“You will contract a respectable alliance with your fortune,” Lady Harrowden said. “But you must not hope for more. You don’t have the birth for it.”

“Hm.” Rebecca folded her arms and raised an eyebrow.

“Shall I take Rebecca to her room?” Selena inquired, and at Lady Harrowden’s nod, she turned to her new protégée, adding, “You will wish to change your dress, I am sure.”

“Oh, yes, let us go at once,” Rebecca said. “I have not yet worn my primrose gown, which Alice assures me is most becoming.” She turned to follow, and Selena paused to speak to Lady Harrowden.

“I will get her settled in her room and will come back down to you as soon as I may.” Lady Harrowden dismissed her with two fingers, and Selena led Rebecca toward the door.

They were alone in the corridor when Rebecca said in a low, petulant voice, “I suppose you mean to tell Lady Harrowden all about our first meeting.”

Selena was not given a chance to answer. As they crossed over to the stairwell, Lord Harrowden exited the billiard room and stopped short upon seeing Rebecca.

“What is this? Have you arrived already, Miss Woodsley?”

How was it that Lord Harrowden knew the ward’s last name when the countess had not spoken it to Selena? Surely she would have remembered it and have been better prepared for how to handle the meeting.

The earl continued, “I was not expecting to find such a charming young lady.” He came over and made a deep bow, causing an appreciative glow to rise to Rebecca’s face and Selena’s heart to sink. Here was another tricky flirtation to maneuver her new charge safely through.

Rebecca allowed him to take her hand in his and bow over it. “You are too kind, sir. And who are you?” She pulled her hand back and smiled up at him.

“I see you will be with us for the foreseeable future, which should make my stay vastly more pleasant, I assure you. I am Lord Harrowden, at your service.”

“Oh,” she gasped. “You are the earl. You are so young.”

He pretended to frown. “Not so young as all that. I am nearly twenty-six. I must have ten years on you.”

She nodded simply, still smiling, and Selena wondered if it were only she who could discern the calculating look in Rebecca’s gaze. He touched the ward lightly under the chin, causing Selena to clear her throat.

Lord Harrowden glanced at Selena briefly before saying, “Well, I am sure we shall entertain ourselves mightily now you’ve arrived. If you need anything, you have only to ask. I am the master here, and I will see that your wish is obeyed.”

Rebecca giggled, and Selena took her arm and pulled her toward the staircase, offering the earl a polite nod, which he did not return. How quickly he had moved on to more attractive prey.

When they reached the room where Rebecca would be staying, Selena was surprised to see the trunk sitting on the floor by the bed with no one there to begin unpacking it. This was an unlooked-for opportunity, and Selena seized it.