Chapter 21

Chapter 21

“Emma,” said Selene, her eyes widening in surprise, at seeing her best friend circulating around the conservatory. “What are you doing here?”

“I know,” laughed Emma, her eyes sparkling. “I never expected to attend such an event, either.” She shrugged her shoulders, leaning closer to Selene, whispering in her ear. “I came with Captain Redford. He invited me!”

“Pardon?” Selene couldn’t believe her ears. “But… you barely know the gentleman! You just met him.”

“Actually, the Captain and I have become rather close,” confided Emma, with a sly smile. “We have gone for many long walks together—and we have kissed until we were both breathless… once he pressed me against a tree and we could not stop touching one another.” She giggled. “He makes my heart sing with joy and my body purr with pleasure, Selene.”

Selene flushed. “I… I cannot believe it.” She pulled Emma to the side, lowering her voice further. “Are you serious about him, Emma? And is he serious about you?”

“I believe so,” murmured Emma, shaking her head in disbelief. “I never expected it, Selene. He has swept me off my feet entirely.”

“There you are,” said a deep voice behind them. “I lost you in the crowd, Miss Wellington.”

They turned around. Captain Redford was standing there, gazing at Emma, as if she were the most beautiful creature in the world. Selene watched as their eyes locked—there was a sizzle in the air.

“Miss Bomind,” he said, smiling at her. “You look lovely.”

“Thank you, Captain,” replied Selene, smiling back at him. He seemed like a very nice gentleman, and Emma was clearly enamored by him. It had happened very quickly, and she had no idea if the Captain was serious about her friend or about to break her heart, but for the moment, she was willing to cast her approval at the match.

“Would you care for some refreshment, Miss Wellington?” drawled the Captain, turning back to Emma.

“Yes, very much, Captain,” Emma breathed.

Emma shot Selene a dazzling smile as they swept away, before turning and running back to her friend, whispering in her ear.

“I really think I am in love,” she said. “I will find you later and tell you all about it.”

Selene nodded, too shocked to reply. Emma ran back to Captain Redford. Selene’s heart filled with emotion for her friend, before she turned, walking quickly away, searching for Lenore. Her charge was whispering with some other children in a corner of the room. Selene slumped with relief that Lenore was so occupied and clearly happy—the little girl rarely got to play with other children.

Her eyes darted around the room. She didn’t know what to do now that Lenore was occupied—maybe she should have taken Mrs. Kittles suggestion and brought her sewing basket.

Suddenly, she stiffened. The duke was chatting with Lady Gwen near the pianoforte. Against her will, as if drawn by a magnet, she started walking toward them. She couldn’t help feasting her eyes upon the duke, who looked so commanding and handsome in a crisp green jacket, white shirt and tan britches, with long black boots.

His dark hair was slicked back, but some of it had fallen over his forehead, in the habitual way. She wanted to push it back, run her fingers through it.

She shuddered, feeling his hands upon her body once again as if they were really there, evoking those wild sensations, bringing her to the brink of ecstasy and beyond. She stopped, her heart pounding hard, just inches away from them.

The duke had his back to her and didn’t know she was standing there, and she was fairly certain that Lady Gwen had no idea either, as the lady was fixated upon the duke, her eyes fastened on his face, as if he were the only gentleman in the room.

Selene knew it was rude to eavesdrop, but she just couldn’t seem to help herself. She turned as if observing in another direction, and listened closely.

“It is a wonderful party, Your Grace,” enthused Lady Gwen. “Almost all of the ton in the district have attended, despite the intemperate weather.” She paused, a seductive smile playing on her lips. “Perhaps they have come out in force because they know I am staying here and to see with their own eyes the affection between us.”

Selene froze. She could barely breathe, waiting for the duke’s response.

“Perhaps they have, my lady,” he replied eventually. “I find that most people are motivated by such things.”

Selene’s heart skipped a beat. It was hardly the vehement denial she had been longing to hear.

Lady Gwen leaned forward, toying with a button on the lapel of his jacket.

“Perhaps they want more,” she said, in a loud whisper. “Perhaps they have attended because they think an announcement is imminent, Your Grace.” Her eyes were sparkling. “Should we put them out of their misery?”

Selene’s stomach twisted, and suddenly, she knew she had to get away from them. Quickly, she started walking away, her throat thick with emotion Her head was spinning rapidly, and she could barely breathe. She wanted to pick up the skirt of the beautiful, yet alien, gown that she was wearing and sprint into the gardens to take gulps of the freezing air.

So, it is true. He is going to marry that odious lady. I should have known. Mrs. Kittles did warn me…

“Miss Bomind!”

Selene spun around. Lady Gwen was standing there, smiling sweetly at her, but her beautiful blue eyes were as hard as glass as they swept over her, taking in the gown and jewelry, the transformation of Selene from duckling to swan.

“Well, well, well,” said the lady, her smile widening. “You look quite the lady, Miss Bomind! You could almost fool me!” She paused. “His Grace has requested that you sing for the guests. I shall accompany you myself on the pianoforte. Come along.”

“Pardon, my lady?” stammered Selene, her muscles tensing. She gazed at the duke in confusion, but he was talking with someone else now a few feet away. “I do not understand…”

Her heart was racing like a rabbit now as panic assailed her. She couldn’t sing in front of all these people. The only people she had ever sung for were her parents, even though they insisted she had a sweet voice. She gazed at the duke again.

Why would he have done such a thing? Why wouldn’t he at least have warned her so she could prepare?

“Come along, Miss Bomind,” said Lady Gwen, in an imposing voice, taking her arm firmly and pulling her toward the instrument. “There is no need to be timid! His Grace has made a request—and you must obey. You might look like a lady, but I am afraid you are still his employee, my dear!”

People had stopped talking and were turning to watch them. Selene knew she had no choice but to go along with the lady, for she couldn’t just run away, if the duke had ordered her to do this. Her face burnt with mortification, and she felt a hot sweat break out on her body.

“What song, my dear?” asked Lady Gwen, in a loud, patronizing voice, sitting down at the instrument. “I am at your command.”

The duke had turned along with the other gentlemen and ladies, watching them. Slowly, he walked toward the instrument, his eyes burning as he gazed at Selene, raking over her with that look she knew meant he desired her, but was desperately trying to control it.

But despite his desire for me, he is planning to become engaged to Lady Gwen, and now, he wants to humiliate me, by forcing me to sing when I am not prepared for it. I do not understand him at all.

“What is going on?” he growled, frowning. “What are you doing, my lady?”

“Miss Bomind told me that she feels like performing,” said the lady, in a sickly-sweet voice, her fingers poised above the keys of the instrument, “and I did not like to deny her, Your Grace. So, Miss Bomind, what song do you wish me to play for you?”

Selene’s jaw dropped. She turned, staring dumbfounded, at the lady, who gazed back at her with a steady, almost blank expression. A rush of anger rose up in her chest, causing her to flush brightly and her hands to tighten.

She lied to me. She has trapped me so as to humiliate me. The duke never asked me to sing. Why has she done this?

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell the duke the truth, but then she stopped herself. As much as it would delight her to humiliate the lady just like she was trying to humiliate her, she knew it wouldn’t work.

Lady Gwen would just deny it, and everyone was looking at them, gathering around the instrument, expecting a performance. She couldn’t create a scene. She would just embarrass herself further.

She felt a rush of nerves but also a thrill of excitement.

If the lady wants me to perform, then I am going to do it. She isn’t going to know what has hit her.

“Do you know Greensleeves, my lady?” she asked in a loud, sweet voice. “It is an old folk song about love.”

“Of course I know it,” huffed Lady Gwen, frowning. “Let us begin.”

The lady started playing the first notes of the song. The audience quietened. Selene took a deep breath, turning to them, focusing on the first words of the song, which had always been one of her mother’s favorites.

She tried not to look at the duke. Her heart was racing erratically but she felt another tiny thrill go down her spine.

Alas, my love, you do me wrong/ To cast me off discourteously/ For I have loved you well and long/ delighting in your company…

She closed her eyes, her voice filling the room, swept away in the song, telling the story of the lover who was betrayed. Toward the end, when she was singing the last refrain of the chorus, her eyes fluttered open, gazing at the duke, feeling so moved by the emotion the song evoked within her that her voice was thick with tears at the end.

And who but my lady Greensleeves…

There was a hush in the room. The duke was staring at her hard, his dark eyes scorching. Slowly, he started to clap. Then everyone around him started joining in, clapping loudly, coming over to her to congratulate her. She could tell that their words were genuine, because she saw the same strong emotion that she was feeling mirrored in their faces.

“Well done, Miss Bomind,” said Lady Gwen, in a loud voice, a sour look upon her face. “Although anyone can sing that song well. It takes no particular skill.”

“That is wrong,” declared the duke, his eyes never leaving Selene’s face. “For a simple song, expressed from the heart, is far more powerful than the most technically challenging song in the world.”

Selene could barely breathe. Their eyes met and locked. Once again, she felt like they were the only people left in this world.