Chapter 17
Seventeen
After the kiss, Dominic grew cold and distant with Selina again. She was disappointed at his sudden change of mood, but unsurprised. He seemed to regret it every time he showed her any sort of affection.
Of course he does. He does not want you that way. That late-night kiss was merely a lapse in judgment on his part, and he is not the sort of man to take lapses in judgment lightly.
The only time she saw him was during meal times, but even then, they rarely spoke with one another, instead making conversation with the dowager duchess or Percy. However, three days after the late-night kiss, they ended up alone at the breakfast table together.
Selina picked at her toast, sneaking glances at her husband. He sat across from her with the newspaper raised, his expression schooled into indifference. But once or twice, she caught the subtle flicker of his eyes over the top of the page, as if making certain she was still there.
“I am going to visit my sister today,” she said, breaking the silence.
He did not look up at once. His eyes lingered on the paper a moment too long, as though collecting himself, before he lowered it an inch. “I am glad,” he said evenly. “I hope it is a good visit.”
She took a sip of tea, hoping he would continue speaking, or at least look at her, but there was nothing. She tried again. “Last night, I read a story aloud to Percy. He seemed to enjoy it. I think I will do the same tonight.”
This time, he did glance at her. For the briefest instant, warmth flickered in his dark eyes… quickly shuttered, as though he had remembered himself too late.
“Yes,” he said, voice quiet. “He likes it when people read aloud to him.” He set down his cup and pushed back his chair. As he rose, his hand tightened on the edge of the table, knuckles pale, betraying some tension he otherwise concealed.
“I shall leave you to enjoy your breakfast. Good day.” He did not glance at her again as he left the breakfast table.
Selina stared down at her half-eaten toast, her appetite gone. Even though Dominic had not been rude to her, she felt cold and alone. And yet, those fleeting glances gnawed at her.
If he truly felt nothing, why did it seem like such an effort for him to look away?
Later that day, Selina was happy to visit Christine. When she entered Gillray Manor, the two sisters embraced in the front hall. Selina closed her eyes, already feeling better now that she was seeing her sister again.
“You have only been apart for a week,” Lady Gillray said. “I do not see why you have to get so weepy over it.”
Lady Gillray still did not know that Christine had dinner at Greystone Manor the other day. That was good. Selina pulled away from Christine so she could glare at her godmother. “I assume you got His Grace’s message, Godmother.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” she said, sneering. “Your debt with me has been settled in full thanks to the generosity of the Duke of Greystone. You know, if I’d have known you were sly enough to catch a duke, I would have taken you in instead of Christine.”
Before Selina could make a sharp retort, Christine grabbed her hand. “Let us go into the drawing room for some tea… Your Grace.” Her eyes twinkled with merriment.
Selina groaned. “Please, do not call me that.”
Christine laughed as the two sisters went to the drawing room. To Selina’s dismay, Lady Gillray followed them.
“You must tell me what it is like living in Greystone Manor,” Christine said once they were seated at a table in the drawing room. A maid put a pot of tea on the table, along with tea cups, and a plate of pastries.
Selina could not help but notice that the tea set was the finest one Lady Gillray owned.
It was only brought out for guests. She felt a strange pang of sadness, knowing she was now a guest in her sister’s home.
She had hoped for more time living with her than she had been given. “What is it like living with the duke?”
“It has been an interesting adjustment,” Selina said. She was reluctant to say anything in front of Lady Gillray, especially because she knew her godmother liked to gossip when it brought her attention.
Her godmother looked down at her as if she were an unpleasant bug. “How does it feel sleeping in the former duchess’s bed?”
Selina shot her godmother a dark look. “Perfectly neutral,” she said coolly. “I would like to have some time alone with my sister, if you do not mind.”
“Of course,” Lady Gillray said, sneering. “I have no wish to have tea with you either. I am just surprised you can rest well knowing the former duchess was the duke’s only love.”
“I do not trust a single thing you say on the matter of my husband,” Selina said.
“Just last week, you were trying to imply that he killed the former duchess, and now you are trying to say that he loved her and only her. I would appreciate it if you refrained from spreading such rumors about matters that you know nothing about.”
“Oh, he was in love with her. But the late Duchess of Greystone had the good sense not to return his feelings. She loved another, but he married her against her will. Everyone knows he went mad with jealousy. During one of their fights, somehow, she fell from the balcony. The servants saw the Duke of Greystone standing before it.”
Selina sprang to her feet, unable to stop the anger she felt on Dominic’s behalf. “That is enough,” she hissed. “I will not have you speak like that about my husband. Leave the room this instant.”
“You would command me in my own home?”
Selina drew herself up to her full height. “Yes, Godmother. After the vile things you have said, I will. Do not forget that I am now the Duchess of Greystone. You do not wish to make an enemy of me. Now leave.”
Lady Gillray huffed and flounced out of the room.
Selina sat down at the table across from Christine, who was looking at her with wide eyes. “I am sorry,” Selina said, feeling her cheeks heat up. She picked up her teacup and realized her hands were shaking with anger. “I do not know what came over me.”
“I see you have taken to your new position as duchess,” her sister said, smiling. “The authority looks good on you.”
Selina shook her head. “Authority had nothing to do with it. That was just anger.” She took a sip of her tea to calm herself. “Dominic is not a murderer,” she said. “I’m sure of it.”
“Do you know what happened to the late duchess?” Christine asked cautiously. “I am not fishing for gossip. I am merely wondering what you know.”
“All I know is what the dowager duchess told me,” Selina said. “That the late duchess was very unhappy and ill, and that she fell to her death.” Normally, she would not speak of such things, but she knew that Christine would not tell anyone.
“It must be difficult living in a house with so much sorrow,” Christine said.
Selina smiled softly. “Every house holds sorrow unless it is freshly built. That is just the way of life. But enough about me. How are you holding up?”
“I am fine,” Christine said. “Lady Gillray was reluctant to lose me as a lady’s maid, but she had no choice once His Grace sent the money, along with a strongly worded message.
Now I have enough time to accept invitations.
It is funny how fast they come in now. Suddenly, everyone wants me to attend their house parties or to join them for afternoon tea, now that my sister is the Duchess of Greystone. ”
Selina smiled. At least her new title would help Christine. “I am sure you will have no trouble finding a suitor now,” she said. “And that means you will be able to get away from our godmother that much sooner.”
“Living here is all right for now,” Christine said. “I am used to her moods. I do not want a suitor who only wants to marry me because of you. I hope to find a man that I can love one day.”
“I hope you find that too,” Selina said softly. She doubted she would find that sort of love with Dominic—all she could hope for with him was a peaceful existence, but that would have to be enough. However, she hoped Christine found true love.
“I do not believe the rumors, you know,” Christine said. “About the Duke of Greystone, I mean. I was hesitant at first, but I do not think you would have defended him to Lady Gillray if he were cruel to you.”
Selina shook his head. “I do not think he is capable of true cruelty. I do not know about the circumstances of how he got married, but I do not believe for a second that he killed his first wife.”
She remembered the obvious love and care he showed for his son, even if he did not know how to properly express it. And she remembered the few times they touched and kissed, and how gentle he was.
Even when he was cross with her, he made no indication that he even thought about hurting her. She smiled. “I think the rumors of him having a heart of stone were very overstated.”
“How is his son? ”
“He is doing as well as can be expected. He is still adjusting to my presence. I am sure it is difficult to see his father remarry.”
Christine nodded. “I saw him at the wedding. He is an adorable child, but he is very quiet.”
“He does not talk,” Selina said. “He has not talked since his mother’s death, poor boy.
The duke wants me to help him, but I am not sure how, yet.
Sometimes I can make him smile and enjoy my company.
But there are other times that he seems angry that I am in the manor.
” She bit her lip. “I fear I am not capable.”
“You will find a way,” Christine said. “I’ve never seen someone with as much determination and stubbornness as you. If anyone can find a way to help him, it will be you.”
Selina sipped her tea, thinking. I will only be able to help him if I find out more about his relationship with his mother, as well as Dominic’s relationship with her. Perhaps then, I’ll be able to know how to proceed.