Lucius shook his head. He couldn’t disturb her this late. He’d have to go to Coddicot.

“Have you eaten?” Lucius asked at last. “I can ask Cook to bring you something sustaining while we sort out what’s to be done.”

“You are too kind, sir.” His unwelcome guest lifted her gaze slowly to meet his, her lashes flipping upwards at last. “Although I am anxious to be off, something sustaining would be most welcome.”

This is it. The seduction begins. Surely they would be halfway through their meal when the doorbell rang, and the outraged father, uncle—whoever it was—who had been led to his hunting box by divine intervention, would burst into the dining hall and gasp at the thought of his innocent daughter or niece dining alone with such a reputed rake as Sir Lucius Clavering, declaring they must marry at once to spare her pristine reputation.

Miss Woodsley, he was sure, would not wait until the vows had been exchanged before she showed herself to be a managing, cunning sort of female. As soon as the contract was signed, she would begin the slow interference of his comfortable existence until all his friends shook their heads in pity. Lucius ground his teeth at the image.

“Briggs will show you into the dining room, where I will ask the maid to attend to you,” he replied with icy politeness. “She will ensure that propriety is maintained.” And although he could not be certain, he thought he saw a flash of disappointment in Miss Woodsley’s eyes. His first assessment of her had been correct.

Chapter Two

The next-to-last passenger to quit the stagecoach—a buxom woman who’d claimed to be a sick nurse for the gentry—exited the tilting vehicle in a swirl of snowflakes that did not appear to worry the driver, if his shouts at each stop were any indication, and therefore Selena Lockhart decided they would not worry her. The fat flakes would seem harmless, friendly little things were they not accompanied by a biting cold.

The departing passenger graced Selena with a generous whack on the shoulder from the basket she’d slung over her solid back, a blow that would surely leave its mark. Although she had been garrulous and smelled of garlic and spirits, Selena missed her presence the minute the door to the stagecoach closed and they rejoined the road. When two of them had shared the warmth of the enclosed carriage, Selena had been able to dismiss her bleak thoughts about the future. Alone, she shivered.

At first, the cold caused little tremors as she adjusted to the invasion of frigid air, and she tried in vain to wrap her cloak even more tightly about her. Then her teeth began to chatter. Audibly. Well, Selena. You insisted on this course of action and now must see it through. Besides, anything must be better than the disagreeable attentions of Robert Bromley, who was entering his dotage and still imagined she must be grateful for his offer.