turn, Hugh grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned her against the wall. She let out a tiny gasp which he covered with his hand, staring down into her eye with a terrifying yet intriguing glare.

“And just what did you think you were doing?”