“I believe you,” Dominic murmured. He barely remembered Charles Davidson, having met him only once or twice years ago. But he had known the young man was overselling theinvestment opportunity. Even if he had approached Dominic about investing, the duke would have refused.
She smiled wryly. “You might be the only one who does, apart from Christine. Sometimes I think my own godmother believes I was part of the sham.”
He grimaced, remembering that wretched woman. “Lady Gillray is hardly a good judge of character. I do not know how you and your sister have tolerated her for so long.”
“We simply do not have a choice. There was nowhere else to go after our father died.”
“So she sent you to finishing school to be rid of you,” he said. “While she raises Christine as her own.”
Selina made a face. “She hardly has love for Christine. My sister is not an embarrassment to her, at least.”
“Is she cruel to Christine, like she was to you?” He was curious, but he was just as intensely paying attention to his wife’s figure. She had shifted forward just enough to give him a glimpse of her breasts. He wanted to run his hands all over her curves.
He felt the unwelcome rush of heat, the urge to close the distance and claim her, an impulse he tamped down with iron control. She had no idea the effect she had on him.
Selina did not seem to notice his thoughts. “Christine hasn’t mentioned anything extraordinary; she keeps it mostly to herself. But I believe Lady Gillray is selfish. Christine’s debut Season would have been difficult if… well, I sorted that.”
Dominic frowned, his attention fully coming back to the conversation. “What do you mean?”
She looked up at him, startled at the sudden change in his tone. “Lady Gillray was using Christine as a personal maid. After our engagement, I was able to persuade her to find a real maid, so Christine would have time to fully participate in the Season.”
“I am glad,” he said. “I assume you used my name to persuade her to comply with your request.” He was pleased that she was making the most of her new position as duchess. Perhaps that meant she could learn to be happy at Greystone.
She bit her lip. “It was a little more than that,” she said hesitantly. “Lady Gillray wanted me to pay her back for the expense of my schooling. I said I would do it if she stopped using Christine as a maid.”
Anger surged through Dominic. “She extorted you for money? Why did you not tell me?”
“There was no reason to.” She tilted her chin defiantly. “It is my own personal problem, and I am handling it. I can easily pay her back from my pin money.”
“You will do no such thing. I will handle this matter myself.”
“That is not necessary.”
“Of course, it is necessary. You are my wife, and I will not let anyone exploit you. Your pin money is for personal purchases. Not for that woman.” He stood up. “I will take care of it immediately.”
She frowned as she stood too. “Are you sure? I truly do not mind. I have nothing else to spend money on at the moment.”
“It is no trouble on my end,” he said. It only made sense. He would rather that Selina focus her attention on Percy, and she could not do that if she was worried about her sister and Lady Gillray.
She smiled. “Thank you. This truly means the world to me.” Before he could react, she threw her arms around him in a hug. He closed his eyes and inhaled sharply, which only made him more aware of her lovely, natural scent, mixed with hints of lemon from her baking endeavors.
His instincts surged… he wanted to kiss her, taste her lips, then trail lower until she was gasping, her mouth parted in breathless moans. But he couldn’t.
Instead, he gently wrapped his arms around her waist for a brief hug before stepping away. “I shall make arrangements for her tobe paid,” he said. “You should clean yourself up. Duchesses can hardly look like scullery maids, even in their own homes.”
She bit her lip. “Will you ban me and Percy from the kitchens now? Because it is unbecoming?”
He shook his head as he remembered his son smiling. “Certainly not. You are the duchess now. You may run the household as you see fit.” He turned and left before doing something foolish, like kissing his wife.1
Fifteen
Selina turned the kitchen back over to the scullery maids and the cook, who had come back from the market and was looking a little miffed. Selina felt a pang of guilt for interrupting their work. She would make a point of finding a way for her to cook and bake without being too intrusive on them.
After cleaning up and changing into a fresh dress, she went to her private sitting room, where a small stack of letters was waiting for her. She had not even been a duchess for a full week, and she was already getting invited to every social gathering of the Season.
The thought of exchanging pleasantries with people who turned their noses up at her only a few days ago did not sit well with her. Luckily, because she and Dominic were supposed to be on their honeymoon, she had a good excuse to politely decline all of the invitations.
As she tended to her correspondence, the door to her sitting room opened slightly and Percy peeked his head inside. He looked at her cautiously. She smiled at him. “You may come in if you wish,” she said to him.
