Page 101 of The Duke's Jilted Bride

“Water?” The physician turned to the shattered glass on the floor. “Was that her first drink this morning?”

“Yes.”

Mr. Morris moved to the pitcher, sniffing cautiously at its contents. His face grew grimmer. “I would advise against anyone drinking from this.”

Understanding dawned with terrible clarity. The water. Someone had poisoned the water meant for Selina.

“Can you help her?” Rowan asked, his voice barely controlled.

“Fortunately, it seems she ingested very little, if any,” the physician said. “I’ll prepare several antidotes to counter the most likely substances. With proper care, she should recover fully.”

Rowan felt his knees threaten to buckle with relief. “Do whatever is necessary. Spare no expense.”

The next hours passed in a blur of activity. Mr. Morris administered potions while servants changed linens and brought fresh water, which they tested first, to cool Selina’s fever. Rowan refused to leave her side, even when the physician suggested he rest.

“Your Grace, you can do nothing more for her now,” Mr. Morris whispered.

“I can be here when she wakes,” Rowan replied, his tone brooking no argument.

When night fell again, Selina’s fever finally broke. Her breathing eased, and she slipped into a more natural sleep. Rowan sat by her bed, dark circles under his eyes, his normally immaculate appearance abandoned in favor of rumpled clothing and stubbled jaw.

A knock at the door announced Felix’s arrival. His usual levity was absent as he took in the scene before him.

“How is she?” he asked quietly.

“Better,” Rowan replied, his voice rough from disuse. “The physician says she’ll recover.”

Felix pulled up a chair beside him. “What happened?”

“Someone poisoned her water,” Rowan said, the words still difficult to form. “It was meant for her, Felix. Not for me. For her.”

Understanding dawned in Felix’s eyes. “You think this is connected to your investigation.”

It wasn’t a question. Rowan nodded, the guilt he’d been holding at bay crashing over him in waves.

“I did this,” he said, looking at Selina’s pale face. “By bringing her into my life, I put her in danger.”

“You can’t know that for certain,” Felix argued. “It could be?—”

“Don’t,” Rowan cut him off. “We both know what this is. Someone wants to hurt me, and they’re using Selina to do it.”

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead with gentle fingers. “I could have lost her, Felix. She could have died because of me.”

“Let me help,” Felix said. “We can increase security, investigate who had access to your chambers?—”

“No.” Rowan shook his head. “This is my responsibility. My wife, my home.”

Felix frowned. “Your pride, you mean.”

“My mother died because of my father,” Rowan said, the words torn from some place deep inside him. “She died bringing me into the world while he was off with one of his mistresses. I won’t lose Selina the same way.”

“This isn’t the same situation,” Felix protested.

“Isn’t it? My father’s choices, his enemies, his lifestyle—they all contributed to my mother’s death. Just as my choices now have endangered Selina.” Rowan looked back at his wife, his throat tight with emotion. “As long as she’s with me, she’ll never be truly safe.”

“So what are you suggesting?” Felix asked, caution in his voice.

“I don’t know yet,” Rowan admitted. “But I need to end this. Find out who’s behind it all and make sure they can never threaten her again.”

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