Selena took a deep breath. Well did she know what ruinous gambling would lead to for those involved. The state of affairs was worse than she had imagined. She had hoped Rebecca’s birth was not high enough to be a temptation for Lord Harrowden, but now it appeared the girl’s fortune might be. And she agreed with Lady Harrowden. No matter how reprehensible a girl Rebecca might be, Lord Harrowden must not touch her fortune.

Having her own experience in the matter, Selena would not make it easy for Lord Harrowden to ruin someone else’s life. She shoved aside the disquiet that Rebecca would court ruin on her own.

Chapter Eleven

Lucius found himself with an uncharacteristic urge to visit his sister, and he could only contribute it to a mild curiosity to know who had accepted to come to her Twelfth Night ball. He went on horseback, as it was not far and he needed exercise to combat the restlessness that had begun to creep over him. The path leading to the Holbecks’ gate was lined with trees on either side, and as Lucius crossed through the open gate, the long alley opened up to the vista of his sister’s manor.

Charles Holbeck was several years Lucius’s senior, and they had never been particularly close. Holbeck was benefactor to more than one MP in the House of Commons and enjoyed throwing his weight around there. He was a high stickler for good ton and only surrounded himself with people he thought would elevate him in importance. It made him rather dull to be around. However, he and Maria seemed well-suited, and that was one less family burden Lucius had to worry about.

Maria came out of the drawing room herself to greet him when she heard his knock. "Why, Lucius, what a surprise. To think that you would stir yourself from the comfort of your house. Whatever can have brought you to visit mine?” She stopped short. "Nothing is amiss with Mother, I hope?"

Lucius removed his hat. "I have no news of Mother, but I have no doubt she is in good health.” Any further speech fell off when he heard voices coming from the drawing room—familiar voices. He looked at his sister. "What, Philippa and George are here?"

Maria cocked her head. “Well, what did you think, Lucius? Of course I was going to invite our siblings to the ball."

"Who is staying with Mother, then?” he asked, putting his riding crop under his arm. “I am surprised to hear she was willing to part with them for the holiday. Or that she did not insist on coming herself, so that we might form one large merry band. How unlike her."

Maria had a gleam in her eye. "I believe our neighbor, Mr. Hartley, is expressing some interest in our mother."

Lucius gave a horrified expression. "Hartley! That old man? Surely he is beyond the age of taking on a wife. And if he did, he might look younger than our mother. Every feeling revolts.”