Selena settled her mouth in a firm line. It was a humiliation to be treated so offhandedly, especially with Lord Harrowden standing right there.

"Go and change into your walking dress,” she ordered. “I believe Alice is in your room, and I will have some bread and butter sent up. Ring immediately if she is not there, and I will make sure she is found. We do not want to keep Lady Harrowden waiting."

Selena spun around and walked toward the kitchen with a brisk step. Fortunately, she’d had time to strike up a warm acquaintance with Cook, who was only too glad to set the kettle on and prepare some simple sandwiches for Selena's charge. She found Alice at the table in the kitchen and sent her up with the tea she had prepared, then hurried to the drawing room to let Lady Harrowden know they would be setting out in a half hour.

It should have come as no surprise to Selena, though she herself was of a punctual nature, but it was closer to an hour by the time Rebecca was ready. And although Lady Harrowden's face had taken on a grim expression of impatience, Selena drove the whole party forward, knowing it was their only chance to get what they needed for the ball. By the time they had all climbed into the carriage, the hour was already advanced, and they had not much time before it would grow dark.

They arrived in town after a short drive, and Selena turned to assist Lady Harrowden after the footman helped her descend from the carriage. She turned and saw the shop where she had bought her fabric when running an errand in town.

The groom drove the carriage away, and Selena indicated across the street to the shop that was partially blocked from view by a waiting carriage. “There it is. Shall we just wait for these horses to pass? Then we may cross over.”

Selena took Lady Harrowden by the arm. Rebecca was on the other side of her, examining her surroundings, her attention focused on everything but what she might do to assist her guardian. They began a slow progression, with Selena taking great care not to let Lady Harrowden slip on the ice.

Another phaeton drove by, preventing them from crossing, and the large wheels splashed Selena with freezing mud. A shriek rose in her throat from being drenched in cold slush but before the sound came out, Lady Harrowden slipped and fell backward—hard.

“Oh!” Lady Harrowden’s gasp turned into a grunt, and Selena could hear the pain in her voice.

She looked around for help on the nearly empty road, but the groom had already driven off with the barouche. “Rebecca, I need your assistance,” she said.

To her credit, Rebecca looked somewhat concerned by Lady Harrowden’s fall, but her reply was unhelpful. “What would you have me do? I cannot lift her.”

Selena resisted the temptation to lash out at the thoughtless girl. Did she care for no one but herself? “Put one of your hands under her elbow and we will lift at the same time.” Selena braced herself, because the road was icy, and if she could not stand, what hope was there to help the older woman?