Chapter 6
Six
Selina tore her eyes away from Dominic’s piercing gaze and made her way toward her sister, grateful for the brief reprieve from the weight of his scrutiny.
“What is the matter?” Christine asked, lowering her voice. “You look positively murderous.”
Selina leaned closer, voice barely above a whisper. “I do not know how I am supposed to marry that man. He is as vexing as he is handsome. And he has… a way of looking at you that makes your own thoughts feel too small.”
Christine raised an eyebrow, half amused, half exasperated. “Vexing? Is that the word you’ve chosen? I would say terrifying, though I suppose handsome makes it more tolerable.”
Selina smirked despite herself. “Terrifying implies he could be bested. I am not certain I, or anyone, could best him.” She shook her head, pressing a hand to her temple. “And then there is the way his eyes seem to find every flaw, every hesitation. It unnerves me.”
Christine placed a reassuring hand on her sister’s arm. “Well, at least he notices you. The rest of the men here are just so… dull.”
Selina started to reply, but then she caught a movement from across the room. Dominic. His dark gaze had found her at last, cutting through the crowd with that same piercing intensity she had learned to dread. She quickly looked away, forcing herself to focus on Christine.
Before Selina could respond, the dowager duchess approached, her presence commanding attention even without the sparkle of jewels. “Lady Christine, Lady Selina! You both look beautiful tonight,” she said, her gaze lingering on Christine with maternal pride.
Selina stiffened slightly as the dowager’s eyes shifted to her. “I hope you do not mind my borrowing your sister, Lady Christine. I have something I wish to discuss with her.”
The younger sister smiled. “Not at all, Your Grace.” She curtsied and flashed Selina a smile before going to talk to one of the ladies standing by herself.
The dowager smiled at Selina. “Let’s go outside for some fresh air.”
Selina nodded. She was happy to have an excuse to leave the ball. She did not particularly feel like dancing tonight, and she could already hear some whispers about her:
“That’s Lady Selina.”
“She looks like a pauper! Are you sure she shared in her brother’s ill-gotten riches?”
“Absolutely! She cannot properly display her wealth, of course, because then we would all know. But you know how close they were. She probably knows where he is right now.”
I certainly do not, and I do not wish to know.
Selina walked outside to the gardens. “It’s a lovely night, isn’t it, dear?” the dowager duchess said.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“We really do not need to use formalities, dear. We’re going to be family, after all.”
Selina’s heart sank. So the duke hadn’t gotten his grandmother to see reason after all. “Please, Your Grace. That is not necessary. I did not come here with hopes of marrying, just of supporting my sister. The most I hoped for was befriending a lady who would want me as a companion. That is all.”
“Why don’t you want to marry my grandson?” The dowager duchess’s voice was sharp all of a sudden. “Is it because of the rumors?”
Selina frowned. She was beginning to wonder what these horrible rumors were. “I have not heard any rumors about the duke. As you should know, I am the last person to judge someone because of rumors.” A thought suddenly occurred to her. “Is that why you chose me?”
The dowager arched an eyebrow. “Chose you?”
“Yes. I know you led me to the duke’s room on purpose. I just don’t understand why me, of all the women here. Is it because I’m used to rumors and gossip?” It did not seem like a good enough reason to trap someone in marriage, but she could not think of another reason.
“Oh no,” the dowager said. “Although I suppose it is a benefit that you know better than to pay heed to idle gossip. I chose you because you are exactly what this family needs, whether or not my grandson is willing to admit it.” The dowager duchess smiled softly.
“I admit, I am surprised you are so resistant to the idea. You will benefit greatly from marrying the duke.”
“I understand,” Selina said. “I would be a fool not to see the benefits of marrying someone with wealth and title, especially considering my own unfortunate circumstances. I merely have no interest in trapping an unwilling man in matrimony. To be frank, I would rather not marry at all. I think I would much prefer the independence that can come with employment than a prison in a loveless marriage. Even if the prison comes with luxury.”
“While I understand your sentiment, I assure you that there is no need for your marriage to Dominic to be loveless. Unless there is another?”
Selina was startled at the thought. “No, I… I had a suitor during my first Season, but I have not seen him in years. It is safe to say our courtship ended when my brother ran off with half the ton’s fortunes.” She hadn’t thought about that man in years.
The dowager duchess looked incredibly relieved about that. “Good. Good. And you are not still in love with that suitor, are you?”
“I do not know if I was ever in love with him.”
“That’s excellent!” She clapped her hands, looking excited. “Then everything is settled. I am so excited that you are joining our family! Let us go back to the ball.”
Selina felt just as bewildered by this conversation with the dowager duchess as the last one.
She was sure there was something the older lady was not saying, but she could not imagine what that was.
“Could I stay out here, actually? I am not really in the mood for dancing, and I would enjoy walking around the gardens.”
The duchess looked a little disappointed, but to Selina’s relief, she didn’t press the issue. “Take all of the time you need. No one will disturb you out here.”
“Thank you.”
The dowager duchess left to go back inside, and Selina breathed a sigh of relief, enjoying the peace as she started to walk down a garden trail. It was quiet outside, with only flowers and the night sky to keep her company. It was a beautiful night.
The path led to a large bench in front of a fountain. She admired the rich splendor as she sat down. She could only dream of having a garden such as this one.
It could be your home if you marry the duke.
She pursed her lips. There were not enough beautiful gardens in the world that would be worth marrying such an unpleasant man.
Footsteps to her left startled her. She turned to see a small figure staring up at the sky. Then he looked at her and darted behind a bush. She relaxed, knowing it was no more than a child. “Good evening,” she called out. “Are you enjoying the night too?”
The bright moonlight gave her just enough light to see a small face peek out at her.
“It’s all right,” she said to him. “You’re not in trouble, you know. I wouldn’t mind the company if you want to sit next to me.” She wondered if the boy was lost. She didn’t know there was a child on the property. Perhaps he was the son of one of the servants.
Whoever he was, he showed no inclination to talk to her, or even come near her.
She gave an exaggerated sigh. “All right, then,” she said.
“I suppose I shall just admire the night sky all by my lonesome. Such a beautiful night, isn’t it?
” She pointed up at the sky. “I can see so many constellations. Orion’s Ribbon is shining brilliantly tonight.
And there is the bull! What is his name?
Finnegan? No, that does not sound right. Oh, I know! Terrence!”
The little boy stepped out of the bushes then, shaking his head frantically.
Selina cocked her head to the side innocently. “No? Is that not correct?”
The boy shook his head again and stepped even closer to her.
She smiled and patted the bench. “Then perhaps an expert like yourself should come over here and tell me.”
The boy hesitated for a moment before sitting next to her. She smiled and pointed at one of the constellations again. “Which one is this?”
The child stayed silent. Realization dawned on Selina. “You do not speak much, do you?” she said, gently.
His face crumpled slightly before he slowly shook his head.
She smiled. “That is quite all right. It just makes you a better listener, doesn’t it? How about I guess the constellation’s name, and you tell me if I get them correct. All right?”
He nodded. His face was still quite serious. She had never seen a child look so pensive before, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he would look like if he smiled.
Selina pointed to the bull constellation. “That is a bull, yes?”
The boy nodded.
“Is his name Thomas?”
He shook his head.
“Oh, I know. He looks like a Taurus, doesn’t he?”
The boy nodded vigorously. He still didn’t smile, but he seemed to relax a little.
Selina kept pointing out constellations and guessing names until all of the constellations were named.
The boy had moved closer to her, and she could finally see him in better detail.
She was quite sure he wasn’t a servant’s child now.
His clothes were much too fine. He had dark, curly hair, although she couldn’t quite tell if it was brown or black in the dim light. She wondered who he was.
“I believe I forgot to introduce myself,” she said. “I am Lady Selina Davidson, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
The child pointed up at the sky. She looked up. “What is it? Did we miss one of the constellations?”
He huffed and pointed again, this time more aggressively. She looked at the stars, trying to understand what he was saying. “It is beautiful, isn’t it? I’m happy I’m out here instead of in that stuffy ballroom.”
The boy opened his mouth, as if to speak, but no sound came out. Instead, he tucked his feet up on the bench and held his knees to his chest.
Selina wished she could understand better. She had felt like she had grown closer to the boy, but now she might have ruined it all.
She looked up at the stars again. “We can sit here in silence, if you want,” she said softly. “If you would prefer it if I talked, all you have to do is tap my arm, all right?”
The boy nodded and rested his chin on his knees as he looked up at the sky with her.