"Lady Harrowden is looking for you, miss."

Selena paused. She did not know if she should question Morgan as to Rebecca's whereabouts. She didn’t want to create unnecessary panic, nor did she want to admit to having lost Rebecca. Lady Harrowden had given explicit instructions. Under no circumstances was Selena to allow Rebecca to wander off on her own or get into any sort of trouble—a mandate nearly impossible to obey. What position could Selena find after this, if she did not come with a recommendation? None! Her fate would be sealed.

"Tell Lady Harrowden that I’ll come without delay,” Selena said. If only she could buy a little more time, she might be able to fix this mess. But where could she look now? She couldn't begin to think about taking out one of the horses and searching the countryside. If she didn’t find Rebecca, she might have no choice.

"My lady was very specific and said you must hurry,” the maid urged. “She has something important to tell you."

With that, Selena changed course and turned her steps toward Lady Harrowden’s room. She might as well go now. Five minutes couldn't make a difference in searching for Rebecca, and there was still hope for a plausible explanation for her trunk and that she had simply gone off riding.

Selena knocked on the countess’s door and waited until she was bid to enter. "You called for me, my lady?"

"It is past eleven o'clock,” Lady Harrowden said. “You are to present yourself at eleven without fail. Your main duty is to me and that troublesome girl. I cannot imagine what is keeping you from being on time. I ask so little of you."

It was as if any inroads Selena had made into Lady Harrowden’s good graces could be undone in just one brief slip. True, she had not paid attention to the time. But there was something of greater importance that she needed to see to. Perhaps she could quickly serve the countess and be sent on her way to continue her search without anyone the wiser. "I apologize, my lady. What may I do for you?" She saw that the countess was not yet dressed and hoped that that would buy her some more time to check out the stables. If she ran, she could do both.

"I would like you to help me answer some of my correspondence before I rise from bed. There is the stack of mail with invitations that will need replies. You may begin with the invitation on top."

With a sinking feeling, Selena went over to the pile and took it in her hands. She paused, debating whether she should say something, but she could not put it off any longer. Rebecca’s flight was of too serious a nature, and it affected the countess as well.

"My lady, I have some troubling news, I fear. I cannot find Rebecca. Alice says one of her trunks is missing—"

After a mere second’s astonishment, Lady Harrowden threw off the covers and began to stand. "What is this? How could you have lost my ward? You have only one responsibility. Do you not rise before her?"