The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 248: Throwing stones and hiding hands (4)

Selina smiled, though she was upset with the twins. It was well-known that she had become close to the Collinses. Specifically, the duchess and Elijah.

There were even rumours that Selina might be the lucky lady to be proposed to by Elijah. Surely, the twins weren’t going to pretend that they hadn’t heard the gossip.

"I have sat with the duchess many times, and I like to think that I am a friend of your brother. You might not know it, but I speak with Elijah at each event we attend together. Besides you two, I am the only lady here who is closest to the Collinses," Selina explained.

Lily laughed.

What Selina said was funny when both Julie and Rue were at the same table.

"That’s not having a close relationship with my family. Many ladies speak with my mother at gatherings because she is a duchess. She is kind to respond to what you ask her, and as for my brother, there are plenty of ladies who find their way to his side," said Lily.

Lily was amused by Selina seemingly giving in to the rumours that Elijah might propose to her.

While Elijah was searching for a wife, though he liked to deny it, he was not ready to propose to anyone.

Lily was certain of this because she once overheard him asking their mother for one of her jewels to place along with the others he would prepare.

Lily knew that once her mother handed the jewel to Elijah, Alessandra wouldn’t be able to contain her excitement and would speak of it. Lily hadn’t heard anything of a jewel, so Elijah had not made up his mind.

"Don’t be so fast to deny it, Lily. Perhaps there is something more," Penelope said, waiting for Selina. "Is it because you think you will become the future duchess?"

"This is not a conversation I am to have with you, but rather, with your brother," Selina replied.

"Well, I am waiting for what else makes you think you have a close relationship with my family," Penelope said, giving Selina a second chance. "How long have you been saying this?"

Amelia looked at Selina, curious how she would get out of this. Everyone considered Selina to be close to the Collinses because it was said that she would marry Elijah.

Selina gripped a handful of her dress under the table. "I intend to marry your brother," she answered.

Lily smiled. "Oh! Then say you hope to have a close relationship with our family. If you go around saying that we are close, others will misunderstand. Won’t they, Penelope?"

"They shall, since even I was confused by it," Penelope said, finding humour in it.

Soon, Penelope’s smile fell, and she said, "You are not close to our family. You are a lady who wishes to marry into it. With that said, I would like you to know your place and not approach anyone who is seen with my brother. We don’t allow anyone who disrespects family and friends into our close circle."

Selina gasped and turned to Rue. "You told them what we spoke of? Penelope, you have misunderstood something. She threatened me."

"Did I?" Rue said, trying to think back to the conversation. "I’m sorry for forgetting. Nothing about the conversation was memorable."

Julie laughed.

Selina’s face was flushed. She remembered everything about their talk.

"You know what was said," Selina said.

"Oh, I do recall a little bit. Was it the part where I said I just might steal him from you?" Rue asked.

Rue shook her head as she chuckled.

"That is not a threat, dear. It was more of a promise of what I would do for fun. A threat is more of how I would remove your pretty head from your slender neck if you aren’t careful," Rue said, her gaze lingering on Selina.

Rue noticed how the ladies on the other side of the table panicked. "Settle yourselves. We are to act like ladies today."

"Today?" Amelia repeated. "We act like ladies every day."

"No, you do not. You have all these rules for how a perfect lady should be, and none of you fit the idea you created," said Rue.

Selina didn’t need to be schooled by a woman like Rue. "I wouldn’t expect you to-"

"My father took all my weapons before I left him, but this little fork should do the trick," Rue said, tapping her finger on the fork. "Finish that sentence, and you’ll have to write on paper to communicate. Go on," Rue urged Selina.

"You don’t know how to conduct yourself," Selina said, afraid to be at the same table as Rue.

"That’s not true. I’ve been quite well-behaved even though you silly peacocks tried to poke at me. I’ve also been saving your lives," Rue said.

Selina scoffed. "Saving us? From who? You?"

"No," Rue replied, shaking her head. "A woman who wouldn’t hesitate to kill you."

Since her arrival in Lockwood, Rue had been writing letters back to her family near the border. Most were to her mother.

"When the court has been upsetting my mother, what do you think would be the last straw before she rides here? Since many of you like to forget, I am a princess as well, though I am not fond of the title," Rue said, deciding to educate the ladies.

Rue continued to say, "I am a royal who could go to war with your kingdom any second now. As my sister prepares to become the next leader, I am here once more to understand Lockwood. You fools-"

"Fools!?" Amelia exclaimed, but quickly regretted it once she got Rue’s attention.

"Yes, fools. I encourage you to be more involved in talks about war," Rue advised Selina. "When you speak so carelessly and try to degrade my people, it means you haven’t learned a lesson. It would be wise to be nice to me when war could happen."

"While my father wishes to avoid war, one single letter could have my mother on her way here, but I won’t do that," Rue said, giving false hope. "I don’t need to rely on my mother to kill you. I could do it, but it’ll be fun to see her go after your fathers."

"So," Rue said, moving her hand from the fork. "What were you going to say?"

Selina looked to Amelia for help, but Amelia was just as shaken up as her. Again, Selina failed to see how Rue thought she could have a chance with Elijah when she acted this way.

Rather than respond to Rue, Selina looked down at her lap, hoping the queen would soon arrive to address what was said here.

’I won’t let her get away with this,’ Selina thought.

Rue should be dealt with for making threats.