“You can’t trust me,” Selina said quietly. “You shouldn’t trust me. I think it would be best if you stayed away from me.”
Morgan looked at her with confusion and hurt. His lips moved as if he wanted to speak but no words came out. Selina felt pain watching him hurt as he did.
She had to tell him the truth. She needed him to understand why she wasn’t who he thought she was. The woman Morgan had fallen in love with was a fabrication. She didn’t exist. More so, Selina was sick and tired of lying.
She had no idea how Morgan would react to the truth, but she was done lying to him. She took a deep breath, ready to tell him everything. But before she could speak, a loud shout rang out in the house.
A loud commotion rang out, and Morgan and Selina exchanged looks of shock, before turning to look at the mansion in unison.
Selina could pick out words from the confusion coming from the house, and she was certain she heard, “The Dowager Duchess, Reid! Send for help immediately!”
Morgan must have heard it, too, because his expression changed from hurt to concern. Without saying another word, the pair rushed back towards the house, an air of uncertainty hanging between them.
* * *
Morgan squeezed his grandmother’s hand as she sat on the floor of the ballroom, holding her head in confusion. The hostess of the ball sat on the dowager’s other side, fanning her furiously.
He had rushed in from the garden immediately he heard the shouts to find her sprawled on the floor, surrounded by concerned guests. He found out from the hostess that she had fainted suddenly, causing the commotion he had heard.
Morgan sent for two carriages immediately. One to take them home, and one to bring the physician as quickly as he could come.
His panic subsided when she woke up a few minutes later, but he could still feel his heart racing from fear. The dowager looked up at him and smiled weakly, tapping his hand gently.
“Grandmother. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, my boy. I was just a little tired. Hope I didn’t cause too much of a scene?”
Morgan breathed a sigh of relief and helped her to her feet. He pulled a chair close and settled her on it with little effort. “Rest for a bit, grandmother. The carriage is getting ready as we speak, and a physician is on the way to the house.”
The duchess dowager nodded slowly and Morgan exchanged a look of thanks with the hostess who remained by her side. The rest of the crowd had dispersed in ones and twos, and now the three of them were alone.
Selina rushed into the ballroom to inform Morgan that the carriage was ready and together, they helped the dowager out of the house. Most of the guests had left already, and the ballroom was almost empty when they left.
When Selina and the dowager were settled in the carriage, Morgan checked on her again. The dowager assured him that she was fine, and then he rushed back into the house.
Morgan found the hostess talking to another woman who he recognized as Lady Hamstone, another old friend of his grandmother’s.
He approached the two women and bowed, before facing the hostess. “Thank you for your assistance, my lady. If not for your quick intervention, this could have gone badly quickly. My family and I owe you a lot and you have our gratitude.”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” the hostess replied, her face still filled with worry. “The duchess dowager is an old friend of mine, and you have nothing to thank me for. Be kind enough to send a note on how she’s faring, will you?”
“Of course, you need not ask.”
Morgan bowed again at the two women but before he could turn around and leave, Lady Hamstone touched his shoulder lightly.
“Excuse me, Your Grace. I know this is not the right time, but I had to ask. I couldn’t help noticing your companion tonight, the beautiful lady that escorted your grandmother out. Who is she?”
Morgan raised an eyebrow at Lady Hamstone and cleared his throat. “Ms. Selina Knight is the dowager’s companion and a friend to my family. She has been with us for some time. May I know why you’re asking?”
Lady Hamstone cocked her head to the side. “Knight? You must be mistaken, Your Grace. I asked because I am sure I have met her before. She is the daughter of Lord Linport.”
Morgan shook his head. “You must be mistaken, Lady Hamstone. Ms. Knight is the daughter of Lord Calbur. I’m certain of this. It is quite possible that you must have mixed her up with someone else in the chaos of the night.”
“No, Your Grace,” Lady Hamstone protested more vehemently, to Morgan’s displeasure. “I am more certain that she was the same lady I met. She is Selina Kendall, Lord Linport’s daughter. As I said before, I met her at her father’s estate and I’m not one to forget a face, Your Grace.”
Morgan looked from the hostess to Lady Hamstone with confusion. Surely, she may have made a mistake of sorts? Certainly, Lady Hamstone could have mixed up faces or even names.
He remembered that his grandmother was still waiting for him in the carriage and shook out of his confusion.
