“Well, it seems we would have to move for the time being,” the dowager said, shocking her.
We? She plans to take me with her?Selina could not help but feel slightly emotional. It had begun to feel like the duchess was her guardian angel. The dowager had taken her in when she had stumbled up to her doorstep tired, hungry, scared, and with nowhere to go.
She had had no reason to help her and had not needed Selina but since there was really nothing she was doing for her that someone else couldn’t do. She had clothed her and fed her, becoming her sponsor for no reason. It was not like the Dowager Duchess was planning to set up a match for her but still, she let her stay with her in her home, entrusting everything to her for as long as Selina was willing to stay with her.
Selina had always been grateful to this woman but perhaps she had not been grateful enough. Surely there was not enough payment she could offer after all that the woman had done for her.
“Your Grace, you are too kind. I do not know how to repay your kindness, thank you so much,” she began gratefully.
“Whatever for?”
“For keeping me in your plans even with the sudden situation.”
The dowager waved her off. “How could I in good faith do otherwise, knowing you have nowhere else to go?”
Selina once again fought to keep her expression blank as the older woman continued.
“A true pity, really, what happened to your parents,” she murmured. “I imagine they must have been rolling in their graves when that cad they entrusted you to in marriage left you at the altar… I would also want someone to take care of my child if I were in their shoes.”
Selina swallowed uneasily and ignored the sting of guilt that hit her heart as the older woman recounted the story she had given when she showed up at the Brigpool Estate.
She had often been tempted to tell the truth. The Dowager Duchess had been wonderful to her ever since she stepped foot in her home and she often felt like she was betraying the kindness of the woman. However, there was more to consider than the desire to simply appease her guilt and ease her conscience.
Selina feared what would happen if they knew the truth about who she truly was. She could not bear to think of what would happen if she was sent away.
There was an even greater fear that stopped her from uttering the truth about her and that was the fear of putting this family in danger.
No, it is better this way...She would just have to continuously remind herself of her reasons whenever she felt like telling the truth.
“I am sure that my parents look down at us with the same gratitude I am feeling right now. Thank you for your care, Your Grace,” she said.
“Oh please, stop with it already. I quite enjoy your company,” the dowager said. Her eyes suddenly took on a gleam Selina usually noticed when she was up to something mischievous or remembered all the mischief she had gotten up to so far. “There are not a lot of ladies like you who would willingly put up with this old lady. You play along with most of my little whims and you do not seem to think me crazy.”
Selina smiled as the dowager laughed out loud, seeming to enjoy her own jokes. It seemed that she had recovered from the gloom over the fire that had just damaged her home and Selina could not help but feel guilty. Here was this woman who seemed to like her and enjoy her company, treating her like she was part of her family even though she did not know her at all or the secrets she kept.
“Ah!” the dowager exclaimed, shocking Selina who immediately rushed to her, looking her over.
“Your Grace, what is it? Are you all right?”
“I just thought of my raw meat. I doubt it’s quite raw now,” she said, laughing heartily when Selina sighed heavily. Leave it to the dowager to think about something as inconsequential in a time like this.
“Oh please, do not let this get you down now. It is just another day and we shall move along as such.”
CHAPTER2
The day had been long and the evening came as a welcome respite to Morgan Reid as his carriage rolled into the Wynten Estate, coming to a stop in the courtyard just in front of the sprawling mansion.
The sun still painted the stone path as he stepped out of the carriage, but it lacked any heat, only caressing his skin like a warm hand.
“Welcome home, Your Grace.” Albert, the family butler, had come out to greet him, as he always did.
In some ways, it was a lonely welcome… reminding Morgan of how it used to be, standing at the entrance to the mansion with his mother watching Albert’s back on the path as he waited, head bowed, for the carriage door to open and reveal his father, the previous Duke of Wynten.
“Thank you, Albert. Where is Barbara?” No one stood at the mansion’s entrance where his little sister would usually stand, waiting for him most times.
“The young lady is having an embroidery class in the drawing room. She was not notified of your return,” Albert pointed out as he followed Morgan into the house. It seemed the old butler could tell that was what Morgan wanted to know.
“Ah, indeed, there was a new governess.” Morgan had almost forgotten, what with how little he had seen the lady’s face. She had been at the estate for a month already, but she made it her mission to avoid him, not even bothering that it was obvious.
