“It is beautiful, Your Grace,” Selina complimented.
“Indeed it is, isn’t it…” The older woman smiled fondly out the window. “Come now, we best be going. My bottom feels like jelly after sitting still for so long.”
Barbara rushed towards her grandmother when we got off the carriage and the dowager hugged her. “Missed me there, didn’t you?”
“Surely did,” Barbara replied with a smile. “Selina, how did you enjoy the journey?” Selina noticed Morgan slink into the house as the three women conversed.
“It was delightful, Barbara. The Dowager Duchess here was kind enough to make the journey both entertaining and educative.”
“As is her way. Come, let me show you around the house. Grandmother?”
“Of course, of course,” the Dowager Duchess replied, waving Selina and Barbara away like petty disturbances. “Now… how shall I spend my afternoon…” The dowager wandered into the house on her own, stopping to laugh with a plump serving lady who was all smiles to see her.
“Come, Selina.” Barbara grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the house.
Selina followed Barbara around with half a mind, replying with sounds to show Barbara she was paying attention to her tour.
It was a massive house with a rich history, as Selina could glean from Barbara. While it was infinitely smaller than the mansion back in Wynten, Selina found out that the house was in such a wealthy community in the country. This particular manor could buy fifteen of the Wynten mansions.
When they got to the library, Selina fell in love immediately. While the library in Wynten was sizeable, this one was beautiful, with comfy furniture and a great deal of light.
Selina looked through the books on the racks and landed on a volume she had heard about but had never had the opportunity of seeing before. She also saw an assortment of books by Jane Austen. Those were not very popular, either.
“Barbara, I’m a little tired, and I’d like to rest a little. Can I read a little and we continue our tour later?”
“Of course. I’d also like to sleep a little. See you soon.” She smiled and walked out of the room right after and Selina figured she’d go look for her afterwards.
CHAPTER18
Morgan tried his best to keep an eye on Selina as conspicuously as possible. He walked down the hallway where he had just seen her go down, carefully opening rooms as he did so.
While he had hesitations over stalking through his townhouse like a petty thief, he could not think of a better way to find Selina, who was experienced in the art of disappearing without a trace.
While they had all been at the manor since arriving, earlier in the day, Selina had, somehow, still found ways to avoid him. She stuck close to the Dowager Duchess and Barbara for most parts of the day.
He stepped into the library and immediately saw Selina inside the room. She was standing in front of a tall shelf, reaching up on the tip of her toes to a book high above.
She had probably been too occupied with her endeavor because she didn’t hear Morgan step into the room.
Morgan felt his breath catch as he watched her. Her soft grunts and curses covered the steps of Morgan’s footsteps as he approached where she struggled to reach her desired book.
Morgan could tell what book she wanted, as her fingertips brushed on the book multiple times. Holding his breath, he walked up behind her and reached for the book.
In one motion, he picked up the book with barely any effort, then offered it to her with a small smile.
Selina jumped back in surprise, visibly startled to see Morgan towering behind her. She brushed against the shelf in surprise, knocking some of the books around.
As they locked eyes and stared at each other, Morgan had to admit that Selina looked absolutely beautiful. While he had come to terms with that fact weeks ago, it still stunned him to see just how beautiful she was.
The moment didn’t last, unfortunately. Selina’s surprise and her reservations about speaking with Morgan were glaringly obvious.
Morgan took a step back, giving a respectable distance between them. Selina took the book he handed her. “Thank you, Your Grace,” she said coldly. “I apologize, I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Nothing to apologize for, Ms. Knight,” Morgan replied. He cleared his throat and crossed his hands behind his back. “I uh… I have been looking for you…” Morgan finally said, and then cleared his throat.
“Oh…” Selina took a step to the side, confused. “Actually, I need to be on my way now. The Dowager Duchess sent for me. She says it’s urgent. Please, excuse me.”
Selina made to leave and edged past Morgan on her way out. Without thinking, Morgan reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her backwards.
