She blanched at his suggestion and, after a pause, nodded. "I will do so."

Miss Lockhart looked as if she wanted to speak again but closed her lips and gave another parting nod before turning to enter the drawing room. Lucius glanced around the corridor at the austere furnishings of the front entrance, the high ceiling offering no warmth, and wished, most irrationally, that he might whisk Miss Lockhart away from it.

The next morning, Selena entered the breakfast room and her heart sank when she saw Lord Harrowden sitting at the table. She had hoped he would not be an early riser. His eyes widened in interest as he looked up from his plate and perceived her. Although the smile he gave her molded his handsome features into amiability, she knew not to trust it. He seemed like a boy suffering from boredom, in search of some amusement that would pall soon enough.

“Good morning, Miss Lockhart. You appear fatigued.” Lord Harrowden greeted her with a self-satisfied smile. “I hope my aunt is not too difficult.”

Selena paused before serving herself a roll and sitting at the table. She would have to shove aside her feelings of unease and make conversation. "Lady Harrowden and I spent a very pleasant day together yesterday.”

She poured a cup of coffee and buttered her roll. The faster she finished her breakfast, the faster she could escape Lord Harrowden.

"I imagine it will wear on you with time. You are young, and waiting hand and foot on an old lady cannot be pleasing to you. Surely you must aspire to more." He leaned back in his chair, settling in for a long conversation, it seemed, when she wanted nothing more than to break away from his presence.

Selena swallowed her bread. "I am quite satisfied with my role," she said. "I do not ask for much to be content." She thought for a minute, then added for his benefit, “Respect, a roof over my head, and simple diversion is enough for me."

"Have you had a Season?" the earl asked. "I do not recall having seen you in London, but then I imagine you wouldn't move in all the best circles. Almack’s would be out of the question.”

Selena gave a fleeting smile. Her family had had regular vouchers for Almack’s before her father’s catastrophic finale to his gambling career became public. However, she would not lower herself to puff off her own consequence, particularly as she now had none. “I imagine so. I have been to London, but it is big. And, as you said, we were not likely to move in the same circles.”

“If you did go, then apparently no offers were made.” Lord Harrowden looked up from studying his fingernails, his sharp eyes scrutinizing her.

"I am not hanging out for a husband," Selena replied. "My wish is to provide for myself and my family. I have no need of marriage." She certainly wouldn’t lay her heart and longings bare for him to mock.