“I had only just heard that you were unwell, and by the time I arrived upstairs, she was here.”
Kate’s cheeks reddened. “I didn’t want you to know yet. And I believe she was checking on a tenant.”
“Very well,” he said, allowing the topic to rest.
“If you wouldn’t mind, I would like her to stay a few days. She has been a great comfort and a dear friend to me.”
As much as he didn’t want the temptress in his house any longer than necessary, he couldn’t deny Kate her comfort. “Very well,” he finally answered.
He left his sister in search of the wise woman. Only his stepmother sat at the dining table and she’d said Selina was not there when she arrived. He then checked the bedchamber to no avail. Perhaps she had already left.
“Mr. Roberts,” he asked, walking back down the steps, “have you seen Miss White?”
“She walked toward the library, Your Grace.”
Colin strode down the long marble hall to the library. He found her staring at the books. “Were you looking for something in particular?”
She gasped. “You frightened me, Your Grace.”
He stepped closer to her. “Did you want to read something?”
Her green eyes sparkled. “You would allow me to borrow a book?”
“Of course.” He took another step closer until the scent of lavender swirled around him. “So, which one has caught your interest?”
“Well, this one is definitely interesting.” She pulled out an old book and handed it to him.
He laughed. “The Malleus Maleficarum.”
“Have you read it?”
“No, have you?”
“I have no need to read such a biased book.” She stared at the lettering on the book. “But I do wonder how it ended up in your library.”
“It’s not that hard to determine. How better to claim y
our wise woman is not a witch than by having the witch-hunting manual of the day in your personal library. I would guess that one of my great-grandfathers was determined to protect the woman.”
“How unusual,” she commented sarcastically.
He opened the book and smiled. “Not if he loved the woman.”
She took a step back. “Are you saying that one of your great-grandfathers kept one of my great-grandmothers as his mistress?”
“It’s quite possible.” Colin had no idea if there was any truth to that or not. There had always been some gossip about a wise woman becoming the duchess a few hundred years ago. But he’d always put that off as foolishness.
Selina shook her head. “I need to check on your sister. Was the letter from her betrothed good news?”
“Unfortunately, no. John’s mother died so he needs to push back the wedding date until after his mourning period.” Colin placed the book back on the shelf and slowly turned around to face her. “Kate would like you to stay a few days. She said you have been a great comfort to her.”
“If that is acceptable to you, I would like to stay.”
“Thank you.”
“I should go see to her.”
Colin sighed. He doubted this would work but he felt there were no other choices. Ever since he realized that Kate had miscarried, he’d thought of little else. And seeing that odd specter a week ago had made him wonder if Selina couldn’t help with that too. “Selina . . .”