“Goodness, what time is it?” she asked, her teeth now chattering again, as they climbed the stone steps and rushed through the door that opened for them from the inside. “I am to appear before Lady Harrowden by eleven o’clock.”

“It is past eleven. I will explain the reason for your tardiness,” he said. “I hope the connection between our families will compel her to listen. Besides, you are not to blame.”

"That is very kind of you, sir. Although I am sure she would listen to you, I believe I must present myself to her first. She will not have left her bedchambers."

Lucius raised his head as the butler came toward them. "Perhaps you are right. Mullings, if you will be so good as to show me into the drawing room, I will wait for Lady Harrowden to receive me. I have sent a footman to bring Miss Lockhart’s trunk that arrived at my doorstep today."

The butler bowed, and Lucius turned to Miss Lockhart. “You have your trunk now. This should give you something to change into."

"You are right. My boots are soaked through. But I must hurry.”

True to her word, Miss Lockhart wasted no time in rushing off, as Lucius was shown into the Harrowden drawing room, in which he hadn’t set foot in two years, barring last night. The fire in the room gave off ineffectual heat, and the only sound within was the ticking of the clock on the shelf, the soft crackle of burning logs, and distant footsteps in another room. It took only five minutes in such stillness before Lucius began to wonder what had prompted him to come on what could only be described as a fool’s errand.

Chapter Six

Selena hurried into her bedroom where the trunk was waiting for her, and she untied the straps. She would not change her dress; there was little enough to choose from. However, she could find something dry for her feet.

Selena changed her boots, pulling at the laces with clumsy fingers that burned as they thawed in the warm room. What she should have been thinking through was what to say to Lady Harrowden. The clock on the mantel showed half-past eleven, and Selena redoubled her efforts. This was not a good beginning to her employment.

She knocked softly at Lady Harrowden’s door. When there was no response, she knocked again and heard a sharp—Enter!

The curtains were thrown open, and the room was flooded with light. Lady Harrowden was still in bed, and the empty cup of chocolate sat on the small table to her side. The countess’s gray hair had retained hints of red, and it was currently fanned over her shoulder against the pillow. Her face was pinched with irritation as she waited for Selena to speak.

"My lady, I beg you will forgive my tardiness. Lord Harrowden wished to show me the grounds and did not heed my warning that it would make me late in presenting myself to you. Fortunately, Sir Lucius was coming to deliver my trunk—”