Selena left and made her way to her own room. She had two hours to dress and prepare herself for the unpleasantness of seeing Mr. Downing again. It was fortunate they had been invited to dinner. It might delay Rebecca’s suspicion that all was not well at the estate.

As Selena unwound her hair and brushed it before pinning it up again, she wondered where Lord Harrowden was and whether he would go tonight. She had not seen him all day, which was as unusual as having a house empty of servants. His absence was an improvement, but it was nevertheless worrisome. Something was not right, and Selena felt as though she were waiting for a storm to break.

She took a look at her own stash of dresses. All the ones she had arrived with were worn. There was one serviceable dress she had managed to make up in slate bombazine, in addition to the unfortunate ball gown. She would have to wear the slate dress, which was rather informal for evening wear but was the best she had. As for the ball gown, she never wanted to wear that again.

At five minutes to eight, Selena went downstairs in search of the one remaining footman, who she eventually found in the kitchen with Hazel. He leapt to attention when Selena entered.

“Please have the carriage brought around, as we are going out tonight,” she said.

He bowed. “Yes, miss.”

Selena watched him go and wondered why he had chosen to stay when all the others had left, then glanced at Hazel’s blushing face and thought she had her answer. Selena was grateful he’d continued to treat her with a mark of respect. Although this catastrophe was not her own affair—unlike the first one—it still hit too close to home for her to be comfortable.

Alice, to her credit, had Rebecca turned out and downstairs at eight o’clock on the dot, and Rebecca looked charming in the dress she’d chosen. She must have known it, for she was in a complacent mood.

The groom brought the carriage around, and Selena wondered if even at the last minute Lord Harrowden would appear and join them, but he did not come. She felt free under the absence of his mocking regard, although she knew that other challenges awaited her at the dinner that night—ones that would be even less comfortable.

As the groom brought the carriage up to the front entrance of the Holbecks' estate, everything was quiet outside, unlike the evening of the formal ball. Although the windows were lit and they could hear sounds of voices from within, there was no receiving line or guests in the entryway. The Holbecks’ butler brought Selena and Rebecca into the room where the other guests were gathered.

The first set of eyes that turned her way were those of Mr. Downing, and it took everything in Selena not to quail and run back to the carriage. She looked away.

Mrs. Holbeck stepped forward and clasped one of Rebecca's hands in hers. “It is most delightful to have you back at our house, my dear.” She glanced at Selena, then turned back to Rebecca. "But where is Lady Harrowden? The other invitation was specifically for her.”