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Chapter Eighteen

M agnus was at the estate. Magnus was at the estate without warning, and the last time she had seen him was at the ball. Oh God. Has he come to…

“Your Graces, the Duke of Aldworth.” The butler bowed toward Selina and then to Hugh.

He then left them alone in the drawing room with Magnus.

Her blood was still hot in her veins, and the thumping of her heart had changed from fury to arousal to shock to concern.

And it had all happened far too quickly.

Selina felt trapped within her own garments, but there was little she could do. This was a necessity, a meeting with a friend that she must have. Magnus had come to her home, and as she had made up with him some at the most recent ball, she had to assume that he was her for one thing.

“Your Grace,” Magnus bowed his head to Hugh then turned toward her. “Selina. I shall not delay. I have come because I wish to court you with the intention of marriage.”

As much as Selina knew this was likely the case, she was still taken aback.

Her mouth dried, and she struggled to keep her expression neutral.

Selina had just been in the study with Hugh moments ago.

They had been alone, and as was so often the case, they had found themselves yet again entangled in each other.

Magnus was stating his interest in courting her, and she could still taste Hugh upon her lips.

My mind shall surely explode.

“I see.” Selina blinked at the sound of Hugh’s voice, forcing herself to do more than simply stand there.

“Oh, I am exceedingly flattered.” She smiled at Magnus, taking a step forward and offering his hand a quick squeeze before putting space between them again.

Magnus turned toward her, putting Hugh at his back. She knew he did not like the man, but Selina again kept her face perfectly poised in a gentle smile.

“You are aware of my situation, and as such, you know what to expect from our marriage. I will provide everything that you could require as my wife, and I can assure you that it would be a fine match.”

Selina remembered that Magnus was chiefly looking for a woman to care for Kitty as her mother was unfortunately not long for this world.

It eased the tension gripping her spine considerably that the husband she would be forced to accept would be Magnus because of this.

Magnus had already stated that he was not looking for a “wife” per se, and she could only hope that this would mean that her virtue would remain intact.

This was her best opportunity.

Over Magnus’ shoulder, Selina could see the grim countenance poorly disguised on Hugh’s face.

She could not allow herself to care about it or read too much into it.

Their situation was already a horrendous mess.

He treated her so—No, this was her chance, and Selina would not allow her darker urges to dictate her future.

“I accept, Magnus, and I look forward to the day that you formally ask for my hand.”

She smiled, and it was only half disingenuous.

Magnus grinned back, clipped and stiff as ever, but he extended his hand to take her, and she offered it to him, watching politely as Magnus brought her knuckles to his lips.

He kissed the air just above them, not allowing his mouth to touch her flesh, and in secret, she was glad for it.

Magnus straightened, his back still toward Hugh. “I will see you shortly. I look forward to our increased time together.”

“As do I.”

Dismissing himself, Magnus bowed to her, and Selina curtsied back. There was a stiff formality to every exchange between them, and while she had never felt a stirring in her belly during her last engagement to Easton, the absence of any feelings toward Magnus whatsoever sat strangely within her.

After a moment, she was left in the drawing room alone with Hugh again, and Selina braced herself for dealing with the man. While she felt absolutely nothing toward Magnus, her entire being frantically hummed with too many contradictory emotions toward Hugh.

She glanced over at him where he stood by the fireplace, his expression grim as he rested a hand on the mantel and leaned into it.

“You have your wish, it seems. I have found a suitable match.”

Hugh glared harder at the inanimate brick, and when he remained silent, Selina rolled her eyes and turned to leave. Her steps echoed across the room as they hit the wood floor. Should it have occurred, Selina was sure that she would have been able to hear a pin drop.

“So that is your choice?”

The words hit her just as Selina’s fingers closed around the doorknob. The Duke might as well have crushed a glass in his fist for the way they were laced with malice and fury.

Why on earth was he so put out by the idea of her marrying Magnus? This was precisely what he had been demanding that she do. Selina wasn’t foolish enough to think that the continued trysts between them meant nothing—not affection or genuine interest though. Not based on the way Hugh treated her.

Still, this display of his was undeniably possessive. While she’d been guilty of another indiscretion in the study, Selina meant what she had said to Hugh as well.

She was done with this.

Spinning on her heel, Selina regarded Hugh as he now faced her, glaring right back at the man who looked so overcome with tension that he might snap in two.

“Should you have something to say, just say it. I will not play games with you any longer.”

He narrowed his eyes, his expression one of frustration and barely restrained rage. Even his hands were balled into fists at his side as Hugh clenched his jaw.

“He is not who I would choose for you.”

Selina scoffed. She imagined that was quite so, but she would not take the bait this time. She had given up trying to reach this man. Turning her back on him, she reached for the knob once more. Selina had better things to do in this house than entertain Hugh’s arrogance.

“What do you even know about him?”

The hurried clip of Hugh’s steps rushed up behind her just as Selina pulled the door open. He grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to turn around and face him.

“What was he talking about? Knowing his ‘situation?’”

She yanked her arm out of his hold, not even bothering to glare. The man was not worth the effort to pin the expression on her face, even if a fire still roared in her veins whenever the man was close. Anger, she assured herself. It was anger and nothing more.

“It is none of your business. I do not exchange gossip, Your Grace. Do not look to me for it.” Stepping just past the threshold, Selina held Hugh’s eyes.

“I have accepted the Duke of Aldworth’s request to court me with the intention of marrying him.

You have your suitable match. I will arrange for Bridget to act as our chaperone during the upcoming events. Good day.”

She did not wait for the man to respond. She did not wait to see the reaction on his face change as the fury no doubt got the best of him. She would not. Selina could not.

Walking quickly, she went straight to her room and shut the door behind her. Too many thoughts buzzed through her head, a matted nest of feeling tangled in her chest and pressing against her edges. She needed… she needed to talk to someone about all this.

And the only person to whom she had given the details was Ethel, so Selina reached for her quill and a fresh piece of parchment.

Dearest Ethel,

I hope this letter reaches you well. I have yet to hear from you although I will admit that these letters have still helped me.

I only wish I knew if you were indeed receiving them and if you are all right and not suffering from some ailment that has forced you to leave London.

That is the word that continues to spread, of course.

Selina chuckled to herself, knowing that there was no call for her to begin the letter this way.

It appears that even in letter form, I cannot help but stall. In truth, I am dragging out the truth of why I have written you. You are aware that I have kissed the Duke, and there is so much more now.

So much has come about in just the past few days.

Our friends held a ball, a beautiful affair, and you truly should have been there. Dearest Ethel, you should be at all of them. I know that the troubles that plague me now would not be so grand if you were here to guide me. I have always relied on you too much.

The ball was lovely, and I was able to speak to so many eligible men about the marriage that is still demanded of me.

I had also learned previously that Magnus is in search of a bride, but more to act as mother to Kitty.

Cordelia, it seems, is not in good health, and he wishes to find a mother for her.

Hugh made a terrible impression on him, but during this last ball, I was able to smooth things over.

I will admit, though ? —

Selina’s quill hovered over the page, even writing the words difficult. She sucked in a breath and rewet the quill in the ink pot, tapping it gently on the edge to ensure she had not soaked up too much.

I flirted with a viscount who was in conversation with Hugh during the ball.

He accused me of provoking him, and as much as I do not want to, I must admit that he is right.

I did. I sought out that man with that exact purpose in mind.

The Duke had been eyeing me all evening, and I had wished to get a rise out of him.

I was not prepared for what came after, however.

Hugh and I ? —

Again, Selina hesitated, and she considered hard what she might say and how.

…went to a dark hallway. Things grew rather heated from there, and I allowed him closer than I should have.

I remain intact, as it were, but I did something I shouldn’t have.

Worse, the Duke said nothing of what happened the next day.

He barely spoke to me. We fought after that, and I even scolded him in his study.

It is a mess, Ethel. But I have solidified my resolve to remain away from him. Magnus came to the estate just today with the intention of courting me, and I accepted. We will likely be engaged in just a few weeks’ time.

This is how it is meant to be. Magnus has been a dear friend of ours, and I trust him to treat me well enough during a marriage. I must admit that I also hope he will remain distant as Easton did.

Yes, this is all for the best. I am sure of it.

Please respond when you can. I miss you terribly, Ethel, and if I am to get married, you simply must return. I will not do it without my dearest friend present.

Your friend,

Selina