Page 42 of The Devil's Accidental Duchess
Selina bit her lip, remembering a favorite story of a highwayman and a princess in disguise.
Just then, a loud thud echoed through the manor. All three ladies straightened up in alarm, their wide eyes turned toward the drawing room door. Maybe they had all been thinking of similar novels and were half-hoping, half-dreading that a terribly handsome brute might be about to burst in.
One did, windswept and dripping with the rain that had begun to patter outside the windows.
Lizzy pulled a face. “You frightened us half to death, Brother!”
Philip’s eyes settled on the crumbs. “You would not have noticed if you had been in your beds, where you are supposed to be. Ladies shouldn’t be awake at such an hour, ransacking the kitchens like a horde of mice.” His gaze flickered to Melody. “Who are you?”
“This is Melody.” Lizzy grinned.
“Ah, the mysterious third,” Philip said with a stiff nod.
Selina couldn’t get herself to say a word. Did he have to be so annoyingly handsome? The slick of rainwater and the tousling effect of the wind had elevated him to the stuff of her wildest dreams. Her cheeks burned just staring at him, imagining what it would be like to run her hands through that damp hair, to feel the chill of his skin against the warmth of hers.
Now, she understood what Lizzy had meant about the house being more pleasant when there were no men in it. More comfortable, anyway.
His very presence had changed the atmosphere in the room, though perhaps Selina was the only one who could feel it.
“She is here for the house party,” Lizzy said, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Philip’s eyes hardened. “What house party?”
“To celebrate your nuptials, of course.” Lizzy tilted her head to the side. “Ididtell you, Brother.”
“Did you, now?”
“Would I lie to you?”
“As often as you are able,” Philip replied with a sigh.
His gaze finally turned to Selina. Her neck jolted with the speed at which she turned her face away from his scrutiny. Why couldn’t he have stayed away until tomorrow?
“Lady Selina, I would like a word with you,” he said sternly and turned with the obvious expectation that wherever he went, she would follow.
I am going nowhere with you.
It was obvious he wanted to discuss something she was not willing to talk about. What else could his reason be for needing to speak to her alone?
She folded her arms and sat back. Just like his rules, she would not be obeying his commands either.
