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Duncan strode along the path at a brisk pace. He wanted to take his horse to reach Selina quicker after he’d learned from Cook where Selina had ventured to, but he didn’t want to draw attention to himself. If he ran into Lucas, then his cousin would demand to ride along with him. He found his time spent with Lucas became more difficult, the stronger his feelings toward Selina grew. He was committing the ultimate betrayal by pursuing his cousin’s intended. However, Lucas held no regard for Selina. In fact, Lucas’s cool treatment toward Selina fueled Duncan’s pursuit. Lucas’s affections lay with Abigail, but Selina didn’t deserve his indifference. And the more he watched Selina withdraw into herself by his family’s treatment, the more he wanted to steal her away to Scotland.
His steps slowed once he came into the opening. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Selina holding hands and skipping in a circle with a group of young girls. The smile lighting her face and the carefree joy she exhibited warmed his heart. This was the true Selina she kept hidden from everyone. He wondered why. Why hold herself back from her true character?
Duncan leaned against the tree and watched her. He was far enough away where she couldn’t spot him. He was glad he had walked. The children would have seen his horse, interrupting Selina’s time with them.
They twirled around faster and faster in their circle and soon fell to the ground. Their giggles reached him, and he released a burst of laughter. Selina lay on her back, pointed at the clouds, and started talking. Soon each girl pointed at the sky for Selina to look above. She smiled at them, and her lips formed a small circle of surprise, which brightened the child’s face. After a while, they sat up and started picking the surrounding wildflowers. Duncan slid down and sat back against the tree once he realized Selina meant to spend her morning playing with the girls.
Selina sat among them as if she were their friend. They talked, giggled, and sat in silence while they played with the flowers. He wished he could listen to them. Perhaps learn the depth of the lady who entranced him under her spell with her every act.
The smallest lass of the group jumped up, ran behind Selina, and laid a crown of flowers upon Selina’s head. Selina smiled at the young tyke and reached to hug her from behind.
“I declare you the master crown builder for the day,” Selina announced.
The other girls erupted into laughter while the girl gave Selina a shy smile. Then Selina whispered into the girl’s ear, and she ran off to do Selina’s bidding. Once the young girl left, Selina proclaimed her pride at the other girls’ designs.
The girl came back, lugging a basket behind her. Selina rose to help her when she saw her struggles. She sat back down with the basket on her lap and opened the lid. Duncan knew the cook had packed chocolate biscuits for Selina. She closed the lid and asked the girls a question. He listened to their moans of disgust. Then Selina opened the lid again and took another peek. She asked another question, and they answered with delight, jumping up from the ground. Selina laughed with pure abandonment. Duncan ached for her to enjoy herself with him in the same manner.
Selina drew out a tin and passed it around the group. Once it returned to her, she counted out the remaining biscuits and passed the tin around again. A wave of arms rose to draw a chocolate biscuit into each girl’s mouth. His mouth watered to taste one of the delicious treats. After they finished eating their snacks, Selina rose with the basket. Each of the girls followed her lead. She held out her hand to the girl who’d gifted her with the flowered crown, and they walked toward the cottages. Duncan wandered closer when Selina rounded the corner.
A group of ladies sat around a small table drinking tea. It wasn’t the elaborate setup his peers would enjoy, but one of ladies who worked hard to keep a home for their families. He was more than friendly with the families who lived on his uncle’s land. Duncan and Lucas spent a lot of time helping these families build their cottages and assisting them when they fell into hard times. He wasn’t aware Selina knew them so intimately, and he bet Lucas didn’t know either. But he would raise his bet that his uncle knew of Selina’s activities. It was the reason Uncle Theo encouraged them to give her a chance because there were hidden sides to Selina’s character she never showed them.
Selina hung back while the young girls exclaimed their enjoyment at Selina’s visit. Each mother smiled with pleasure and paid Selina their gratitude for keeping the girls entertained. Soon Selina found herself ushered into a chair and engaged with the ladies while the girls ran inside their homes. Soon they descended upon them again with dolls in their hands and gathered in a group to play.
Duncan rubbed his heart as he watched them accept Selina for who she was, not for what others expected her to be. He never realized how one could love someone so profoundly where they ached for the other’s sorrow. Now he understood the heartache Selina suffered, and he wanted to ease it any way possible. His plan to steal her away became more real—and more foolish. Because no matter how far they ran, she would still suffer.
One of the little girls rose and started skipping toward her mother when she tripped and fell. She started crying for her mama, but her mother’s hands were full rocking a baby.
Selina stood and held out her arms. “Let me hold the babe. I have not had the chance to welcome your newborn.”
The mother handed the baby off to Selina. “You are so dear.”
Selina sat in the chair and rocked the baby back and forth, cooing into the blanket. A serene smile lit her face. Her fingers caressed its soft hair, and the baby’s hand tightened around Selina’s finger. Before long, she started humming a lullaby to the baby, soothing its whimpers. Once the baby grew quiet, she whispered a story to the other children. The young girl who fell had fallen asleep in her mother’s arms. The mother rose, and Duncan stepped forward, taking the lass. He followed the mother inside and laid the girl upon the bed.
Before he left, Mrs. Groves stopped him. “She is a sweet lady who deserves the world.”
Duncan nodded. “Aye, that she does.”
“Do not hurt her,” Mrs. Groves warned.
“I do not plan to.”
She shook her head at his refusal. “I see the infatuation in your eyes when you regard her, Lord Forrester. It is only one that will end in heartache for Selina and trouble for your family if you act upon it.”
Duncan gulped. “Is it obvious?”
Mrs. Groves sighed. “Yes. Has no one else called you out upon it?”
“Only Charlie and perhaps Gemma. Everyone else is too wrapped up in their own drama to notice.”
“And Lord Gray?”
Duncan shook his head. He wouldn’t betray Lucas on where his heart lay. That was Lucas’s own burden to carry, not Duncan’s.
They walked to the door and watched Selina lure the other children into naps with her stories. The other women were clearing away their morning tea.
“She never shows this side of herself to others,” whispered Duncan.
“Perhaps she is afraid of how harshly they will judge her.”
Duncan turned his head, a questioning frown upon his face. “Why would anyone judge her for showing kindness?”
Mrs. Groves sighed again at having to explain to Duncan what was so plainly obvious. “Perhaps they have already formed an undesirable opinion of her and refuse to look past it to discover what special qualities she is capable of.”
“How long has she made these visits?”
Mrs. Groves smiled. “A long time now.”
Curiosity lit Duncan’s gaze. “Since when?”
Mrs. Groves nodded to the other ladies. “Since we were young girls.”
Her answer stunned Duncan. “How?”
Mrs. Groves patted his arm. “’Tis not my story to tell,” she answered before helping to clean away the morning tea.
Duncan shook his shock away and followed Mrs. Groves to help carry the other children inside to continue their naps. The older girls helped their mothers gather the leftovers of their mid-morning snack and teacups. After he carried the last child in, he kept his distance from Selina. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her peaceful nature. She smiled shyly at him before returning her attention to the babe. She didn’t see the smile he graced her with, which was for the best. Because then she would have realized the depth of his love for her and run for salvation. It was an emotion she wouldn’t understand while she tried to survive where no one wanted her. He promised to make it possible for her to flourish there. He must convince her of his love.
When Duncan stepped out of the shadows to draw Joy from Anna’s arms and carry her into the cottage, Selina’s heart raced. She should have known when she ran from him this morning that he wouldn’t stop his pursuit. She’d sensed someone watching while she played with the girls in the open clearing, but every time she’d searched, she saw no one nearby.
Now he stood near, increasing the pounding of her heart. She wondered what he’d discussed with Anna. They’d stood inside the doorway, and Selina noticed the defense in her Anna’s gaze as if she’d warned Duncan away from Selina, a warning the gentleman wouldn’t take lightly, for she had tried many times herself. However, once he came closer, he kept a respectable distance away and didn’t taunt her as he usually did. Duncan wasn’t one to hold his thoughts in front of others. No, he always voiced them no matter who was present. The other ladies wouldn’t have mattered to him in the slightest. His new behavior was at odds with his normal character, which only set Selina more on edge around him, leaving her wondering how to handle Duncan.
After Anna finished helping the other ladies, she rushed over to Selina to gather the babe. Selina rose and handed over the precious bundle. She felt joy at Anna’s good fortune in delivering another healthy baby girl. After Anna received the baby from Selina, she thrust the bundle into Duncan’s arms, much to his surprise. She drew Selina away and into a hug. Selina returned the gesture, her need for friendly affection strong.
Anna curved her hands around Selina’s cheeks and whispered, “Your true destiny is what your heart yearns for. Once you open your heart to your yearnings, only then will you accept your destiny. Do not fight it, only embrace it with open arms.”
Selina nodded in understanding, too choked to speak. Anna was the closest she had to a friend. “Your caring advice warms my heart.”
“My advice is from one friend to another. What I offer you is the same I would offer any friend of mine.”
Selina gasped in shock. She hadn’t realized Anna regarded her in that manner.
Anna shook her head in disappointment. “Yes, Selina. We are friends. Our visits over the years are proof of our bond.”
“I thought of you as one, but never imagined you considered me the same. No one else ever has,” Selina whispered.
Anna brought Selina in for another hug. “Then they are fools.”
A tear slid from Selina’s eye, and she quickly brushed it away. “I am becoming aware of that myself.”
Anna turned toward Duncan, who wiggled the baby around in his arms, trying to calm it from crying. Selina and Anna broke out in giggles at the horrified expression on his face. Anna tsked and gathered the babe in her arms.
“Thank you for your kind help, Lord Forrester. However, I am afraid your services as a nanny is beyond your reach at the moment. But in time, I think you can manage one of your own.” Anna winked at Duncan, tilting her head toward Selina.
Her reaction confused Duncan. Because only a short while ago, she’d warned him away from Selina. “As soon as I can convince a certain lass to give me a chance, I will master handling a babe in no time.”
“So you say, my lord.” She turned to Selina. “We enjoyed your visit. Will we see you next week?”
Selina smiled. “Yes. Also, I have left a tin of chocolate biscuits for the boys once they return from the fields.”
Anna laughed. “They will devour them with glee.”
Anna walked into her house, leaving Selina alone with Duncan. She gathered up her basket and the book she’d brought with her. Before she strolled too far away, Duncan whisked the items out of her hands to carry.
“May I escort you back to Colebourne Manor?”
“I am not ready to make my return there now.” Selina tried to grab back the items he took.
Duncan didn’t answer her, but held out his arm, indicating for her to continue walking. Selina refused to fight with him while others could watch. She didn’t wish to show them her shrewish behavior that others witnessed. She took off, walking back toward the open clearing, and took a path toward the local village. Selina looked over her shoulder to see if Duncan was following her. The lush grass soaked up the sound of his footsteps. Selina took a detour, leading them near a brook of water.
At first, Duncan thought Selina was leading them toward the village. But their path redirected to a secluded spot. His curiosity for the lass grew once again. How did Selina know this spot even existed? He didn’t know her to explore his uncle’s lands. But she must, for she knew exactly where to lead them.
Selina lowered the basket next to a rock before she sat upon it. She leaned over and untied the laces on her boots before slipping them off. He gulped when she slid the silk tights off her feet. Selina wiggled her toes in the sun, shooting him a silly smile. She jumped off the rock and dipped her toes into the bubbling brook. Once she realized the warmth of the water, she submerged her entire foot, lifted her skirts, and ventured out farther.
“Who are you?” Duncan whispered.