Page 23 of The Duke's Jilted Bride

“A footman was dispatched to find him, Your Grace, but the Duke rode out toward the north pastures. It may be some time before?—”

“I’m here,” the Duke’s voice came from the doorway. He strode in, still in his riding clothes, his expression grim. “Mr. Johnson. Tell me the situation.”

The miller repeated his news, detailing previous repair attempts and the families most at risk.

“I’ll come immediately,” the Duke said. “Have my horse brought around, Simmons, and send word to gather every able-bodied man from the estate.”

“I’ll come with you,” Selina said.

The Duke frowned. “That’s unnecessary. This is no place for?—”

“For the Duchess?” she finished. “On the contrary. If our tenants are in danger, my place is beside you, offering whatever assistance I can.”

Mr. Johnson cleared his throat. “If I might say, Your Grace… the village has been eager to meet the new Duchess. Not the best circumstances, true, but they’d be heartened by your presence.”

Rowan’s jaw tightened, but after a moment, he gave a curt nod. “Very well. Have the carriage prepared for Her Grace. We leave in ten minutes.”

The village of Aldermere was nestled in a valley bisected by a normally placid river. Today, however, the water churned brown and angry, straining against a stone dam that protected the lower portion of the settlement.

A crowd had gathered at the millpond, where the dam showed visible cracks. Men worked frantically, piling sandbags against the weakening structure.

Rowan wasted no time. He removed his coat, rolled up his shirtsleeves, and waded into the shallow edge to better assess the damage. Within minutes, he organized the villagers into teams, his deep voice cutting through the chaos.

“Wilson, take six men and reinforce the eastern section. Jem, your group start digging a diversion channel along the path we marked last spring. The rest of you, follow Johnson’s lead with the sandbags.”

Selina watched with growing admiration. This was a side of her husband she hadn’t seen before—decisive, capable, respected by his tenants. The village men responded to his commands without question, moving with renewed purpose.

A woman approached Selina, bobbing a curtsy. “Your Grace. I’m Martha Hobbs, the midwife. Some women and children have gathered at the church on higher ground. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable there?”

Selina smiled. “Thank you, Mrs. Hobbs, but I’d prefer to help if possible.”

“Help?” The midwife looked startled. “But, Your Grace, your fine dress…”

“Can be replaced,” Selina finished. She surveyed the scene, noting several women organizing supplies near a cart. “Perhaps I could assist with the provisions? The men will need food and drink if they’re to work through the day.”

Mrs. Hobbs brightened. “That would be most welcome, Your Grace. This way.”

For the next several hours, Selina worked alongside the village women, preparing food, distributing water to the laborers, and even helping to fill smaller sandbags when extra hands were needed. Her silk gown was soon muddied and damp, but she barely noticed.

At one point, she overheard a crucial exchange between the Duke and Mr. Johnson.

“The pressure is too great here,” Johnson said, pointing to a bulging section of the dam. “If we reinforce this area alone, the water will simply find another weak point.”

The Duke nodded grimly. “Then we need to release some pressure in a controlled manner.”

“But how? Opening the sluice gates now would flood the lower millpond.”

Selina stepped forward. “What about a temporary channel? You could make something to divert some water around the dam.”

Both men turned to her in surprise.

“The eastern field lies lower than the river at that bend,” she pointed out. “My first husband’s estate had similar flooding problems. Our steward created earthwork channels to divert excess water during heavy rains, saving the main dam from collapse.”

The Duke studied her for a moment, then turned to survey the area she had indicated.

“She’s right,” he said finally. “Mr. Johnson, gather twenty men with shovels. We’ll cut a relief channel from the river bend to thelower meadow. It will flood Giles’ field, but better that than the village.”

Mr. Johnson hurried off, calling orders. The Duke looked at Selina, something like respect flickering in his eyes.

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