Read Online Bewitching the Duke by Christie Kelley - Free Book Online
Authors: Christie Kelley
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said in a hushed tone. “Once we reach the woods, you and David will get out and walk back to Northrop Park. Randall will be at the back of the house to let you inside and show you to your room.”
A nervous energy filled her. If this went wrong, she would end up living with Mia and her mother forever. But this plan would work, as long as they all were careful.
Mr. Evans continued, “I will go on with your things to Mrs. Featherstone’s home. They arranged for your possessions to be left, out of sight, in the stables.”
They had worked on the plan for two days and now that it was time to implement it, Selina worried what would happen to the people involved if they were caught. The duke would likely evict them for disobeying his commands. She couldn’t be responsible for that.
“Maybe I should just go live with Mrs. Featherstone,” she said softly.
“Absolutely not,” Mrs. Roberts said as she approached the wagon.
“Mrs. Roberts, think what might happen to you and your husband should the duke discover you were a part of this scheme,” she implored the older woman.
“He will never find out.” Mrs. Roberts looked at the other men involved. “But if any of you men feel unsure of helping out Miss White, just speak up.”
Mr. Evans and his son both shook their heads. “If not for you, Miss White, my wife might be dead from that fever last year,” Mr. Evans said.
David laughed. “My mama says I wouldn’t be here if not for yer mother helping with the delivery. I owe ye everything.”
“Very well, then,” she said. With all this support, they would make their plan work. With a flick of the reins, the wagon rumbled down the road. Selina cast a quick glance back in the direction the duke had left, but there was no sign of him.
A slice of disappointment slid through her. Why should she be unhappy that he wasn’t here to watch her leave? It made no sense. Had he been there, she would have felt angry that he did ensure that she left. Perhaps she was just going mad. That seemed the most likely explanation.
After a short drive, Mr. Evans stopped the wagon. She and David climbed down and made their way through the small copse of woods toward the house.
“Randall will give a sign that the master is locked in his study,” David whispered as if the duke might be directly behind them.
He locked himself in his study. She wondered why he would do such a thing. “What is the sign?”
“He will chase the swans out of the pond.”
Selina almost laughed. Unless Randall walked into the pond, she doubted those stubborn birds would go anywhere. They waited for close to an hour and then they saw Randall flapping his arms as he attempted to make the swans fly. He finally stepped into the pond and ran toward the birds. Only the swans wanted no part of this and turned on Randall, honking and flapping their wings.
“We need to go save that boy before they attack him,” Selina said with a laugh.
With a breath for courage, Selina ran for the salvation the enormous house would bring her. As they raced past Randall, David yelled at him to get out of the pond. Once they reached the terrace, Selina stopped near a statue of Venus. She caught her breath and noticed Mr. Roberts standing by the terrace door. He waved for her to come inside.
“The duke is in his study,” Mr. Roberts said as he ushered her up the back staircase.
“Why does he lock himself inside?”
“I believe when things are troubling him, he may take to the spirits.”
Her heart went out to the man who mourned his wife so deeply that after eight years, he still couldn’t get over her. She wondered if his upcoming marriage was only out of duty to produce an heir. How sad that his new wife would never know the love he gave to his first wife.
What was wrong with her? This was the man who had evicted her from her home and she was feeling sorry for him! Not for a moment longer, she decided. Some people might consider her softhearted, but she would
A nervous energy filled her. If this went wrong, she would end up living with Mia and her mother forever. But this plan would work, as long as they all were careful.
Mr. Evans continued, “I will go on with your things to Mrs. Featherstone’s home. They arranged for your possessions to be left, out of sight, in the stables.”
They had worked on the plan for two days and now that it was time to implement it, Selina worried what would happen to the people involved if they were caught. The duke would likely evict them for disobeying his commands. She couldn’t be responsible for that.
“Maybe I should just go live with Mrs. Featherstone,” she said softly.
“Absolutely not,” Mrs. Roberts said as she approached the wagon.
“Mrs. Roberts, think what might happen to you and your husband should the duke discover you were a part of this scheme,” she implored the older woman.
“He will never find out.” Mrs. Roberts looked at the other men involved. “But if any of you men feel unsure of helping out Miss White, just speak up.”
Mr. Evans and his son both shook their heads. “If not for you, Miss White, my wife might be dead from that fever last year,” Mr. Evans said.
David laughed. “My mama says I wouldn’t be here if not for yer mother helping with the delivery. I owe ye everything.”
“Very well, then,” she said. With all this support, they would make their plan work. With a flick of the reins, the wagon rumbled down the road. Selina cast a quick glance back in the direction the duke had left, but there was no sign of him.
A slice of disappointment slid through her. Why should she be unhappy that he wasn’t here to watch her leave? It made no sense. Had he been there, she would have felt angry that he did ensure that she left. Perhaps she was just going mad. That seemed the most likely explanation.
After a short drive, Mr. Evans stopped the wagon. She and David climbed down and made their way through the small copse of woods toward the house.
“Randall will give a sign that the master is locked in his study,” David whispered as if the duke might be directly behind them.
He locked himself in his study. She wondered why he would do such a thing. “What is the sign?”
“He will chase the swans out of the pond.”
Selina almost laughed. Unless Randall walked into the pond, she doubted those stubborn birds would go anywhere. They waited for close to an hour and then they saw Randall flapping his arms as he attempted to make the swans fly. He finally stepped into the pond and ran toward the birds. Only the swans wanted no part of this and turned on Randall, honking and flapping their wings.
“We need to go save that boy before they attack him,” Selina said with a laugh.
With a breath for courage, Selina ran for the salvation the enormous house would bring her. As they raced past Randall, David yelled at him to get out of the pond. Once they reached the terrace, Selina stopped near a statue of Venus. She caught her breath and noticed Mr. Roberts standing by the terrace door. He waved for her to come inside.
“The duke is in his study,” Mr. Roberts said as he ushered her up the back staircase.
“Why does he lock himself inside?”
“I believe when things are troubling him, he may take to the spirits.”
Her heart went out to the man who mourned his wife so deeply that after eight years, he still couldn’t get over her. She wondered if his upcoming marriage was only out of duty to produce an heir. How sad that his new wife would never know the love he gave to his first wife.
What was wrong with her? This was the man who had evicted her from her home and she was feeling sorry for him! Not for a moment longer, she decided. Some people might consider her softhearted, but she would
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