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“I don’t want to be away from her,” Jasper replied firmly.

“I can understand that,” Lord Windermere stated, not backing down. “It’s going to be hard for me when she marries.”

“How are you both going to leave, if you’re here for the wedding?” Jasper asked.

“Leave it to me, Your Grace,” Lord Windermere replied. “I’m good at coming up with reasons to flee.”

Jasper sighed, looking away from the Viscount. “How long do you need?” He didn’t like that he’d been backed into a corner. Unfortunately, the Viscount was right. It would be best if Selina wasn’t a guest at the very home of those who would be most upset by the end of his engagement to Lady Leah.

Lord Windermere beamed, triumphantly. “A week. I don’t want it to seem abrupt. Will that give you enough time to make a plan and be prepared to put it into effect?”

“I’ve already got one,” Jasper admitted—he’d planned to have it done by the end of the week, but he could put it off. Give Selina and Lord Windermere time to make their polite excuses and head for their father’s county seat.

“Capital!” Lord Windermere said. There was a downward tug on his line. “Oh! I think I’ve caught one!”

* * *

Leah watched from her room, as the two gentlemen fished, and Selina picked wildflowers. They looked like a merry little group. She wondered what they could be talking about.

Her wedding had been called off—with no sign of it being rescheduled. There, in the privacy of her boudoir, she became suspicious. Everything had fallen apart—starting with Selina’s arrival.

It was now or never. It was up to Leah to start putting things back into motion. She would go herself, to see the Dowager Duchess, who had always been on her side. She had told Leah, right after the engagement had been decided, just how glad she was that Leah was to become her daughter-in-law.

She would go to speak to the Dowager Duchess, to help her advocate on her behalf. Together, they would confront the Duke, get him to reschedule the wedding.

What if the culprits are never caught?

The title of Duchess was rightfully hers. Gillingham Manor, hers. The stolen pearl necklace, hers. Standing there, watching the trio on the other side of the pond, Leah had the sneaking suspicion that Selina meant to take it all.

Selina was standing in between the two gentlemen. Leah froze when she saw Selina place a handon the Duke’s arm. Selina’s face was turned toward the Duke, and Leah’s stomach did an awful flip as she gritted her teeth.

Leah wouldn’t stand idly by and watch Selina usurp her. It was everything that she had always feared. The Dowager Duchess would help her; she just knew it.

Turning away from the window, Leah put on her best bonnet. She collected Maria to act as her chaperone, and then went downstairs, where she ordered the carriage to be brought around for her.

“Off to Gillingham Manor, My Lady?” Mr. Wickes asked her.

“Yes, Mr. Wickes,” Leah said. “I’m going to see if the Dowager Duchess might help me get this wedding rescheduled.”

He looked at her, sadly. “I’m sure you will, My Lady.”

She frowned at him. “Of course, I will,” she scoffed. The Dowager Duchess would make him honor his commitment. She was a good lady. One who cared for Leah more than she did Selina. “Come, Maria,” she ordered.

Her lady’s maid followed after her silently.

* * *

Selina stood in between Thomas and Jasper on the bank of the lake. She’d enjoyed finally being out in the fresh air. Her cheeks felt rosy, and she beamed at them both proudly. Her two gentlemen spending quality time together.

“Are they biting?” she asked brightly. She knew that they’d been talking about her. She’d overheard her own name, several times.

She grasped a bouquet of wildflowers in her hand, which she planned on giving to Aunt Georgiana. She’d found buttercups and daisies.

“I’ve caught two,” Thomas replied, smugly. “And His Grace has caught none.”

“Oh, what a shame!” Selina said. “A nice fish dinner for Kirby Hall and none for Gillingham Manor!”

They all laughed.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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