Page 57 of His Ruined Duchess

There were more preparations that needed to be attended to today, so many more on the list of everything that needed to be done for the wedding, and Selina wished to be as presentable and prepared as possible for them. Certainly, now that she and Hugh had gotten all that business out of the way, she would be better able to focus.

When the maid brought up her water, Selina took her time in the bath, enjoying the way the water felt against her skin. Unbidden, memories of her evening with Hugh emerged in her brain likesomething floating up to the surface of the hot water. The way he’d handled her had been…

But that is all out of my system now. It is done. There will be no feverish desire for more.

Her maid helped her to dress, and Selina muffled a hiss as the tightening stays pressed on the contusion along her spine. The woman had asked about it, and Selina was forced to come up with a lie. She remained close to the truth, saying that it had happened when she accidentally backed into the bookshelf.

“You should be more careful, Your Grace.”

Selina smiled, patting her hand as the woman finished lacing her stays and came around to the front of her.

“I can assure you, I will. Thank you.”

“I can leave your stays a bit looser today, Your Grace, if it pains you.” The woman looked so terribly concerned, and Selina chuckled, waving off the worry.

“Nonsense. I am quite well. I amexceedinglywell in fact, and I look forward to a hearty breakfast.”

“Of course, Your Grace. I will assist you with dressing so that you may descend to the dining room forthwith.”

Together, they made quick work of readying Selina for the day. She chose a bright yellow dress, given the fine weather outside. Selina felt lighter and more prepared to face the future than she had been in some time. Her body worked through the memories of Hugh’s touch, and she knew that as the physical reminders faded, she would be steadily cured of her infatuation.

Looking at herself in the large mirror atop her vanity, Selina smiled and nodded. Yes, this would be a new start for her, and she would be able to carry on with her duties with far less trouble. She hoped that Hugh, too, would be able to move on from all this and return to focusing on his business, supplying the city with its much-needed drink.

As she shut the door of her room behind her, Selina sucked in a breath, holding it in her lungs as she made a silent wish for the remainder of the preparations to progress without issue or delay.

Everything will be sorted, and the wedding will be over and done with. I will have Mother with me to aid in caring for Kitty, and I shall return to the level of independence I am familiar with.

The words were affirmations in her mind, promises to herself that she had no intention of breaking.

Her heels clicked on the stairs as she strode down them, following the long hall to the dining room for breakfast. When she arrived at the room and stepped inside, Hugh stood at the far end, only just taking his place at the head of the table. Theirstares caught, and Selina felt the air leave her lungs in a rush as the Duke’s eyes roamed over her face.

Heat gathered beneath her cheeks, and the look in his gaze deepened, reminding her of the desperation he’d shown her the night before. Her pulse fluttered in her neck, and the constriction of her stays suddenly pressed down on her like the most monumental of weights.

The room was empty aside from the two of them, and Selina tried to force herself to offer a nonchalant smile, nodding at Hugh politely.

But her thighs pressed together as she took her seat, and that growing warmth spread to her center where slickness was impossible to ignore.

This… this isn’t as it should be. I should… Dammit.

Two more days had passed, and Selina was certain that her mind was going to burst. She could picture it: her head cracking and oozing like a soft-boiled egg. Two more days’ worth of preparations, and Selina had been fighting to keep her eyes from drifting to Hugh through all of them. They had remained well away from each other, hadn’t spoken much at all, and hadn’t mentioned their night in the study. Still, there was an undeniable pull toward him.

Selina had required a respite from it all and had stolen away to the garden patio at the rear of the estate for some fresh air. It had been at least a few minutes, and it didn’t appear to be working.

“Selina?” Lydia called out from behind her, and she spun around to face her sister, her brows up to her hairline. “Ah, there you are. Are you quite all right? You have been out here for some time now.”

“I am fine.” Selina brushed aside the obvious concern, chuckling performatively to assuage her sister’s worry. “It has only been a long day. I am tired from all the numerous preparations we’ve had to see to for the wedding.”

It stung her tongue to say the word “wedding.” Selina had been unable to stop thinking about it, obviously. Still, she’d done her level best to pretend as if it were just some Season event or drum. Having to say the word out loud prevented her from finding comfort in her delusion.

“Your voice rises when you are being less than honest with me.” Lydia smiled at her gently, walking toward Selina and standing with her at the banister that circled the patio. “Would you like to tell me what is truly on your mind? You have been a listener to my woes previously.”

Selina sighed. She had not thought her sister was quite so observant, but it was clear that Lydia contained more to her than it appeared at first glance. Quite like herself, Selina thought.

“I do not wish to burden you, or anyone else, for that matter. I am aware of what must be done, and I am seeking to do it with as few issues as possible.”

Sighing, Lydia bobbed her head in a subtle nod but then turned to Selina with a frown.

“Forgive me. I know I am young, but would you explain to me why what must be done includes doing something that so clearly makes you unhappy?”

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