Selina grinned triumphantly. “Indeed, Your Grace. I believe you should not doubt my wisdom by now.”
Morgan raised a brow at her cocky response and the fire it ignited within him, but he just smiled and shook his head. She really knew how to rile him up.
“I suppose I should indeed acknowledge your skills. You really are a good dancer, after all,” he said, wanting to change the topic.
Selina cocked her head to the side, watching him suspiciously. “Well, I’m glad that you’re willing to admit that, Your Grace.”
Morgan eyed her. “You say that as though I never wish to compliment you.” Selina raised a brow at the statement but remained quiet.
“Hmm… I see,” he said as he twirled her, ignoring the slight sting her confirmation left in his chest. “My grandmother told me a bit about your story. However, I’d like to hear about you from you.”
He couldn’t outrightly ask her the questions he had about her past. Even with all of Morgan’s social awkwardness and how he always came across as rude. He needed to start a conversation first.
“I’m originally from Seaford,” Selina said, after what seemed like eons to Morgan. “My father, Lord Calbur, was a Baron, although not too wealthy.
“I don’t know if the Dowager Duchess told you, but I was to get married. Unfortunately, my betrothed abandoned me on the altar after my parents died. Having nowhere to go, the Dowager Duchess took me in, and made me her companion.”
As Selina spoke, Morgan noticed how her expression fell. Morgan assumed it was because of the pain of having lost both her parents. That was a pain that he could understand, having felt it himself.
Unfortunately, Morgan had not really thought about his parents in a long time. He had not gotten much of a chance to mourn them after they had died.
He was made the duke immediately after their demise, with Barbara suddenly becoming his responsibility. There was too much going on at the time and he had not found the time to mourn his lost parents as he would have wanted.
Also, his parents had always been strict with him, preparing him for leadership and to take their place. It was a very confusing time for Morgan after his parents’ death. Even now as he thought about it, he wondered when he would be able to mourn them appropriately.
Regardless, their death still left a hollow feeling in his chest from time to time. As a result, he could understand exactly how Selina felt.
“I’m very sorry for asking,” Morgan said softly. “I can’t believe I made you speak about something so painful.”
“It’s all right, Your Grace,” Selina replied with a weak smile. “I don’t mind talking to you about it.”
Morgan nodded. He looked down at her face again and felt his heart break.I can’t imagine how any man can leave a woman like this on the altar, he thought.How does someone walk away from a woman this beautiful, kind, and interesting?
“If it was me, I would never—” Morgan’s eyes flew wide open in shock as he caught himself. He had not been thinking to himself at all. He had been speaking, albeit quietly. He looked down at Selina in panic, hoping she had not been paying attention to him.
Selina was staring at him, her eyes opened wide in fear and surprise. As he watched, a blush spread up her neck, all the way to her cheeks.
To Morgan’s horror, Selina had been paying attention to him after all, and she had heard everything he had just said.
“I… I…” Morgan stammered helplessly, searching for words that treacherously refused to come. He had never stuttered before in his whole life, but Selina left him tongue-tied.
Thankfully, the music stopped playing abruptly. They both stepped away from each other, Selina’s face and neck still a hot red. She looked like she had just seen a ghost.
Morgan bowed to her awkwardly, and she replied with an equally awkward curtsy. They turned away from each other, then hurried off in opposite directions.
Morgan felt his face go hot as well, and realized he was beginning to blush as well. Why was he blushing like a boy? What had come over him? He couldn’t deny that he had enjoyed dancing with Selina, but he hated how he was reacting to everything that was happening.
Glancing down at his shaky hand, he went in search of a stiff drink to calm his flustered nerves.
CHAPTER14
Selina sat in the music room waiting for Barbara. She rubbed her eyes tiredly. Sleep had been far from her last night after her dance with Morgan.
She glanced at the clock. Barbara should have come down for her lessons twenty minutes ago. She was usually very punctual and excited to learn.
She likely slept a little later than usual, but Selina doubted that. She decided to wait a few more minutes before going to look for the young lady.
Selina wished she hadn’t attended the party. If she had stayed away, then the dance would have never happened. Neither would the painful, embarrassing awkwardness that followed.
