Page 22 of His Ruined Duchess

Selina

The garden party at Amelia’s estate was lovely, and it was so very clear to Selina that both she and her husband were using this get-together and social event to celebrate their child and the last few weeks they might have alone without the new baby. Selina was excited to see them, but her nerves were on edge thanks to the Duke’slovelygreeting he’d bestowed on her before they all got in the coach.

The first thing the man says to me all day is a threat to find a husband tonight or else.

Amelia looked as if she was going to burst when she practically waddled like a duck over to Selina, her arms open wide. She hurried over to her friend, not caring that she couldfeelthe Duke’s eyes on the back of her head.

“Darling! Look at you!” Selina embraced her friend, giving Amelia a gentle kiss on the cheek. “My goodness. You must be so excited.”

Amelia huffed, trying to catch her breath, which appeared to be a common occurrence the longer into her pregnancy she was. Smiling, she held her hand over the rounded expanse.

“I am.” Looking over her shoulder as Richard approached, Amelia’s smile brightened. “We both are. Though I will admit that I do feel some rest is in order. Everything is more difficult, even sleeping.”

Selina chuckled, offering a sympathetic grin. “Oh dear, well then we will soak up every ounce of time we get with you this evening and send you off to take the time you require.”

They wrapped their arms around each other once more, Amelia’s belly quite in the way, and then each of them went about to mingle with those attending the intimate garden party.

It didn’t take long for Selina to busy herself with introducing people her sisters and mother had never met to her family, guiding them around the room and ensuring that everyone would recognize them and appreciate their presence. If the Duke was indeed expecting quick success for both Myra and Lydia when they each debuted, it would do them good to begin acquiring positive attention now.

They were charming as ever, as their mother taught them all to be, and Selina was proud of Myra for doing her best to put on a good face. She knew it was difficult for her youngest sibling to pretend her fascination with the ton and the latest gossip. Still, she did well enough, not being rude or dismissive.

The Duke, on the other hand…

Selina could not imagine a man more contrary to herself than he. He was stoic and kept to himself. His greetings were short and brusk, walking the line of being downright rude. She knew that she had been born and bred to be the perfect lady, and she stuck to those teachings as a means of protecting herself from a worse fate.

The Duke was abrasive and uninterested. He didn’t try once to appeal to the people at the party by complimenting them or at least making small talk. He was frankly terrible at socializing with the upper class. There was no way around it.

He cannot even disguise his comments with false praise.

It was one of the first things Selina had been taught by her mother: to decipher what people were truly saying. The trick was one used by the entirety of the ton.

They would eat him alive.

As Selina took a round about the room by herself, she could hear the conversations about the Duke being held by several of the less friendly acquaintances of Amelia and Richard.

“Oh, good evening, Your Grace,” the Viscount of Canterbury offered. “Such a lovely evening for the happy couple. I see that quiteeveryoneyou brought with is enjoying themselves.”

Selina could hear the man’s tone. “Indeed. I am so glad for my dear friends that they will be welcoming a babe shortly. Weallare.”

She tried to return the Viscount’s insinuation in kind. He cocked a brow at her.

“Oh, truly. Well, that is a relief. I will admit to hearing that there is sometensionwithin the Soulden estate as of late.”

Steadying herself, Selina straightened her spine and smiled. “On the contrary. We are all settling in well, and the Duke has been a gracious host. If you’ll excuse me, I have yet to speak with the Duke of Aldworth. As he is a dear friend, I wish to converse with him.”

“Of course, Your Grace.” The Viscount tipped his head, his smile much that of an uncaring sneer.

Selina hurried away, her heart fluttering over the conversation. The Duke,Hugh, was making such a terrible impression. He was going to ruin her prospects of a good marriage just by association. Didn’t he realize that?

She needed a distraction, and Magnus would suit that purpose nicely.

As she approached him, Magnus turned her way, noticing her arrival, and offered a kind smile.

“Good evening, Selina. It’s been some time.” He greeted her with a polite kiss on the hand and nodded his head. “How have you been fairing under the care of the new Duke?”

As much as Selina wished to use this opportunity to destroy the man’s reputation, she was still required to find a husband. That kind of gossiping could backfire on her extraordinarily.

“Life in the estate is quite smooth. It has been some time since I’ve spent so many days with my sisters and mother. I have missed them.”

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