Wild Passions of a Mischievous Duchess

by Violet Hamers

  “Did you stay out of the rain?” she asked.

  “Yes, quite.” He was speaking absent-mindedly. She could have said anything. She could have told him that she’d run naked across the fields, and his answer would be the same. He was caught in Selina’s spell.

  Leah bit her lip. The Duke glanced over at her and smiled. Perhaps she was imagining things.

  * * *

  Jasper could barely take his eyes off of Lady Selina. Her golden hair shone in the light from the candles. In her soft pink dress, she seemed out of place in Kirby Hall’s grand early-Baroque style dining room, with its massive dark wood dining table and its blood-red walls. It was as though she’d stepped out of a soft spring Rococo scene—like the maiden on the swing in Fragonard’s painting.

  Not that he had to look away. She kept everyone entertained with stories over dinner. She was well-traveled, even for an aristocratic lady. Her parents had taken her to the continent, and often.

  “What’s the farthest South you’ve been, My Lady?” Stephen asked her. Jasper noted that his friend was warming up to the lady.

  “The very toe of the Italian boot,” she replied, taking a delicate sip of her wine, then setting the glass down on the table. “I stood on the sands of the beach and looked out upon the Mediterranean itself.”

  “I’ve never been to Italy,” Jasper said.

  “None of us have,” Reuben added jovially.

  “You must go,” Lady Selina told him. “The food is unlike anything we eat here. Garlic and tomatoes and olives.” She beamed. “And the art! It’s all so vibrant. So alive.”

  “Don’t tell me that you don’t like England, My Lady,” Stephen said good-naturedly.

  “England is my home, My Lord,” Lady Selina stated firmly. “And I love her very much. But when comparing her to other places, she’s very calm and staid.”

  “I tried to get your aunt to travel,” Lord Kirby said.

  “Oh, but we’re so comfortable here,” Lady Kirby replied. They beamed at each other.

  “That’s the whole point of traveling, though,” Lady Selina said excitedly, “is to not be comfortable.”

  “You give your opinions very freely,” the Dowager Duchess said, smiling.

  “Indeed, Your Grace,” Lady Selina said. “My father always told me that if my brother gets the family estate, then I should be the one to get the brains.”

  Everyone laughed at that. Jasper found himself even more intrigued by her. She was intelligent, witty, confident. When he glanced at Lady Leah, she was sulking. He could see why she appeared to dislike Lady Selina—she commanded the center of attention.

  He regretted, just a little, that he felt entranced by the very person that she seemed to dislike so much. He’d spent the entirety of the day, agonizing over what to do, for he knew that he must do something.

  * * *

  After dinner, the party retired into the parlor. Selina seated herself by the window, where she could watch the rain. It pelted against the glass, dripping down.

  Footsteps approached, and she was surprised to find that Lord Munro, the Duke’s younger brother, was joining her.

  “Lord Munro,” she greeted him. He looked so much like the Duke, yet there were subtle differences— Lord Munro’s face was wider. His nose crooked—as though it had been broken. He smiled at her, baring his long front teeth. “You did not ask me to dance last night. That was very bad of you, My Lord.”

  “For that, I apologize, My Lady,” he replied good-naturedly. “I’m often told that I have two left feet when dancing, but I do have a very good singing voice.”

  “Will you give me the pleasure of hearing you sing, then, My Lord?”

  “Of course, My Lady.” He bowed gallantly.

  “Then I will forgive you, My Lord,” she said, smiling warmly. “Would you care to have a seat beside me?”

  “Thank you, My Lady,” he replied, seating himself a polite distance from her. “Why do you separate yourself from all of the others?”

  “I’m afraid that someone’s going to demand music soon, My Lord,” she replied. Behind him, she could see the whole party. The Duke was watching them, a mysterious look on his face.

  “Is that so dreadful?” Lord Munro asked her. She turned her eyes to him.

  “It is when you’re a lady, My Lord,” she replied, with mock seriousness. “You see, when you’re a lady, you will always be prevailed upon to prove to all the world that you’re accomplished.”

  “Is that so, My Lady?” His brow furrowed, and he was grinning lopsidedly. He was awkward, puppyish. There was the difference between the brothers—the Duke was dashing, all straight edges.

  “It is so, My Lord,” she stated. “I just don’t know how to break it to the present party that I prefer to give dramatic readings of poetry to playing the pianoforte.”

  “I’m sure they would understand, My Lady,” he said, “Although, if it would help, I can take your place.”

  “I would much obliged, My Lord.” She smiled at him, turning her eyes to the rain, falling down the panes. Thunder rumbled from off in the distance, causing a chill to run down her spine.

  “Ominous weather,” Lord Munro commented.

  “Indeed,” she agreed.

  * * *

  Jasper couldn’t bear it any longer. When the ladies and Stephen moved to form a card game, he strode across the room, to join his brother and the Lady Selina.

  “Your Grace,” Lady Selina said as he neared. His brother turned, smiling at him languorously.

  “What are you two discussing?” Jasper asked, curiously.

  “We’re discussing the rain, Your Grace,” Lady Selina said. “It’s very ominous weather, is it not?”

  “Very much so, My Lady.”

  “How about we have some music?” Lord Kirby suggested to the room. “Selina, would you get us started?”

  “Seeing how Lady Leah is the bride,” Selina suggested. “Why doesn’t she have the honor of doing so?”

  “Quite right!” Lord Kirby said, turning to his daughter. Leah colored but stood up and walked to the pianoforte.

  “That was very well done, My Lady,” Lord Munro said. “I can’t help noticing how often Lady Leah gets slighted in the present company.”

  “I wholeheartedly agree, My Lord,” she replied. “It certainly doesn’t help cousinly affection.”

  “I’ll go and see if Lady Leah would care to play a duet,” Lord Munro said, standing up.

  “Oh, please do, My Lord,” Lady Selina said. “I’d love to hear your renowned voice.” Jasper felt a little flare of jealousy. After all, his younger brother was well-liked by all, and he was not engaged to be married.

  “I had no idea his voice was renowned,” Jasper murmured.

  “By his own admission, Your Grace,” Lady Selina said, smiling widely. They both watched his brother walk over to his fiancée. Lady Leah stared at Reuben, wide-eyed, before nodding.

  The two began to pore over the sheet music, choosing a duet to play. Jasper glanced toward the other side of the room, where both Lord and Lady Kirby, Stephen, and his mother sat, playing a game of bridge. He and Lady Selina were unobserved, for the moment.

  “Why don’t you want to perform, My Lady?” he asked, curious as to why a lady who was so lively in talking was not desirous of taking the floor when asked to play.

  “Certainly, you’ve noticed how Lady Leah wants to have attention?” Lady Selina asked him.

  “Not any more than any other Lady,” he remarked.

  “That simply isn’t true,” Lady Selina replied. “It’s her turn to shine. She’s the bride.”

  Lady Leah began to play, and Reuben stood at her side, dutifully turning the pages for her. They sang together. Lady Leah’s voice was a timorous soprano, and his brother was a rich, melodic tenor.

  “My goodness,” Lady Selina remarked. “He does have a wonderful voice.”

  “He does,” Jasper agreed. He could feel her presence at his side. She was like a brilliant ligh
t, drawing him in like a moth. He had never thought that there would be a feeling, like this. Or that engagement to the wrong lady would disastrously entangled him.

  “It’s as smooth as silk,” she commented. As the two ended their duet, Lady Selina stood, clapping her hands. “Bravo!”

  Jasper watched her. She was enjoying herself. She sat back down, as the two musicians continued attempting a second duet for the company.

  She turned to him, folding her hands delicately in her lap. She smiled at him, and his pulse quickened. Was she not aware of the hold she had on him? Certainly, she knew how this whole situation tormented him!

  “My Lady,” he said, raggedly.

  “Yes, Your Grace?” she asked, then frowned. “Is something the matter? You look rather pale.”

  He tugged at his cravat, feeling as though he were being strangled. He wondered how to bring it up without offending her, as he had during their first, disastrous conversation. He recalled how his heart had sunk as the smile had faded from her face.

  “What’s this, Your Grace?” Lady Kirby said, walking over to them. “What are the two of you talking about?”

  Jasper felt caught. He opened his mouth, but Lady Selina answered for him.

  * * *

  “How wonderful Lord Munro and Lady Leah’s voices are,” Selina replied smoothly. “Their choice in music is exquisite.”

  Aunt Georgiana beamed as she looked over at her only daughter. “Yes, we hired that musician from Paris to give her lessons.” Selina’s eyes cut over to the Duke, who had a guilty look on his face.

  “I recall—a Monsieur DuBois, was it not?” Lady Selina asked, recalling the staid little musician, who spoke in a heavy Parisian accent. He’d listened to her play, once, correcting every mistake by tapping on her wrist with a finger.

  “It was,” Aunt Georgiana said. “Your memory is extraordinary, my dear.”

  “Like a trap,” Selina said proudly. “Nothing gets away from me.”

  “Very true, dear,” her aunt said, beaming at her.

  “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear them both perform that Scottish tune that we were discussing just this morning?” Selina suggested. Her aunt had recently acquired some new sheet music and had been showing it to Selina.

  “You’re right! I shall go straight over and ask them,” Aunt Georgiana declared, moving off.

  Selina waited, expecting the Duke to press her for protestations of love—she was often the object of affections for gentlemen. He had already shown himself interested upon their first conversation. She was surprised when he was silent. She glanced over at him. He was tugging on his cravat.

  “Are you unwell, Your Grace?” she asked, feeling bad for him. After all, it must be hard for him. He appeared to be a gentleman of honor.

  “Perhaps a little, My Lady.” He cleared his throat.

  Mr. Wickes entered, walking over to her uncle, and speaking in an urgent voice. Her uncle looked horrified, clearly having just received some shocking news.

  “What do you think is going on?” Selina asked, burning with curiosity.

  “I’ll go and find out,” the Duke said, standing. Not one to be left behind when something was happening, Selina followed close behind.

  “They were attacked, My Lord,” Mr. Wickes was saying. “By bandits, out on the road.”

  “Who was, Wickes?” the Duke asked.

  “Lord and Lady Morton, Your Grace,” Mr. Wickes said. “They’re alive and unharmed, but shaken, from what I’ve been told. As soon as they returned home, they sent word.”

  “Good grief,” her uncle said.

  “We should go and check the roads,” the Duke said, immediately taking charge of the situation, for which Selina silently applauded him. Her opinion was not wanted at the moment. “Stephen, Reuben, Lord Kirby— we should go, now. See if we see anyone fitting the description.” He turned to the Dowager Duchess. “Shall I escort you home, Mother?”

  “I’ll stay here, with the ladies,” she replied. “Come and collect me when you know it’s safe.”

  “Very well,” he said. The Duke’s eyes met Selina’s. She looked away. It was improper for him to be so concerned about her and not his fiancée. Luckily, he did as he was supposed and walked over to Lady Leah, bidding her farewell.

  All the gentlemen left the room, leaving the ladies in stunned silence. Aunt Georgiana took charge of the situation.

  “Mr. Wickes!” she called out. “I believe some tea is in order.”

  Want to know how the story ends? Tap on the link below to read the rest of the story.

  https://amzn.to/33nIYRm

  Thank you very much!

  Also by Violet Hamers

  Thank you for reading Wild Passions of a Mischievous Duchess!

  I hope you loved it, as much as I loved the process of writing it ♥

  If you did, may I ask you to please write a review HERE? It would mean the world to me. Your insightful comments and honest feedback help me get better!

  Some other best sellers of mine:

  Sins of an Intoxicating Duchess

  The Duke she Desires

  With that being said, if you enjoyed this book, you can also check out my full Amazon Book Catalogue HERE.

  You are the reason I’m doing what I love the most in this world! Thank you for your love and support!

  Violet Hamers

  About the Author

  Violet Hamers knew from an early age that writing was something she always wanted to do. Growing up, her time was divided between writing stories and taking part in theatrical plays, that she used to perform exclusively for her family and friends.

  As she loves reading and writing, she is rarely found without a book in her hands, or her fingers glued to a keyboard. Her love for reading led her to Jane Austen's world—the regency historical world that won her over in comparison to any other genre!

  Even though being an author is not a simple task, her dream of becoming one has finally come true as she is currently writing Regency novels...romances her readers will love!

  Follow Violet into a world of romance and fairytale, of passion and intrigue, and live unforgettable happy-ever-afters along with her protagonists that she guarantees you will remember forever.