Page 10 of His Ruined Duchess

She opened her mouth to refute his claim, but the Duke’s finger pressed to her lips, silencing her while driving that loathsome embarrassment higher.

“Don’t bother lying to me, Selina. I expect you to be on your best behavior now.” He stood back, straightening his clothing as he met her furious gaze. “After all, I know your weakness now, and I am more than happy to appeal to it whenever it is necessary.”

The words drove a spike of fear through Selina’s spine, and then the Duke spun on his heel and exited the room without another word.

Chapter Four

“There was such a stir, Selina! I cannot believe you have not heard it yourself.”

Lydia was going on about the success of the ball which Selina was glad had turned out well, considering that she did not make it down for the rest of it following herencounterwith the Duke.

Still, Selina did not wish to partake in a round of trading gossip with her sisters. She simply wanted to enjoy her tea in the garden.

But life was not about what Selina wanted, and she knew that well.

And you require input about the ball, regardless.

“What was said? I will admit to being quite curious about the impression our new Duke left.”

Selina knew how to sound especially intrigued, so she leaned into her performance. Lydia ate it up, eagerly scooting toward her on the couch so that she might divulge all the details. Myra, to her credit, was paying attention but not avidly. She took note of where to inject the right non-committal sound while their mother was as excitable as Lydia.

“Well, as you may have already heard, Hugh Bosley, the new Duke of Soulden, was born into a middle-class family. He is not of the aristocracy and new to the ton entirely.”

Nodding, Selina took a sip of her tea, noting that it was overly sweet this morning. That suggested that Lydia had been responsible for approving how much sugar was added. Selina forced herself to choke it down.

Breakfast had already been quite long, the Duke still taking his meal in the study, and all she had wanted was a peaceful moment with her tea. Selina truly needed to convince herself to abandon those types of hopes while her family still resided with her.

“Yes, Lydia, I am aware of that. Please,” Selina pulled up a smile from the depths and offered it to her sister as she set her cup down, “go on.”

“Well, he is a solicitor’s son, and the Duke has since made a fortune for himself. He is quite the established businessman. Though he has soured nearly every conversation he has been a part of. He might be quite attractive, but his etiquette is sorely lacking.”

Selina nodded along. More about the Duke made sense with that information to provide context. It was easy to see now why the man would feel more comfortable with his solicitor than with the ton or the residents of the estate. Still, it did not excuse his rigid behavior—or what he’d done last evening in the library.

Adjusting in her chair, Selina ignored the wave of heat that rushed through her at the thought of those moments pressed to the wall. She cleared her throat and refocused on Lydia.

“He is new money of course. We knew that, child,” her mother scolded. “Go on.”

Lydia made a face, scowling ever so slightly at their mother, and Selina fought the urge to roll her eyes. Thankfully, a cool breeze filtered through the garden, taking the edge off her growing irritation. Myra flipped a page in her book as well, the noise of the paper shifting a familiar one to Selina, which provided a glimmer of comfort.

“The man owns four vineyards and three breweries. Can you believe that? He’s involved with the drink from start to finish!” Lydia laughed at her own joke, grating on Selina’s nerves. “Exports from them travel around the world, I’ve heard, even the Americas. Apparently, that’s where he’s been for several years. So it makes sense why the news of the previous Duke’s demise did not reach him for a time.”

That did provide context. If the Duke had been living across the ocean, it would take a considerable time for a missive to reach him. It was only slightly odd that he had taken it upon himselfto live there. Several businessmen had been known to, but it was uncommon amongst the ton.

“A self-made man for certain,” Mother added. “And to America. That is rather bold. I wonder what the Duke got up to while there?”

“Well,” Lydia leaned in further, her conspiratorial attitude blossoming, “rumor has it that he was quite the rake while there. He remained unmarried, as we know, but the ruthless businessman was not without female companionship.”

The three women listening to the story froze at that point, even Selina, who was drawn into Lydia’s gossip even as she mentally chastized herself for being so wrapped up in the rumors.

“I have heard that he has taken up with a number, but none of them have been ladies of the ton, none married either.”

“Who then?” their mother asked.

“Actresses!” Lydia clapped a hand over her mouth as she beamed, enjoying herself immensely. “And a few singers here and there. And never to the same woman twice. He couldn’t count the number of his conquests on both hands, it seems.”

Selina was genuinely shocked and scandalized by her sister’s words. Still, they faded into the background as she ruminated about what she had heard. At the same time, her mother andsister chattered on endlessly about the Duke, right in the middle of the garden of all places.

Had the Widow Darrington heard something similar? Was she hoping to take advantage of the Duke’s rakish behavior for herself?

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