Page 1 of A Duchess Untouched

Chapter 1

“What do you mean you will have the marriage annulled, Your Grace?”

Selina could not believe what she was hearing. Her hand still gripped the silver sugar tongs over her porcelain teacup, the tongs’ claws clutching a large cube. When it plopped into her tea, the sound was as loud as an explosion. Well, at least to her ears.

Antoinette Sheffield, the Dowager Duchess of Wentley, looked every bit as imperious as her tone. The pinky of her right hand stretched outward even as she held her cup tightly. Her mother-in-law spoke of the annulment as if her words would not end a four-year marriage, Selina’s own in particular.

Four years. For four years, Selina had endured cruel whispers and pitying glances. She had to remain in the corners of ballrooms, when she used to be in the midst of every event. As expected of her, she worked as hard as she could to fit the role of perfect duchess, a dutiful wife without a husband. Now, the Dowager seemed focused on dismantling everything she had worked so hard for, and she had chosen to do so in her own grandmother’s drawing room. She sat across from the two older women, with the tea table between them. It was as if she were placed there to be observed.

“Dear Selina, do not look at me as if I am suggesting that we commit a crime,” the Dowager said smoothly. Then she took a delicate sip, as if the conversation could wait a little longer. As if Selina did not need answers. She sighed in satisfaction, the tea probably finally hitting all the right notes on her palate. A rare occurrence. “I do like you. You are an exemplary daughter-in-law. You were the diamond of your Season, so beautiful and accomplished. I am certain you can still compete against any of the young debutantes this Season.”

“Except I am married, and quite past my prime,” Selina reminded her mother-in-law after she had sipped her tea and scalded her tongue.

“Yes, you are,” the Dowager Duchess murmured thoughtfully. “However, being a diamond with several special talents cannot change the fact that there is barely a marriage here.”

“If we are talking about talent here, you certainly have one for ruining a good afternoon tea, Antoinette,” Selina’s grandmother, the Baroness of Marlow, grumbled as she struck the floor with her walking stick. “You cannot announce such things as if you were discussing the weather!”

“Let us be practical, Margaret!” the Dowager Duchess retorted. “My son has been absent from his own marriage for four years! He simply vanished into the countryside after his wedding. My poor nerves can no longer handle any more insinuations from the rumor mill! This marriage had seemed promising at first, and with a young, beautiful woman as his bride, an heir was expected. But alas! Look at what has become of it! No heir after four years.”

Selina bit her tongue and controlled the urge to roll her eyes. Whose fault was it that there was no heir?

“Annulling this marriage will help absolutely nobody!” Lady Marlow exclaimed. “You cannot possibly believe this is a viable solution for your son’s absence! My granddaughter would be ruined. The scandal would be massive, Antoinette. You know the ton will tear Selina and our family apart.”

The Dowager Duchess opened her mouth to say something, but Lady Marlow was still trembling with indignation as she continued.

“Oh, in all my years, I have not heard anything more ridiculous! Consider the legalities. How would you secure an annulment after four years, in complete good faith? The courts and society would assume a deeply embarrassing reason. You, a dowager duchess, would have to publicly claim that your own son is impotent!”

“Grandmother!” Selina exclaimed, choking on her breath. Her cheeks warmed to what she imagined was a deep scarlet.

She knew what the word ‘impotent’ suggested, but would not be able to describe it if asked. She simply knew it was not something ladies should be talking about so openly.

“But what else could be a good reason for an annulment, child? Otherwise, it will be nothing more than a divorce, which would mean death to your chances at being considered a part of decent society. Even with the divorce, there will be whispers about the impotent duke who could not bed his own wife. Do you truly want that for the Sheffield name? Do you want that for your son?”

The Dowager Duchess’s lips pressed into a thin line. It was the only visible proof that she was even a little affected by the Baroness’s protests.

“Matthew’s reputation has preceded him,” she said firmly. “And it will be eventually proven that he is, after all, not impotent. The Sheffield name should be able to survive a legal skirmish.”

The Dowager Duchess swept a patronizing, pitying gaze at Selina. The young Duchess steeled herself against reacting, although her breath came in short bursts.

“Of course, Selina will be generously provided for all her troubles. We can assure her a small estate and a hefty allowance. But as much as I have grown fond of her, I must see the line of inheritance secured before I die. Since Matthew refuses to return to his wife and fulfill his duty, I have no choice but to have Oliver marry and provide the Sheffield line with an heir.”

“I am not sure Mr. Sheffield will be keen on doing that,” muttered Selina. “Aside from his frail health, he has never expressed his interest in marriage.”

“Have you ever heard of a man who is quite interested in marriage, Selina? Oliver will simply do as I say. It is his duty to our name.”

A cold dread settled in Selina’s stomach. Her mother-in-law was in earnest with her plans.

“Still… do we simply take this new plan without talking to His Grace?” Selina breathed out, knowing that she was at a great disadvantage. She had no idea where her husband was, and why he had left her immediately after the wedding, with the marriage unconsummated.

The Dowager Duchess narrowed her eyes at her. Then, she continued as if she had not even heard Selina ask a question, “Besides, there is no point to Selina and Matthew’s marriage anymore. It only fuels the gossip columns with wild speculation. And I must say something I should have said a long time ago. Our association with the Quintens is not helping the Sheffields’ good reputation either.”

“Do you remember that it was you who was enthused about marrying your rake of a son to the diamond of the Season, my granddaughter?” Lady Marlow had turned red with indignation.

“Be that as it may, Mr. Quinten has built himself quite a reputation as a spectacular fool in all of Mayfair. Rumors about his debts increasing by the minute are rife in all of London’s gaming hells and beyond! I wish I had been more aware of this four years ago. Perhaps I would have made a different choice.”

And if Selina had known that Matthew would abandon her so quickly, she would have also made a different choice, but she kept quiet then, only because her chest had gotten so tight she could barely breathe.

“You cannot discard my granddaughter like that. Selina will not be able to remarry after an annulment! She will be ruined! Utterly and completely ruined. No gentleman would consider being associated with a woman whose marriage was dissolved under a cloud of uncertainty and public mockery! Not to mention that no man wants a woman who is impure!”