“I will not hurt you,” he said, his voice low, as if soothing a wounded animal. Without releasing her from his gaze, he called out to his servant.

“Can we drive to Harrowden in this weather? Find out from Finn. We are going to escort this young woman there this evening.”

“Right away, Sir Lucius.” The servant hurried off to do his bidding.

“Thank you,” Selena whispered and, released from his nearness, stepped in front of him into the dining room where a servant was pouring the drinks. Any thought that Miss Woodsley might be as terrified as she was vanished as the young woman sent a calculating glance at the gentleman entering the room behind Selena.

Turning with a seductive smile that was at odds with her wispy, childlike voice, Miss Woodsley leaned forward. “Sir Lucius, you were beginning to tell me how we might make our way to Coddicot. It is so good of you to offer.”

He sat and leaned back as the servant dished soup into his bowl. “We shall have to hope the weather will hold so that we may indeed set out tomorrow. In the meantime, I believe fate has sent us an answer in the form of Miss—” He turned to Selena and raised his brows in question.

“Miss Lockhart,” she supplied.

“In the form of Miss Lockhart. As we are to take Miss Lockhart to Harrowden, we shall request that Lady Harrowden put you up for the night to keep your reputation safe. In the morning, I shall relieve them of your unexpected presence and take you to Coddicot where I might restore you to your friends—who must be beside themselves with worry.”

His eyes twinkled with private amusement, and now Selena was truly confused. Was this woman not his mistress? Perhaps he was not the rake Selena had assumed him to be.

She hadn’t noticed the servant filling her bowl with steaming soup, but now she felt its warmth on her face. “I am much obliged to you, sir,” Selena replied, glancing at Miss Woodsley. Upon closer inspection, she could not be more than eighteen. How came she to be here?

Miss Woodsley wound the napkin around her fingers in a nervous gesture, and when she spoke, she had lost some of her self-assurance. “Sir Lucius, I admire your noble impulse to protect my reputation, but…Lady Harrowden will not be expecting me. I cannot impose upon her household in such a way.”

She paused to take a convulsive breath, and Selena thought she might be suffering from fear, until Miss Woodsley blurted out, “Surely we can contrive to protect my reputation whilst I stay here and then set out at an early hour in the morning with none the wiser?”

Selena's eyes widened. It had seemed at first glance that Sir Lucius was the hunter and Miss Woodsley the hunted, but now…

“You mistake me,” Sir Lucius replied, picking up his spoon. “I am not concerned with your reputation.”

Selena wasn’t the only one who received a jolt from his harsh words. Across from her, Miss Woodsley looked as if she had been slapped.