Selena curled up in a ball on her side as her pragmatic nature dragged her back to reality. A tear leaked out of the corner of her eye and pooled in her ear. What a ridiculous dream to have. A cozy dinner with Lucius by the fire? That was his hunting box, where he went to escape from women, not set up home with one. And there would be no such idyllic escape from the world. Evading Society was impossible for a titled man such as Sir Lucius, and she would not keep him from the ton by agreeing to such an unequal alliance. She could not do that to him.

It was a long time before Selena fell asleep that night.

She awoke much later than her usual time the next day. She dressed, brushed her hair numbly, and went downstairs, where she took her plain breakfast in a stillness that seemed to pervade the entire house. For once, Lord Harrowden was not there to disturb her complacency. But the lack of servants and activity was unnerving. It was time for Selena to find Rebecca and begin her lessons, even as she wondered whether she could ever have any credibility with the girl again.

Alice burst into the breakfast room. “There you are, miss. I have not been able to find you. Miss Woodsley is missing.” Her eyes were frantic, and Selena rose to her feet.

“Please slow down,” she said. “Start again. What do you mean she is missing? Did she not go out for a ride?”

“Her smallest trunk is missing, and so is she,” Alice said, gasping for air. “I had hoped she merely went for a ride, although I was surprised she wouldn’t ring for me to dress her. I was downstairs in the kitchen having my breakfast. When I finally went to her room to wake her, I saw that she was not there, and some of her clothes are missing.”

The food Selena had just eaten sat like a weight in her stomach. Her first thought flew to Lord Harrowden and where he might be, but she did not know who to send to inquire after him. It occurred to her for the first time how odd it was she’d never met his valet. Perhaps he didn’t have one?

“Can you find the footman and see if he is able to locate Lord Harrowden? Perhaps the earl has some idea of where Rebecca went. He seems to be more aware of her riding schedule than I am.”

The maid gave a nod and rushed off, and with deep foreboding, Selena hurried to Rebecca’s room. There she found the usual disorder, except that it appeared her brushes and toiletries were missing. And her wardrobe was open and in disarray.

Selena left the room and searched frantically throughout the house, expecting—hoping—to run into Rebecca at any moment. Where had that girl gone off to? She attempted to present an expression of serenity when she passed Morgan on the way to the stables; however, the maid stopped her.