Selena turned her gaze to Rebecca as well. She was looking very grown-up and attractive. If someone did not know what she was capable of, she might understand the appeal. But Sir Lucius knew!

Mrs. Holbeck turned back and rested her hand on Selena’s arm. “Do what you came for and continue to teach propriety to Miss Woodsley, who still has much to learn. If you do, I’ll see that you get a good recommendation when you leave Woolmer Green.” She patted Selena’s arm and gave her a patronizing smile before leaving.

Chapter Fifteen

Selena clenched her teeth and tried to control her breathing to hide the surge of rage that had come over her. She moved blindly in the direction of the retiring room, hoping for some moments of peace after the humiliating lecture she’d received from Mrs. Holbeck, who apparently thought Selena was at the ball with the intention of snagging the greatest matrimonial prize the county had to offer. Ha! As if life had not taught her better than that. She would not be so foolish again.

What was particularly misery-inducing was the fact that there was a grain of truth to Mrs. Holbeck’s insinuations. Selena did find Sir Lucius attractive, and she liked how she felt in his presence—both restful and…and alive, if such a thing were possible.

She liked the crease in the middle of his forehead and the severity of his mouth, which fit his sardonic disposition so well. And she liked his irony, particularly when he included her in the joke. Not even her former fiancé had respected her intelligence enough to do that. She liked Lucius’s straight hair, the color of which was of such a glistening dark brown that it seemed to hold hints of silver. Most of all, Selena liked his sudden smile when it flashed across his face. It should have been ill-fitting for such a cynical man, but instead it called to her like a beacon of happiness.

And for some inexplicable reason, Sir Lucius seemed to care for her. He lost no opportunity to seek her out, and she felt protected and cherished when he was near. That was perhaps the worst of all. It led her to hope.

“Where did that girl run off to?” Lady Harrowden’s voice nearby plucked Selena out of her thoughts and stopped her in her tracks on the way to the retiring room. She had forgotten all about Lady Harrowden in her distress and now counted herself lucky that the countess seemed to think she had walked this way with the intent of returning to her side.

When Lady Harrowden’s question penetrated, Selena stopped short, and she became aware of her surroundings. She had completely forgotten about Rebecca, too. She searched the room with quickened breath. What mischief could the girl have gotten into in that short time?

Selena nodded toward the dance floor. “Ah. There she is, my lady. She is dancing with Mr. Gregson it appears. Though I told her not to.”