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r side and would lose all.
Plastering an uncomfortable smile on her face, she opened the door and prepared to receive her unexpected visitors. Lady Pendleton dressed a fussy dress that only emphasised her matron appearance. Lady Emily seemed little more than a mouse in a creamy muslin dress, bonny, timid and unremarkable. Both ladies stood as she entered. There could be no doubt Lady Pendleton had come to pry. After Lady Cunningham’s visit, she knew the ton would be speculating. As the dowager duchess, she had the right to live in that house. She could do nothing about the fact that her step-nephew happened to be as young and unmarried as she herself. A tight situation to be sure. Add to it their torrid liaison, secrets in the make.
“Lady Pendleton, what a charming surprise!” She held the older lady’s hand. “And you, Lady Emily, so fresh and young!” She held the girl’s hand too.
“Your Grace, you do us such an honour receiving us.” Lady Pendleton replied.
“I must say I feel honoured, my lady.” Selene replied appropriately. “Please, do sit down.”
They all sat in the luxurious settees. Lady Emily looked around as if hoping Philip would come in at any moment. Little chance of that.
“Is Lord Crompton doing fine, Your Grace?” The girl attempted a tad precipitately.
“He definitely is, Lady Emily.” Selene replied, a bland smile on her lips. “He’s in Parliament, as you must know.” A footman arrived with the tea. “The works are intense before Easter holidays, I hear.
“I told her that!” Came Lady Pendleton. “But she is so distracted these days!”
Perhaps Lady Emily thought herself in love with Philip, Selene conjectured. The girl looked at him starry-eyed each time they met. What if Selene had been in her place. Their age difference wasn’t big, a couple of years at most. Would she, Selene, fall in love with the duke if she’d been a well-born debutante? He’d certainly make an impression on her, she admitted. To tell the truth, he did make an impression on her on that long ago ball, when they first met. But Selene had to suppress that wave of feeling, as she hadn’t been a debutante anymore. She pitied the little mouse. Philip was not a man you fell in love with and remained uninjured. His mere disdain could break hearts. She felt happy she didn’t find herself in love with him. The discomfort in the bottom of her heart meant nothing at all.
The three of them continued chatting amenities as the footman served tea and scones.
“Do you intend to marry again, Your Grace?” There now, they’d come to the real purpose of the visit.
“Not in the near future, my lady.” She made a sip of tea pass her tightened throat. “I will naturally retire to the country, in case Lord Crompton decides to marry.” The most diplomatic reply she could muster.
“Oh, indeed.” The matron smiled openly, seeming satisfied. “You could organise house parties to bring society to you, no doubt.”
“No doubt, your ladyship.” She’d be licking her wounds, more like it.
The older lady nibbled her scone. “You have a wonderful cook, Your Grace. The scones are delicious.”
“Thank you so much, my lady.”
At that precise moment, Philip chose to come into the room. As he stepped in, Lady Emily’s eyes lit so brightly, her mousy countenance almost disappeared, giving place to an illuminated face.
“My ladies.” He greeted and bowed. The ladies curtsied.
Selene avoided his clove eyes like the plague. If they exchanged stares, she’d certainly give herself away. His presence caused her to stir and images of the night popped in her mind, making her blush. Lucky that both Pendletons had their attention on him.
“Oh, Your Grace,” Lady Pendleton purred. “It is a great delight to be in your presence, isn’t it, Emily?”
The girl blushed to an almost purple colour and nodded awkwardly, her lit mousy eyes would not divert from him, though.
“My ladies, if you don’t mind, I have to go and give some directions to cook.” She’d leave the stage for him. Maybe he’d realise how right Emily would be as a duchess. “I hope you don’t mind keeping company to the good ladies, Your Grace.” An intense anger dominated his eyes. She pretended not to notice and walked to the door. Leaving the drawing room would seem like she facilitated things for Emily. No one would be able to accuse her of standing in the way. She curtsied and left, not before noticing Lady Pendleton’s approval.
What the hell was the woman doing? Philip wondered hotly. Leaving him in the clasp of the matron and her insipid daughter! Throwing him at the debutante! He could not be discourteous, which made him sit there through one of the most boring tea of his life. He would strangle that pretty neck of hers! After kissing and nibbling it, naturally.
He kept the conversation mostly around the weather, making the ladies think he was the most boring man in England.
She had been gone for half an hour and he wondered how much more he would have to endure, when she reappeared, smiling blandly. Oh, but the blasted woman wouldn’t lose for waiting till tonight! He’d make sure of that!
“Your Grace, you’re requested in the study.” Finally! He thought. He smiled falsely at her, bowed to the ladies and left.
“What was that in the drawing room this afternoon?” Philip asked as he entered her room late that night.
She sat by the vanity, brushing her long brown hair, mesmerizing him. Her lady’s maid had been dismissed after helping her undress, as usual. She dressed her nightgown under her lacy robe.
She didn’t stop the combing. “The girl is infatuated with you.”
