Page 10 of A Duke Under Her Spell
Abandoning the wheeled chair in the grass, Felix walked over to assist Lady Cordelia from the carriage. The Earl climbed down after clapping Felix on the arm as if they were familiars. “Your Grace,” Lady Cordelia curtsied, still holding on to his hand.
“My Lady,” Felix bowed out of courtesy.
“Your Grace,” the Earl bowed quickly then stood upright and walked over to examine Felix’s invention. “For your mother, I presume?”
“Yes,” Felix confirmed, leading his female guest over next to her brother. “I have built a bath chair as well.”
“You built this?” Lady Cordelia asked, her eyes round with surprise.
“Yes, I did.”
“A Duke who works with his hands?” she questioned in disbelief.
“Yes, I enjoy it quite a bit actually.”
“How admirable, Your Grace,” the Earl complimented. Placing a hand on his sister’s back, he guided her over to a chair in the side garden murmuring something in her ear that Felix could not hear.
Felix eyed his creation, hesitant to surrender his previous occupation, but knowing his duty as a host he sighed and went to join his guests. “How was your journey? It is quite convenient that we possess abutting estates, is it not?”
“Indeed, it is. I was just saying so to Cordelia on the way here.” The Earl sat down beside his sister and crossed his legs one over the other. “Have you given anymore thought to what we discussed upon my last visit?”
Felix searched his memory for what specific topic the Earl might be talking about.Is he talking about my marrying his sister?
“Blackleigh Castle, Your Grace, my idea to purchase the land from you to restore it to its former glory?”
“Oh, yes, of course. No, there is no possible way that I could sell the land. The castle has been in my family for generations and was placed under our care to protect by royal decree. Such a thing cannot be undone without violating the trust that was placed in us even if it is with the best of intentions. I am truly sorry if this disappoints you.”
“No, no, not at all. I simply thought it would be an amusing project. I so enjoyed hearing the stories of the castle when I was a boy.”
“As did I,” Felix admitted. “A terribly sad tale.”
“Yes, indeed, the witch of Blackleigh Castle,” the Earl agreed. “How did it go…” his words faded off in question as his eyes took on a faraway look.
“The fairest of maidens with black raven hair,
She fled through the forest her feet light as air,
The Lord in pursuit his treasure to wrest
From the thieving fair maiden’s breast.
She ran through the night her safety forsaken
In the ruins of Blackleigh where refuge is taken
She hid the treasure in the darkness below
Climbing the tower, the Lord did follow
His threat to take her virtue stands
as a reminder to every man
for upon him then her curse she did bestow
the Lord and his progeny her words made low
‘No matter the punishment ye may wreak
