“You.” Rebecca’s face did not express the shock that Selena felt, but she managed to infuse a great deal of annoyance in the one word.

“It was Miss Woodsley, was it not?” Selena said. Her thoughts spun. Did Sir Lucius know who she was? How could she—Lady Harrowden’s own ward—be so lost to propriety as to try to seduce a gentleman? For Rebecca could not have had any other objective that night.

Rebecca had folded her arms over her chest, and Selena strove for a degree of normalcy in this outlandish situation. “I seem to remember that was your name when we…we met.” She looked around to make sure none of the servants was paying them mind. It was best she not trumpet Miss Woodsley’s sins before the few servants assembled.

“I am to be your governess until you are properly out,” Selena continued in what she hoped was a tone of authority. Rebecca’s jaw had taken on a mulish expression, like she might throw herself into a fit—one that Selena was eager to avoid. “I will take you to meet Lady Harrowden.”

“A governess?” Rebecca said, refusing to budge. “I was not told I would have a governess.”

Selena furrowed her brow. “What did you imagine would occur when you were sent away from school—the circumstances of which we will discuss at another time. You must have someone to look after you.” Surely I, of all people, know how much you need it.

Rebecca pushed past Selena to climb the stairs of the front entrance. Once inside, she stared at the banister leading upstairs, leaning back to look at the tall ceiling. “I supposed Lady Harrowden would look after me when my uncle told me she sent for me. After all, I am nearly of age.”

“How old are you?” Selena would give her seventeen at most, and Lady Harrowden had not exactly been forthcoming about her ward’s situation.

“I am sixteen years of age,” Rebecca replied, taking in the rest of the corridor with a sweeping glance. “This is a very nice house. I do not know why Lady Harrowden has never invited me to stay before. If she had, I could have met Sir Lucius in the normal course of things. Now our paths are bound to cross.”

When Selena found her voice, it was only to say, “Sixteen is still quite young.”

For a sixteen-year-old girl to look so womanly and yet be insensible to the embarrassment that should overtake her for having been caught in a compromising situation—she most certainly did need a governess. Hopefully, Lady Harrowden would convince her of the need without Selena having to incriminate her.

Selena turned to the housekeeper, who had come to the front entrance. “Mrs. Randall, perhaps you could see that the footman takes Miss Woodsley’s trunk to her room while I take her to meet Lady Harrowden?”

The girl would be settled in the room adjacent to Selena’s, as Lady Harrowden had decided in advance. This was for the best. Despite her apprehension about her ability to reform Rebecca, Selena would still need to keep an eye on her. She led the way into the morning room where the countess was seated.