Page 41 of His Ruined Duchess

Selina felt trapped within her own garments, but there was little she could do. This was a necessity, a meeting with a friend that she must have. Magnus had come to her home, and as she had made up with him some at the most recent ball, she had to assume that he was her for one thing.

“Your Grace,” Magnus bowed his head to Hugh then turned toward her. “Selina. I shall not delay. I have come because I wish to court you with the intention of marriage.”

As much as Selina knew this was likely the case, she was still taken aback. Her mouth dried, and she struggled to keep her expression neutral. Selina had just been in the study with Hugh moments ago. They had been alone, and as was so often the case, they had found themselves yet again entangled in each other.

Magnus was stating his interest in courting her, and she could still taste Hugh upon her lips.

My mind shall surely explode.

“I see.” Selina blinked at the sound of Hugh’s voice, forcing herself to do more than simply stand there.

“Oh, I am exceedingly flattered.” She smiled at Magnus, taking a step forward and offering his hand a quick squeeze before putting space between them again.

Magnus turned toward her, putting Hugh at his back. She knew he did not like the man, but Selina again kept her face perfectly poised in a gentle smile.

“You are aware of my situation, and as such, you know what to expect from our marriage. I will provide everything that you could require as my wife, and I can assure you that it would be a fine match.”

Selina remembered that Magnus was chiefly looking for a woman to care for Kitty as her mother was unfortunately not long for this world. It eased the tension gripping her spineconsiderably that the husband she would be forced to accept would be Magnus because of this. Magnus had already stated that he was not looking for a “wife” per se, and she could only hope that this would mean that her virtue would remain intact.

This was her best opportunity.

Over Magnus’ shoulder, Selina could see the grim countenance poorly disguised on Hugh’s face. She could not allow herself to care about it or read too much into it. Their situation was already a horrendous mess. He treated her so—No, this was her chance, and Selina would not allow her darker urges to dictate her future.

“I accept, Magnus, and I look forward to the day that you formally ask for my hand.”

She smiled, and it was only half disingenuous. Magnus grinned back, clipped and stiff as ever, but he extended his hand to take her, and she offered it to him, watching politely as Magnus brought her knuckles to his lips. He kissed the air just above them, not allowing his mouth to touch her flesh, and in secret, she was glad for it.

Magnus straightened, his back still toward Hugh. “I will see you shortly. I look forward to our increased time together.”

“As do I.”

Dismissing himself, Magnus bowed to her, and Selina curtsied back. There was a stiff formality to every exchange between them, and while she had never felt a stirring in her belly during her last engagement to Easton, the absence ofanyfeelings toward Magnus whatsoever sat strangely within her.

After a moment, she was left in the drawing room alone with Hugh again, and Selina braced herself for dealing with the man. While she felt absolutely nothing toward Magnus, her entire being frantically hummed with too many contradictory emotions toward Hugh.

She glanced over at him where he stood by the fireplace, his expression grim as he rested a hand on the mantel and leaned into it.

“You have your wish, it seems. I have found a suitable match.”

Hugh glared harder at the inanimate brick, and when he remained silent, Selina rolled her eyes and turned to leave. Her steps echoed across the room as they hit the wood floor. Should it have occurred, Selina was sure that she would have been able to hear a pin drop.

“Sothatis your choice?”

The words hit her just as Selina’s fingers closed around the doorknob. The Duke might as well have crushed a glass in his fist for the way they were laced with malice and fury.

Why on earth was he so put out by the idea of her marrying Magnus? This was precisely what he had been demanding that she do. Selina wasn’t foolish enough to think that the continued trysts between them meant nothing—not affection or genuine interest though. Not based on the way Hugh treated her.

Still, this display of his was undeniably possessive. While she’d been guilty of another indiscretion in the study, Selina meant what she had said to Hugh as well.

She was done with this.

Spinning on her heel, Selina regarded Hugh as he now faced her, glaring right back at the man who looked so overcome with tension that he might snap in two.

“Should you have something to say, just say it. I will not play games with you any longer.”

He narrowed his eyes, his expression one of frustration and barely restrained rage. Even his hands were balled into fists at his side as Hugh clenched his jaw.

“He is not who I would choose for you.”

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