“Yes, everything is all right, Your Grace.” The maid smiled at her. “From what I understand, His Grace has a surprise for you, and he asked me to help you get ready.”
Selina was bewildered, but also intrigued. It did not sound like he was cross with her, and if Percy was not hurt, then surely it must be a good surprise. For the life of her, she just could not imagine what it would be.
The dowager duchess reached across and patted her hand, her eyes warm with approval. “Go, my dear,” she said gently. “Do not keep him waiting.”
Selina rose, her pulse quickening. “All right.”
She followed Jinny back to her chambers, where a dress box and two jewelry boxes were carried in from the hallway and set gently on the dressing table. As Selina undressed, the maidopened the dress box to reveal a red evening gown with gold trim and matching ruby earrings and a necklace.
Her eyes widened at the finery. It was so beautiful. Even though she had received a wardrobe of fine dresses shortly after marrying Dominic, she rarely wore any of them. She did not feel the need to wear such fine things when she rarely left the house and they did not receive guests.
Excitement filled her with the thought of wearing this dress and jewelry. She also felt warmth fill her chest, knowing Dominic had picked these out specifically with her in mind.
Jinny helped her dress before doing her hair in an intricate upsweep and powdering her face. When Selina looked at herself in the mirror, she hardly recognized herself. She did not look like a duchess. She looked like a princess.
“You look beautiful, Your Grace,” Jinny said shyly. “The carriage is waiting downstairs for you.”
“Thank you, Jinny,” she said. “Do you have any idea what he has planned for me?”
The woman shook her head. “I have not the slightest clue.”
Selina smiled wryly. “Then that makes two of us.”
She went downstairs and out of the door to the carriage. “Where are we going?” she asked the driver.
He ducked his head, embarrassed, but also smiling. “I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but His Grace expressly told me not to tell you. He wants it to be a surprise.” He hesitated for a moment before speaking. “But if it is not too bold of me to say, he looked happier today than I have seen him in a long time.”
Warmth rushed through Selina, and she nodded. “I am glad to hear it.”
The carriage rocked gently over the cobblestones as they made their way through the quiet streets. Selina gazed out the window at the flickering gas lamps and the passing carriages, memories of her childhood mingling with the present. The city had changed so much since her father had passed, yet the familiar sights stirred a bittersweet ache in her chest.
She kept looking out the carriage window as they left the property and went into town. As they went down the street, she tried to guess where they were going, but was still surprised when the carriage stopped outside an opera house.
The driver opened the door for her. “His Grace told me that everything has already been arranged,” he said. “You just have to tell the ushers your name.”
“Thank you,” Selina said.
She stepped out of the carriage and went inside, looking around the general splendor of the opera house. An overwhelming sense of nostalgia filled her as she looked around. She had not set footinside an opera house since her father had passed, but she dearly missed the music.
“Your Grace!”
It took her a moment to realize someone was speaking to her. She turned to see the Countess of Sterling, whom she vaguely remembered seeing at the Duke Hunt. She smiled. “Good evening, my lady. What a pleasant surprise!”
The older woman smiled pleasantly as she curtsied to Selina. “I am happy to see you out and about. You look stunning. I love that necklace.”
Selina reached up to touch the ruby necklace. “Thank you. It was a gift from my husband. He surprised me with a new necklace and a night at the opera.”
“It looks like the Stone Duke has a heart after all. At least when it comes to you.” She winked at her. “I am happy to hear it. I hope you have a lovely time tonight.”
“You as well, my lady. It was nice to see you again.”
A few other people greeted Selina, complimenting her dress and wishing her a good evening. It was strange knowing that everyone was watching her.
She was used to people whispering about her after the scandal with her brother. But now they looked at her because she wasthe Duchess of Greystone. She was the lady who supposedly charmed the duke with a heart of stone.
She found an usher and barely had the chance to introduce herself before she was being guided to a private opera box.
Dominic was already seated when she arrived, but he stood up as soon as he saw her. His warm eyes raked over her in a way that made heat pool in her stomach. “You look beautiful,” he said.
