“Lucius, you give me no credit,” Philippa replied in a hushed voice, and he thought he detected hurt. “I could scarcely tell Lord Harrowden no—not when I had already danced with other men.”

“You most certainly could,” Lucius retorted. “It’s what—”

The sound of piercing screams reached his ears, and he instinctively scanned the room looking for Miss Lockhart. It should have come as no surprise when he saw the curtain to one of the alcoves twitch open, with Miss Woodsley setting up such a racket as to stop everyone in their tracks. Miss Lockhart, at her side, was searching the sides of the room, and her eyes were wide with what looked like fear. Lucius started forward and Philippa trailed quickly in his wake.

When Lucius reached them, Miss Lockhart was attempting to soothe her charge, but to no avail. Although Miss Woodsley had stopped screaming, she was lifting her skirt and looking at her ankles, exclaiming, “It must have been some rodent. How distressing. I don’t feel safe anywhere in this house now.”

Charles Holbeck moved in their direction, and as he passed the musicians, gestured for them to resume their music. He did not look pleased, and Lucius wondered if that would cool Maria’s ardor about Miss Woodsley being an acceptable wife for him.

“Are you quite well?” he asked Miss Woodsley, darting a quick glance at Miss Lockhart. But Miss Woodsley only dissolved into tears.

“A mouse, I think,” Miss Lockhart whispered. She put her arm around Miss Woodsley.

The room had not completely settled down to its usual din of conversation, and some of the men were still outside the card room where they had congregated when the commotion broke out. Lucius moved in front of them to cross paths with Mr. Holbeck and apprise him of what had happened. He came to an abrupt halt when he heard a voice call out, sharp with surprise.

“Selena!"

The voice came from the entrance to the cardroom, and Lucius turned quickly in that direction, his eyes widening in outrage. Selena was Miss Lockhart's Christian name. Who had dared to use it? Others turned toward the source as well, and Sir Lucius now saw it was Mr. Downing.

Miss Lockhart stood frozen, her back to Lucius. She had not yet shown any response to having been addressed. Lucius could see from her rigid posture that she was distressed. What connection did she have with Downing that he made free use of her Christian name? The answer fell on him like a weight when he remembered his conversation with Maria. Who else, besides family, would use her Christian name but her former fiancé?

Lucius moved closer to Miss Lockhart, stopping a couple feet away. He could not bring himself to break the silence. Miss Lockhart turned at last to face Downing. She was deathly pale, and her lips were resolutely shut. Downing dropped his gaze to the embroidered flower on Miss Lockhart’s bodice, then looked at her.

“What are you wearing? Your sense of fashion appears to have suffered a decline.” Downing laughed, and the sound echoed harshly, particularly so as the crowd was silent, all eyes trained on Downing and Miss Lockhart.