"That is good enough," Lucius said. “That’s all the time I need.” He smiled at her, and it set her stomach fluttering.

Selena looked away. She may be a pathetic fool, but she would not be foolish enough to let him see it.

Lucius bid farewell to Selena, but he was far from feeling at ease. For the first time in his life, he regretted not stepping forward when he’d had the chance to defend her. Watching his parents’ marriage growing up did not inspire him to think that felicity was found in the bounds of matrimony. But Lucius was beginning to be hard-pressed to imagine his life without Selena. And the fact that he left her as recently as last night, alone and surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves brought on by his own sister—he was heartily ashamed of himself.

Selena must not have known that it was his sister who had invited Mr. Downing. He would have to tell her, of course, and hope that she did not hold that, too, against him. It was time he went about things differently. As Lucius crossed the billiard room, he saw Harrowden inside, sitting close to Miss Woodsley and whispering in her ear. She flushed and giggled, starting up from her seat when Lucius walked by.

"Sir Lucius," she exclaimed. "What a pleasure to see you here. Were you coming to visit me?" She looked at him with such optimism that he found it hard to disabuse her of the notion. He also did not think it would help Selena’s cause if he told Miss Woodsley exactly what he thought of her a second time.

"I came to see Lady Harrowden, but I learned that she is still in bed. However, I am always delighted to see you."

Lucius saw too late the eager look that lit up her eyes at such a practiced compliment. He'd been distracted by Selena, and this was the first compliment he had paid Miss Woodsley. Until now, all he had done was to keep her at arm’s length, almost to the point of rudeness, and scold her for being such a difficult charge to Selena. Paying even a modicum of address to a young, impressionable girl was perhaps not the wisest thing he had done.

Harrowden was looking at him with undisguised irritation. The man had something up his sleeve, and it likely had to do with keeping Miss Woodsley close by, probably with the intention of seducing her if things did not go well with his financial affairs. Lucius hoped George would not tarry in coming back.

He bowed before Miss Woodsley. "I was just on my way out. I bid you good day."

“Have you already called for your horse? Can you not stay a little longer? I can sit with you if you like.” Miss Woodsley took a step forward.

Lucius darted another glance at Lord Harrowden’s face, which was glowering. "That is very kind of you, but I must be off. I will walk to the stables. I am not entirely a stranger to this estate, having come here since I was a boy.”