“So why did you leave, Selina?” Tia blew at her tea and then sipped it.
Selina stared at the steam rising from her cup. Slowly, she told her friend everything that had happened.
“Selina, he was devastated by the loss but it’s been eight years. You said he had changed over the past two months. You have to tell him.”
“I cannot,” she cried. “I can’t look into his eyes and tell him the truth. He shall hate me forever.”
“But you can’t live a lie either. He deserves to know.”
She’d never felt like such a coward in her life. “I know. I just need a few days to think about the best way to tell him.”
“There is no best way,” Tia said softly. “Just tell him. If he loves you like I believe he does, he will forgive you.”
“He should have been told eight years ago.”
“Your mother was protecting you.”
If her mother had really wanted to protect her, she shouldn’t have been too drunk to deliver a baby that night.
Colin rose from his bed determined to return to his home and start his search for Selina. Mrs. Featherstone had given her blessing as long as he remained feverless. Other than his shoulder still giving him pain, he felt fine.
Kate opened the door to his room. “The coach is ready, Colin.”
“Excellent. Any word?”
“Nothing. Mr. Roberts sent Randall over this morning to say there was still no sign of her at the house or her cottage.”
He nodded sharply. “Did you think of any place she might have gone?”
“No, I asked Miss Featherstone again last evening before she left. Did she seem particularly upset by what you’d said? I thought it odd that she appeared so pale after you told her about the exchange between you and Selina.”
“I agree. I will go to Hart’s today and speak with her. I do believe she is withholding information.”
The entire ride home, he stared out the window, praying he would see her walking along the road. But he arrived home with no sign of her. Even though Mia had already checked her cottage, that was the first place he went. Entering the cottage, he found the remnants of that beautiful green gown she’d worn. He picked up a piece and s
tuffed it into his jacket pocket.
He returned to his house and checked every room. With a house this size, he knew she could be hiding here again. After turning up nothing, he sat down in his study and poured a brandy.
“Did you find anything?” his stepmother asked, walking into the room.
“No, I have no idea where else to look.”
“I am so sorry, Colin.” She walked to the small table and poured herself a glass of brandy.
He had never seen his stepmother drink anything but a glass of wine or sherry. And never at three in the afternoon. “It is not your fault or Kate’s. I know what you were doing. It was the right thing to do. Bringing her to a small country ball would give her the confidence she needed to see that she could marry me.”
“That is what I thought.” The duchess sat down across from him. “She is a lovely young woman, Colin. And I only want to see you happy. Eight years is too long.”
“I know that now, Mother.” It was the first time he had ever called her that. He had been nine and defiant when his father had married her. Colin had refused to call her anything but the duchess or Georgina.
She wiped away a tear. “You will find her, son. I know you will.”
He finished his brandy. “I will find her. I’m heading to Hart’s to speak with Miss Featherstone. I believe she is hiding something from me.”
“Good luck. If she makes an appearance here we shall send word.”
More determined than ever to find her, he headed in the direction of the Featherstones’ cottage. Again, he scanned the woods as he rode hoping for a sign of Selina. He reined in at the cottage and carefully dismounted. His shoulder was still aching.