“Mrs. Randall, I believe you must be busy at the moment, for I know Lady Harrowden requested your presence, but there is someone at the door—”

"Yes, it is just as you say, Miss Lockhart. I am unable to attend to the person at the door. Perhaps you could see Mullings? Ah, no. Mullings left this morning. Or…?” Mrs. Randall’s voice trailed away, and that’s when Selena noticed just how harassed she was.

Selena looked at the housekeeper in concern. “Now, it is a very odd thing, but there are no servants about. Not a one. And now there is a tradesman at the front door saying there will be no meat delivered as promised until the bill is paid.” Selena looked around. "Where is Cook?"

Mrs. Randall began to wring her hands. “Some of the servants have chosen to abandon their posts today, and I do not know what to do. Their wages have not been paid in some months. Cook is one of them."

Selena’s throat began to close in a familiar mounting of panic. It had started in this same way when her own household began to disintegrate, and as much as she found it arduous to like Lady Harrowden, it would be much more difficult for the countess to recuperate after such a loss than it had been for Selena, who was young and surrounded by family. Lady Harrowden was a widow.

Selena pushed past the lump in her throat. “I will attend to the tradesman. Do we not have any household savings? Can I not pay the bill and have meat sent for tonight’s supper?”

Mrs. Randall shook her head. “I do not know how we will manage. The earl has been elusive about the estate’s finances, and I dared not question him further. But it has been some time that we’ve been living on credit, and we are no longer able to pay the bills when they come in. It’s been difficult to get candles and the most basic supplies for the household. And now we have only a handful of servants remaining. I've been here my whole life, but those who have no loyalty to Harrowden left today.”

Selena’s thoughts raced as she fixed her gaze on Mrs. Randall. The first person she thought of who might be able to advise her was Sir Lucius, but that was ridiculous. What had he to do with Harrowden’s troubles, even if he did have a promise to fulfill to Lady Harrowden? Perhaps based on that promise, she could speak with him about this matter. He did say she could send for him if she needed him.

The thought of seeking out Sir Lucius’s counsel made Selena’s pulse quicken. She mounted the stairs, turning the idea over in her mind, and went to the door where the tradesman was still waiting. “I am not able to find the cook at present, but we will send someone to pay the bill as soon as it may be contrived.” The tradesman gave an awkward bow and left without another word.