Though perhaps she should try to find something that would not mirror her life so closely.A comedy, perhaps?She plucked one from the shelf and took it over to one of the settees in the library.She sat down and opened the book.Ah, yes, this one would do.She started to read with a smile on her face.What would it be like to be bold and brave like the fair Rosalind?What would it be like to be so in love that one would disguise oneself just to be near the object of one’s affection?Selena could not imagine such an act at all.Having never known love, she found herself relating far more to Rosalind’s cousin Celia.
“What are you reading?”a familiar man’s voice interrupted her.
Selena closed her eyes and prayed for patience.Why had she not retired to her bedchamber as she had originally intended?She sighed and turned toward the Duke of Castlebury.He was leaning on one of the tables, staring down at her intently.She hadn’t heard him enter the library, so engrossed had she been in the story.Selena narrowed her gaze.“Why are you in here bothering me?”
“I did not realize you had claimed ownership of this room.”He lifted a brow.“Tell me,” he said in a mocking tone, “does Lord Harcrest know you have decided all of this is now yours?”
She rolled her eyes.“Do not be ridiculous.I have made no such claim.”Selena slid a ribbon into the book and closed it.“That is not what I said, as you well know.”
“It seems to be the day for misunderstandings—or purposeful ones.”He shrugged.“Either way, we have taken a turn I did not wish, and I would like to rectify that.”
“Is that so?”It was her turn to raise a brow.“And why ever would I wish to do that?”
“Because you are a reasonable woman and must know that I mean you no ill will.”He smiled, and it sent shivers down Selena’s spine.That man was too bloody handsome, and she had no desire to encourage him.“Come now, be a good girl and play nice.”
She raised both brows this time.“Why must I be good?”She tilted her head to the side.“What if I wish to be wicked?”
“You may certainly be that, if you so wish,” he said, “though I do suggest you reserve that side of yourself for private matters.”He winked.“Some things should not be shared in polite company.”
Selena considered what he said.Was he flirting with her?She could not be certain.Gentlemen did not engage in such behavior with her.She was the impoverished cousin of an earl, tolerated but never considered eligible for marriage.“What game are you playing, Your Grace?”
“Who is playing at anything?”He folded his arms over his chest and boldly met her gaze.“I meant every word, and none of that ‘Your Grace’ nonsense between the two of us.You may call me Kingston.”
She laughed.“I think that is inherently worse.”Selena shook her head.“That implies you are above even your own station.You are no king, Your Grace.”
His lips twitched as he continued to stare at her.“I never made that claim.”The duke shrugged.“I cannot help the name I was given at my birth.”
Her smile widened as she considered that.He was correct, of course.His parents had given him his name, and apparently, they were the ones with lofty ambitions.Still, she could never deign to use his given name; it was far too informal.Even she had boundaries.“Be that as it may…” She nibbled on her bottom lip.“I cannot agree to refer to you in such a fashion.It would be unseemly.”
This time he laughed, as if she were suddenly more amusing than anything he had ever encountered.What had she said?Selena sighed and waited for him to calm himself so they could resume their conversation.Oddly enough, she found it stimulating so far and wanted it to continue.She leaned back into the settee and folded her hands in her lap as she waited.Her breath hitched slightly as she studied him.Selena liked him like this—so handsome and happy… It was almost too much.It was a good thing "almost" did not count.
Kingston finally managedto regain control of the laughter that had burst from him.Shaking his head, he smiled.He genuinely liked her.Lord knew he had not wanted to attend this bloody house party; he would much rather have stayed home.But he had promised his cousin Hayes, the Earl of Thornton, that he would come.They had only recently discovered their family ties, and Kingston wanted to nurture that closeness, especially now that Hayes was recently married.All his friends seemed to be falling in love and settling down.It was most disconcerting.Only he and the Marquess of Ardmore remained unattached.Perhaps they should have stayed together to avoid falling prey to the house party curse.The other three had found themselves headed to the altar after a house party, and now here they were, once again, at one.
And suddenly, he now found Selena Brooks fascinating…
He should run—and quickly; however, he would not do that.Kingston was no coward.If they were meant to find their way to each other, so be it.Besides, he truly liked her.Why fight what might very well be inevitable?He strolled over to the settee and took the book she still held in her hands.“You never did tell me what you are reading.”
“Give it back,” she said, standing and trying to snatch it from his hand.“I am not done with it.”
“Easy now, love,” he said in a soothing tone.“You may have it back in a moment.”He flipped open the book and read the title, then smiled.“‘As You Like It.’”He handed the book back to her.“I must admit, I do enjoy this one.Some of Shakespeare’s plays can be… how shall I put it…”
“Tedious?”she offered.
“That is as good a word as any.I do not care for many of the tragedies, and I suspect many find them dreary.Yet there are lessons in all of them.That is why we still read them to this day.Shakespeare was quite the writer—and a visionary for his time.”
Selena shrugged.“Perhaps.He might lose popularity in time.”
“After all this time?I doubt it.He wrote in the sixteenth century, and we are now in the nineteenth.That’s quite a span for him to suddenly be deemed unimportant.”He gestured toward the book in her hand.“Have you read this play before?”
“I have,” she admitted.“It is my favorite.”
“Let me guess,” he began.“You wish to be Rosalind—to disguise yourself and pursue the love of your life.”
She wrinkled her nose.“Of course not.That is a bit of foolishness.”She sighed.“Though she is brave.”Selena stared down at the book.“No, I would not do that.Not because I lack boldness, but because love is not something I have ever sought.I would be more likely to accompany someone on an adventure to find their true love.I would be Celia every time.”
“Do you not believe in love?”he asked in a soft tone.He had never heard a woman speak as she did.Most ladies on the marriage mart had lofty expectations for their future husbands.Surely Selena was no different.Did she not hope to fall in love with the man she would spend her life with?Kingston struggled to understand her outlook.
“Certainly, I believe in love,” she replied.“It’s just not for me.I’ve seen love between people—some of our friends, for example.”Her lips tilted upward.“Especially those we never expected to fall for each other.That love is very real.”
