Page 38 of A Duke Under Her Spell
“That is wonderful!” the Duchess exclaimed taking Marybeth’s hand in hers. “We owe our thanks to your healing powers, I am certain.”
“I do naught but work with what nature provides,” Marybeth humbly waved away the praise. She had never felt as if it were actually her doing the healing, but always gave credit to the wonders of the natural world.
“Guided by your skill and knowledge,” the Duchess insisted.
Marybeth bowed her head in humble assent. “Perhaps.”
Lady Cordelia cleared her throat ever so delicately. “My apologies for the interruption, Lady Cordelia, please continue,” the Dowager Duchess instructed.
Lady Cordelia began reading. Marybeth attempted to pay attention to the topic at hand but found the book on marriage to be quite dull and irrelevant to her own life. She tried to keep herself awake by going over her list of needed herbs on her next trip to the croft but soon found herself dozing. Lady Cordelia’s words faded in and out weaving themselves into Marybeth’s dreams causing her to dream of weddings and birthing babies.
She was not sure how long she slept but found herself being rather forcefully awakened by rough hands shaking her by the shoulders. “Wake up, little witch!” A strange masculine voice commanded.
“Really, Your Lordship, I must protest. She is not a witch and should not be treated as such.”
“On that we must agree to differ, Your Grace.”
Your Lordship?Marybeth questioned through the fog of sleep as she opened her eyes.
“There has been a hunting accident in the forest. I went to your croft, but you and your grandmother were not there. I came across the Duke of Arkley and the Earl of Bredon out in the wood. They informed me that you have been living here at Arkley Hall since your grandmother’s passing.
“Your Lordship, I must insist that you leave my bedchamber at once. You may await Miss Wright in the library, if and when she decides to aid you,” the Dowager Duchess chastised in displeasure.
“I attempted to stop him, Your Grace, but he would not take no for an answer,” Mr. Wheatly huffed from the doorway, his face red with anger and exertion.
“My apologies, Your Grace, but the matter is one of great urgency. I could not stand on ceremony,” the man explained. Though his words seemed genuine, his eyes held nothing but disdain. “I must insist that the little witch comes with me.” He grabbed Marybeth by the arm pulling her up from the side of the bed.
“Let go of me,” Marybeth commanded attempting to jerk her arm free. “You are hurting me.”
“Release Miss Wright at once, Lord Enfield or I will be forced to summon armed guards to ensure that you are compliant,” the Dowager Duchess threatened. “You have no right to treat, Miss Wright in such a fashion.”
“I have every right.”
“You may be a lord, Enfield, but this my house and in my house, you have absolutely no say at all,” the Duchess punctuate her last words with a decisive nod and a firm stare. “What right is it that you believe yourself to hold?”
“The right of a father upon his daughter.”
Chapter 16
“Daughter?” Marybeth stammered in disbelief.
“Yes, daughter,” Lord Enfield answered.
“You are the lord who violated the witch of the forest?” Lady Cordelia spoke out of reflex without thinking.
Marybeth’s mind filled with horror. “You raped my mother?”
“Have you never heard the stories?” Lady Cordelia asked, once again speaking without thinking, wrapped up in the drama of the moment.
“No,” Marybeth’s voice caught on a sob.
“Lord Enfield violently assaulted your mother and left her for dead in the forest. Nine months later you were born and your mother, unable to bear the shame, killed herself,” Lady Cordelia explained, a combination of revulsion and glee upon her face.
“Lady Cordelia, this is not one of your fiction novels. I beseech you to hold your tongue,” the Dowager Duchess cut off any further discussion on the topic.
“Is it true?” Marybeth whispered in horror looking up into the face of the man who claimed to be her father.
“What transpired between your mother and I is irrelevant. What matters in this moment are your healing skills. I am told that your grandmother passed her knowledge on to you. Is this true?”
