CHAPTER 1 - SELENA

My heart races as I run down the country road eager to catch a glimpse of Raymond Churchill, my first and only love. Roses, cornflowers, lilies, and peonies are in full bloom in the fields on either side of the road. I pay little attention to the beauty of the fields and continue running, my open cloak billowing behind me.

“Three, two, one!” I mutter.

Raymond grins when he spots me. He’s found the perfect spot to paint the field in all its glory. He stops painting when he sees me and pulls me in for a kiss. My heart beats harder when his lips crush mine, and when he holds me tight against his lean, muscled body.

“Hello, Lady Selena,” he greets when he breaks off our kiss.

“Hello, Mr. Churchill,” I say, my voice a little breathless from the fiery passion that he’s lit inside me. I wish he’d met me at my cottage instead of out in the field. Damn Raymond and his need to paint everything. It’s far too risky to sneak a kiss or cuddle.

“What do you think?” he asks, pointing at his canvas.

I glance at the field of flowers basking in the sunlight and then at his canvas. “Oh, it’s just perfect.” I’ve known Raymond since I was eleven years old when he first taught me all about Art. I had the biggest crush on him the first time I laid eyes on him. He hasn’t changed much over the last twelve years. I fell in love with Raymond when I turned sixteen. Although he continued teaching my class Art until I completed high school, Raymond never told me he’d fallen in love with me too until I turned twenty-one. He’s the only man I’ve ever truly loved.

“How much longer are you going to be?” Disappointment is evident in my voice.

He flashes me a smile that melts my heart and gives me butterflies in my tummy. “What are you in a hurry for?” he asks with a teasing grin.

He’s definitely testing me. “Why don’t I show you?” I ask giving my wickedest grin. I close the gap between us and kiss his lips just as he opens his mouth to say something. My insides heat up when Raymond groans softly.

“Selena!” he whispers gruffly.

I giggle against his lips still in disbelief that I managed to snag my high school crush. Will I ever get used to being in his arms? A deeper heat spreads from my belly and lower down when Raymond nuzzles my neck. His hands cup my breasts.

A horse neighs nearby. Raymond abruptly lets go of me. “Hide!” he says. I grab his wrist. His pulse races furiously. “Selena, please! We cannot get caught.”

I let go of his wrist and hide in a thicket behind the spring and watch the road. A pair of chestnut horses trot side by side towards Raymond.

“Good afternoon, Raymond,” my mother, Lady Penelope, the Duchess of Cornwall greets.

She’s accompanied by my uncle, future Duke of Marlborough — a man I simply cannot stand. He tips his hat at Raymond and doesn’t stop his horse.

“Good afternoon, Lady Penelope,” Raymond greets. I’m close enough to notice his trembling hands. Thankfully, he puts the paintbrush down and pretends to study a flower.

“Your painting is beautiful as always,” she compliments, and leads her horse away, “Good day.”

“Good day,” Raymond says after her.

He places his hands on his hips and lets out the longest sigh of relief I’ve ever witnessed.

“You shouldn’t let her get to you,” I tell him.

“Do I have to remind you that Lady Penelope is your mother and the most powerful person in Cornwall?” he says.

“Yeah.” I sit down on the grass and lean back. “What do you think she’ll do when she finds out about us?”

Raymond looks away. “Let’s not think about that.”

He’s right. My mother will probably throw a fit and forbid me from ever meeting Raymond again. She may send me on official business to an unheard-of country in Africa or in the East and arrange my marriage to an aristocrat I had no idea existed.

“We can express our love for each other once we’re in Paris,” Raymond tells me when I remain silent for longer than usual.

Eloping to Paris seems like a faraway dream right now.

“We only have to wait five more days, Selena. Let’s not do anything stupid until then,” Raymond pleads.

My heart breaks when his eyes meet mine. The sorrow in his eyes is difficult to miss. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I know.” He starts packing his art supplies into his black bag. “You have no idea how much strength it takes for me to hold myself back from making love to you every time I lay eyes on you.” He sighs again. “You would have thought that in this modern day and age, we’d be free to express our love for each other.”

“Yeah.” My earlier passion is replaced with a heavy sadness that fills up my chest. “What if we misjudged my family and they’re okay with us being an item?”

Raymond shakes his head and laughs bitterly. “I’ve known your family for longer than you have and I know that they will never allow their only daughter to marry a commoner.”

Raymond is far from a commoner in my eyes. His stature is regal, his perfect, chiseled nose, and high cheekbones remind me of the Marlborough Royal family although Raymond has always insisted I am imagining his resemblance to them. He resembles a modern day version of the sixth Earl of Marlborough.

“Then Paris it is,” I say, more to myself than to him.

“I’ve already rented us a small apartment in Paris.” Raymond makes his way towards me and holds out his hand, and helps me to my feet.

I imagine us living together in our chateau, strolling through the streets of Paris hand in hand, tasting wine and nibbling cheese…five more days until we get to live our dream.

“We’ll be free to love each other as much as we want in Paris,” he says, kissing my lips softly.

“Yes,” I whisper even though the depths of my heart don’t quite believe him. My phone rings disrupting the romantic moment between us. “It’s my mother,” I tell Raymond. I gesture for him to remain silent as I answer the call.

“Hello, Mother.”

“Selena? I’ve been trying to get hold of you for the last hour. Where on earth are you?”

“I…I must have dozed off.” My heart races. What does she want?

“Could you please unlock the safe in my bedroom and video call me?”