“You are piqued,” Lucius said after a moment’s pause. “I promise you, I am only looking out for your welfare. Any mischief Miss Woodsley conjures will reflect badly on you as her governess, I fear.”

“Do not think I am unaware of how to handle Miss Woodsley. I may not have held a governess post before, but I certainly have had more than one governess myself. I know how to maintain the propriety of my charge.” She did not look at him as she finished winding the ribbon around the stems of her bouquet and tied a knot.

“Not if she throws propriety in your face, which she is likely to do—and which she has already done,” he countered, growing somewhat irritated, although it was not a rational response. It was especially irrational that he wanted her to look at him. “You are barely out of the schoolroom yourself, Miss Lockhart. You have no idea what a man like that can do to harm a young lady’s reputation. Or her innocence, if indeed she still has any—”

Miss Lockhart whirled on him. “You are wrong. I know exactly what dangers a young lady faces from men who are not gentlemen, and I know it better than you ever will. I faced that very danger when I knocked on your door asking for help.”

Lucius gritted his teeth as the shaft went home, but Miss Lockhart was not finished. “I also know there are expectations made upon me from all sides. Expectations from Lady Harrowden to amuse her and run her errands—not that I mind that,” she added quickly, as if afraid of being overheard.

“And then,” Miss Lockhart continued, “there are expectations that I will prove successful in guiding a young lady to maturity, one upon whom the necessity of behaving with propriety does not seem to leave any mark. And there are expectations to be conciliatory toward the lord of the manor, taking special care not to be a temptation to him or make him think that because of my reduced circumstances, I am easy prey.”

High color had flown to Miss Lockhart’s cheeks as she faced forward again. She bit her lip and grabbed at the roses before breathing in with a hiss and examining the hole in her glove. It was tinged with red.

“Come,” Lucius said gently, taking her injured hand in his. Her last words rang in his mind. Easy prey. “Let us go treat your wound. You should not be out here unaccompanied, even with me.”

“No, I should not.” Miss Lockhart pulled her hand out of his. Leaving her bundle of flowers on the worktable, she swept in front of him and out the door.

Chapter Ten

Selena walked alongside Sir Lucius toward the house, the cold wind nipping through her cloak. Neither said anything, and Selena wondered if she should further attempt to justify her capacity as a governess, but she decided against it. After all, what could he know about the matter? Sir Lucius led an uncomplicated life as a gentleman of means, with a large family nearby. He could not possibly understand the awkwardness attached to her situation.