Better to steel her heart against any comfort or hope that was sure to hurt doubly when taken away. No, Selena did not desire his notice. Any sprig of hope that attempted to blossom would wither as soon as the frost hit, and in Society, the frost was sure to hit.

Selena climbed the stairs, deciding she had best check on Rebecca before reporting to Lady Harrowden that she had not had time to finish the bouquets. When she entered Rebecca’s room, she stopped cold. There was Lord Harrowden in the dressing room, sitting on the brocaded chair in the corner, offering his opinion on the dress the modiste was pinning on Rebecca.

"My lord!” Selena exclaimed. "It is not at all proper for you to be here. I must ask you to leave at once. Miss Woodsley is under my charge, and it is unthinkable that she should have a gentleman in her bedchamber.”

Lord Harrowden offered a benign smile. “Miss Woodsley was merely benefiting from my more experienced taste in the matter of ladies’ dress. I did not see anything untoward in attending the fitting, particularly as both her maid and the modiste are here to lend propriety. I absented myself from the room when she was changing from one dress to another. So you see, everything has been done in perfect decorum.”

“Not quite, my lord.” Selena glared at him and held the door open wide. "I will be much obliged if you will give us privacy now.”

“Oh, no,” Rebecca said, her lip sticking out. “Lord Harrowden has been so helpful. You see this fabric, my lord? I told you the Pompadour would become me, and so it does.”

Lord Harrowden looked from her to Selena with slight amusement and stood. “Alas, Miss Woodsley. You will have to make your way without me.” He came before Selena and gave a mocking bow, his eyes insolent when he lifted them to hers.

When the earl left, Selena turned to Rebecca's maid. “Alice, how could you allow him in here? I was counting on you to ensure propriety."

"Miss, I'm sure my lord meant no harm. He was the perfect gentleman.” The maid held the shoes against the dress to see the match, barely meeting Selena’s gaze. “And he did have an eye for the way the cloth should fold and what color she should be wearing."

The modiste continued pinning the hem on the bottom of the dress, adding her two bits. "You need have no fears on that score, for we were all present, and Miss Woodsley was not left alone with him for a moment. The earl’s advice was indeed most welcome.”

Selena was sure the modiste’s liberal allowance was driven by the hope of future sales from whomever the next Lady Harrowden might be. She did not think it worthwhile to argue with the modiste, who could easily be replaced. But she did see with perfect clarity that she had the unenviable task of keeping a stricter eye on her charge if Alice would not do it.