Percy smiled up at her.
She laughed at the sight of him. “You are a mess, darling. Perhaps one of the maids can take you to get cleaned up.” She held out her hand for him, and he took it. Selina led him to the kitchen entrance, where she called for a maid to take him.
Dominic watched the two of them together, feeling warmth and sorrow fill him at once. Selina had already shown more warmth for Percy than his natural mother had ever shown him.
When a maid took Percy away to be cleaned, Selina turned to Dominic. Silence hung heavy in the air as they looked at each other. She was covered in flour. Messy curls framed her face. Dominic wanted to peel off her clothing, piece by piece, and watch her bathe until there wasn’t a spot of flour on her anymore.
Selina’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Do you like lemon cake?” she asked him.
He blinked and took a moment to collect himself before answering. “I do not like sweet food at all.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Truly? I think there is nothing as comforting as a delicious piece of cake with a hot cup of tea.”
“I hope you realize it is highly improper for a duchess to be baking,” he said. “I am curious why you did it at all.”
She untied the apron she had covered her dress with, and placed it on a hook in the corner. “This is only my third day as a duchess,” she said. “I hardly feel like a proper one. Besides, I love cooking. It brings me great comfort, and it helps me think. I am not about to give it up just because it is not a usual activity for a duchess.”
“We have staff who need to use the kitchen during the day,” he said. “Do you expect them to work late simply because you have an urge to pretend to be a scullery maid?”
She shrugged, looking unfazed by his comment. “I will simply find a better way to coordinate with the kitchen staff. After all, I do not want to inconvenience them.” She sat down in a chair next to the fire. “That is better,” she said, sighing. “It is always nice to sit down after cooking something.”
He looked around and found another chair, which he pulled up next to her. He was so close he could reach out and grab her hand if he wished. Or he could brush some loose tendrils of her hair behind her ear.
There was a small dusting of sugar on the crook of her neck, and he wanted to lick it off. Her face was already flushed, but maybe he could make that flush travel down her body with some careful touches. But he kept his hands to himself. If he allowed himself even small touches, he would be tempted to undress her and take her on the kitchen floor.
“Where did you learn how to cook? Was that something you did with your own mother?” Perhaps it was an eccentric family tradition for her.
Sadness crossed her face as she shook her head. “No, definitely not. I barely remember my mother, to be honest. She died while giving birth to Christine.”
“I am sorry to hear that.”
She looked down. “It is all right. Even though I miss her, I accepted her death long ago.”
“My father died when I was a child,” he said. “It was quick. Sudden. He fell while riding his horse.”
“That is so awful! You must miss him,” she said.
“He is missed in Greystone,” he replied, careful not to let emotion creep in. “And my mother, who fell ill and passed away a few years ago.” He cleared his throat, feeling strangely vulnerable and exposed. He never talked about this with anyone, not even his grandmother. Selina had a way of making him want to open up. He would have to be careful around her, or he might end up spilling all of his secrets.
She reached out and grabbed his hand. “I am sorry,” she said. “That sounds hard.”
Her delicate hand felt good inside his own. He pulled away, however. It was too distracting having her touch him. It only made him want more. “Where did you learn how to cook?”
“I learned at finishing school,” she said. “The school was very… frugal and practical. Even though it was intended as a school for ladies to learn etiquette so they could marry well or find employment as a lady’s companion or governess, they also touted the benefits of learning practical skills, such as cooking and cleaning. However, I believe they mainly did not want to pay for a full-time chef.”
She smiled a little, but it did not quite reach her eyes. “Instead, there were chores all of us had to do, including working in thekitchen. We would rotate chores. I enjoyed it when it was my turn to cook for everyone. I found it refreshing.”
“That is strange,” he said. “I would have expected parents to complain about their daughters learning such skills.”
“It was not a school for ladies whose parents were overly involved in their lives,” she said carefully.
“You mean it was a school where parents sent their daughters when they wanted them out of the way, or when they did not know what to do with them.”
She chuckled. “Quite. Lady Gillray thought it was a suitable place for me after my father passed away. Perhaps she was right. I was happier in that school than facing the wrath of the ton after…” she shook her head. “I only wish I did not spend so much time away from my sister.”
“I am sorry about your brother,” he said. “That must have been hard to have him disappear. I have heard you two were close.”
She laughed. “I am sure you heard more than that.” She brushed a piece of her hair out of the way. “I thought we were close, but I truthfully had no idea what he was doing. And I have no idea where he is now.”
