Page 19 of A Duchess Untouched

“First, remember this. No matter what you wear, if you stand there looking dour, none of it will matter. You must use your hands, Selina. Touch him when he least expects it, and make it seem accidental. A hand resting on his forearm while he speaks, as though you are too deeply absorbed in his words to realize you have touched him at all. If you pass him in a hallway, let your shoulder brush his. Better yet, his chest. If you pour his tea, let your fingers linger against his. Men fancy themselves complicated creatures when they are discussing politics or business with their colleagues, but strip all that away, and you will find they are led by physical sensation as much as any beast in the field. Remind him of that, and the rest will follow.”

“What?” Selina asked, sounding shocked. “I am not sure this is even possible, Grandmama. The hallways at Wentley House are wide enough for ten people to pass abreast; he will know exactly what I am doing. As for tea, we have never sat for tea together before. He is far more likely to wonder if I mean to poison him.”

“Your husband will think no such thing,” Lady Marlow assured. “It is why you must do your best to distract him. He will be too preoccupied with you to remember even his own name. Remember, you can also appeal to his sense of masculinity by being a damsel in distress. You can take this a different way by asking if he could teach you to do something or, even better, look helpless.”

Selina stared at her grandmother, aghast at the very idea. “You want me to play the damsel in distress? I have managed on my own for four years, Grandmama. He would never believe that.”

“Then you must pretend better!” Lady Marlow insisted, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “Men have the urge to feel useful, protective, and instructive, even. When you need some assistance, do not call a footman or the butler. Call your husband. Look at him through your lashes and lean forward slightly to display your décolletage. After he does something for you, turn to him with utmost gratitude.”

“Grandmama…” Selina shook her head, a headache already forming at her temples. “I cannot do all of this. I barely see him as it is. Would you have me trailing after him through the whole house like some lovesick governess? I am far too busy for that. I have not visited the charity once since he returned. They need supplies, and someone to be there for them, and that someone is me.”

Lady Marlow’s expression stiffened at Selina’s words. Even though the Baroness had always tried to find as many schemes as possible to get her granddaughters married, she loved them. She was a caring grandmother. However, she could be formidable, too, if things did not go as she planned.

“Selina, listen to me,” she said sternly. “If your marriage is annulled, you will lose your allowance. You will have no carriage driving you to your charity, nor will you have any money to purchase supplies and food for the widows and other recipients of your good intentions. Worse, you will be ruined. In that state, you will not be able to help anyone, even yourself. So, do get your priorities in order.”

The words hurt, but they were true. The Dowager still wanted the marriage annulled, and she would definitely act on it once Matthew left. Securing her position was a matter of the utmost urgency.

Without her title and wealth, Selina would be unable to sustain her charity, shelter her father, and secure Portia’s future. Everything she had worked so hard for would be gone overnight. She drew a deep breath and lifted her chin. It was time to prepare for war.

“Now, I believe that you are ready for demonstrations from Mrs. Collins and me,” Lady Marlow declared, her voice mellowing.

“What?” Selina asked.

“We will begin with the first demonstration, Your Grace. You need only your fan,” Mrs. Collins announced, stepping forward with a feather fan.

Without waiting for the Duchess’s approval, Mrs. Collins snapped the fan open. Selina followed, thinking it was easy enough. She had done this with her fan even when merely conversing with friends. But then the maid lowered her fan to her nose and peered over it with coquettish eyes. She fluttered her lashes and let out a dramatic gasp.

“Er, Mrs. Collins, are you quite all right? You sound like you are wheezing,” Selina wondered.

“I am not! I am merely peering over to my would-be suitor, giving him my bedroom eyes, Your Grace!” Mrs. Collins insisted. “I made certain that he knew I was gasping with desire at the sight of him.”

“You looked like you had something in your eye, Mrs. Collins,” Selina countered, trying her best not to laugh. Her grandmother’s maid was a good woman. She did not want to make her feel bad, but her display made her shudder.

“Mrs. Collins, you have it in theory, but not in execution. Allow me.”

The Baroness took the fan from her maid and used it to cover her cheek. She then used it to look at her granddaughter. She lowered her gaze as if shy. Then she raised it with a knowing smile. Her mien was clear in her eyes and the slight bend of her other cheek. Selina had to admit it gave off a certain air of mystery about a woman bearing secrets about the man she was looking at.

“Yes, I know you can see it now, Selina. That is how you should look at the Duke. Make him think that you have a secret that you cannot wait to tell him, but he must make a move to find out.”

“Well, the secret may be that I am plotting his murder,” Selina grumbled.

“Change that line of thinking, girl!” Lady Marlow ordered. “You have been married for four years. There is no time for you to cling to your modesty. You are trying to hold on to a husband who seems to have a regular call of the wild. We must begin tonight.”

“Tonight?” Selina echoed, her eyes growing wider with panic. “Do I need to do it in front of the Dowager and Oliver?”

“Oh, of course,” the Baroness replied. “It is time to remind them that you are a wife. The Dowager Duchess might become too preoccupied with glaring at your father, and Oliver is a sweet boy. He will not notice.”

“That makes sense,” Selina mumbled, but that did not ease her nerves.

“Now listen to me. Tonight, you will wear one of your more revealing gowns, and you will try to act confident in it. No blushing, no fussing with your bodice. When your husband catches you watching him, hold his gaze. Do not look away first, whatever you do. And beneath the table, your leg must find his, quite by accident.”

“Grandmama, are you telling me to kick him under the table?” Selina asked, horrified. “I believe that is awfully rude!”

“Did I tell you to kick him, Selina? I said touch him with your leg. You will have to sensually trace his leg with yours. Again, this needs finesse. Do it slowly and deliberately. Gauge his reaction the whole time. He will be more than intrigued by such bold seduction.”

“Or he will be shocked and spill his wine all over the table!” Selina protested. She could not believe what her grandmother was telling her to do. “Perhaps he will wonder what I was trying to do and drag me to his room.”

“But is that not the whole purpose of that?” Lady Marlow asked triumphantly. “If he drags you to his room, it means you have greatly affected him. If it is because of passion he does this, then our work is done!”