Page 13 of His Ruined Duchess

Even Myra looked concerned and had not picked up her book once since they had sat down on the small settee in the parlor.

Selina stood just behind the settee, guarding over her sisters like a protective hawk. He raised a brow as he met her stare. She only narrowed her eyes at him, utterly unconvinced of his motives, even as he remained as calm and composed as ever.

She knew he had something planned, a few rods in the fire as it were.

I’ll give her credit for being so observant.

Hugh sipped at his whiskey, using the drink to ease the tension he felt gripping his spine. He was not nervous, on the contrary. Whenever he was around Selina, as unfortunate as it was, Hugh was intrigued, curious, and a bit too enraptured by her for his liking.

“Would you care for some port?”

His stare did not leave Selina’s, but it was her mother who answered first.

“That would be delightful. Thank you, Your Grace.” She turned over her shoulder. “Selina, surely you wish for a refreshment from our most gracious Duke.”

The stony expression on Selina’s face did not waver, her eyes locked on Hugh’s.

“Of course.”

Setting his whiskey down on the mantle above the fireplace, Hugh proceeded to the liquor cart and poured two glasses of port. He delivered the first to Bridget, giving her a small smile as she beamed up at him with that ridiculous grin of hers.

Stepping around the settee where Selina still stood, he held out the glass for her. As Selina reached for it, the Duke pulled away slightly, teasing.

“Come now, Selina. You must sit. Relax.”

“I assure you, Your Grace. I am quite comfortable.” She took the wine glass from his fingers, sipping at the port as she glared at him.

Hugh held back the chuckle that wished to break free, instead progressing the evening by retrieving his whiskey and getting on with his announcement.

“Now that I have returned to London and have made myself acquainted with the estate, I wish to see each of the young ladies in my charge married as quickly as possible.”

“What?” They all spoke in unison, but it was Selina who stepped forward, her fingers on the stem of her glass threatening to break it.

He looked to her, addressing her directly as the former Duchess of Soulden.

“I will not be so cruel as to arrange a marriage before your sisters are of age.” Hugh swiveled his attention to Myra and Lydia, mentally noting the very opposing expressions they wore. “They will each have a Season after debuting, which does provide quite a length of time to set things in motionbeforethey debut, should anyone be aware of a good match.”

Nervous tension swelled in the room, and even as he’d seen excitement in Lydia’s eyes during dinner, she looked overwhelmingly nervous now. Myra looked downright heartbroken, but it truly was for the best.

No lady in existence should be in my care for longer than an evening.

“If your sisters are not able to find matches on their own within that timeframe, I will do it for them. Still…”

Hugh stepped closer to Selina, pinning her with his stare. It was terrible how much he loved to see her squirm beneath it, and his thoughts turned devious yet again. It was indeed a good thing he had come to this arrangement because he could not have her in his home for much longer.

Not without tremendous consequences forbothof them.

“… you have had ample time to find a suitable match, and yet you are still here. It is clear that you have made no effort to find a husband as ordered.”

“I have not, nor have I sought to hide that fact. I have told you that I do not wish to marry again. I have already given my hand to someone, and I will not be of the mind to give it again.” Selina took a step forward herself, unwilling to give up ground. “You cannot demand that I wed solely for your own comfort.”

Hugh narrowed his eyes on Selina, increasing the intensity that he drove into the stare as they stood nose to nose in opposition.

“I should think you would know better than to speak out against me, Selina. We had had such a meaningful conversation during the ball.”

Her mouth dropped open gently, and a delightful blush spread from Selina’s cheeks down to her chest. Hugh silently marveled at the way her skin warmed so beautifully, and he felt a strain behind the fall of his trousers. She was a devious, fetching thing, and Hugh loathed how much he wished to tear her from the room and drag her to his chambers.

Rolling her lips between her teeth, Selina sucked in a deep breath, which only served to press her bosom to the neck of her dress. Still, she composed herself, the pink fading from her flesh.

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