Lucius let go of her arm and exhaled with impatience. “Have you not by now discerned that I don't care what other people think? If I asked you to marry me, it is because everything in me wants you for my wife. I don't want a position or wealth or somebody who is free of scandal—one that was not of your own making, I might add. I just want you, and I'm not going to change my mind."

Selena closed her eyes. She would not be persuaded by his tempting words. It would only hurt that much more afterwards. "You will soon enough change your mind…sir."

After a brief pause, she opened her eyes and raised them to his. She saw surprise and—she thought—a flash of hurt. He continued to stare at her, and the seconds ticked by in silence.

At last, he shook his head and said in a soft voice, “I had not thought you could be so obstinate. It seems you are unwilling to hear. I believe it is not the ton that is prejudiced, Selena. I believe it is you who are. And if you are bent on classing people by rank, so that you may determine where you fall, no one will be able to convince you otherwise. And that would be a tragedy."

Selena fell silent. The truth pierced her heart like a shaft. She looked at him. “Lucius, I—”

The door opened.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lady Harrowden’s cane thumped on the floor with every step as she advanced into the room. To Lucius’s relief, she did not seem to notice his proximity to Selena or the tension that radiated from them. “It appears that girl has fled with my dreadful nephew. Alice said the footman cannot find Richard, and his carriage is missing.”

Lucius met Selena’s glance briefly. There was too much left unfinished between them. Although she had refused him again, and he had scolded her, he did not waver in the hopes of convincing her. She had recognized the truth in his words and would come to see reason, he was sure of it.

Selena opened her mouth to respond to the countess but was not given the chance.

“It’s a flight to the border, as sure as anything,” Lady Harrowden glowered. "You must do something. This house is already steeped in scandal with tradesmen coming to the front door and refusing to deliver something as simple as meat. If Richard has indeed ruined this estate, as I suspect he has, we cannot add to it an elopement with a young woman who was supposed to be under my guard. Selena, I hold you personally responsible to find her. You must stop this marriage from taking place."

Lady Harrowden turned to Lucius. “I have known you since you were a boy. If you would like to make up for your lapse of not sticking to your promise, you may do so now. Take Miss Lockhart and find that girl. Stop this elopement."