A firm grip on Selena’s arm stopped her in her tracks. “Allow me.” The voice caused a fluttering in Selena’s belly, but before she could turn or respond, Rebecca cried out in delight.

“Sir Lucius!”

Selena had not heard that much warmth in Rebecca’s voice since she’d arrived, even with Lord Harrowden. Sir Lucius ignored her and put his hands under the countess’s arms, lifting her to her feet.

“Your arrival is timely, sir,” Selena said, a sense of relief stealing over her.

Sir Lucius, still supporting Lady Harrowden, met her gaze with a pained look. “You would not say that, Miss Lockhart, if you knew that it was my carriage that doused you in mud.”

“Icy mud,” she corrected. Selena now saw Sir Lucius’s phaeton stopped a few feet away with his groom at the horses’ heads. That’s when she became aware of how cold she was and what a fright she must look.

“Let us not stand here,” Lady Harrowden snapped. “Take me to the inn.”

Selena exchanged a glance with Sir Lucius. The countess was squinting as though in pain. “Yes, Sir Lucius, can you assist Lady Harrowden? It will do her good to dry off before a fire and sit for a while.”

"But what of my gloves?" Rebecca said. "I am very sorry you are injured, my lady, but this is my only chance to purchase gloves before the ball.”

"The girl is right,” Lady Harrowden said through her teeth. “She must have her gloves. The ball is only two days away. Selena, take her to the shop and acquire what she needs while I sit with Sir Lucius.”

Selena wrapped her wet cloak around her more tightly, regretting the warmth of the fire she would not get to enjoy. “As you wish. Let us go.”

She crossed the road with Rebecca at her side, taking care that no other horses were there to surprise them with an icy bath. Sir Lucius continued toward the inn with Lady Harrowden, his hand on one elbow and his other arm around her back to guide her.

The shop was surprisingly large for the small town of Woolmer Green. One of the shopkeepers came forward to the counter that stretched from one end of the shop to the other, and Rebecca discussed with him at length the different glove choices she was considering ordering. Selena, wishing to return to Lady Harrowden without delay, gave her opinion, and urged towards the choice she felt the most sensible—the long white gloves in silk that could be used for more than one occasion if Rebecca took care not to soil them. Those could be made up in short order and delivered to the estate in time for the ball. Rebecca resisted and continued to finger a pair of long green gloves that were available for immediate purchase and that fit, but which could not be worn with her ball gown. She had not had the foresight to bring enough money for two pairs.