Selena opened her mouth to speak and bit back the angry words she had been about to utter. Well, you should have exercised your intellect before engaging my services, for how could you think to avoid such a thing when you knew my circumstances? There was no point in arguing anyway—her employment would indeed be short-lived. Before she could say a word, whether wise or hasty, Lord Harrowden shifted on the seat next to the countess.

"I found it most entertaining, if you must know, Aunt.” With a malicious glance at Selena, he added, “I was under no illusion that your companion would elevate our situation. If you had sought my advice —"

Lady Harrowden gave a huff of disgust. "Sought your advice, indeed! As if I need anyone to advise me on what course to follow.”

Rebecca, for once, did not utter a word, and Selena listened to them bicker back and forth for the whole ride home. She had lost all interest in trying to defend herself or contribute to the conversation and merely looked out the coach window at the dark countryside. When they reached the estate, Lady Harrowden stepped forward without Selena’s help, so she stayed behind to walk with Rebecca.

Rebecca took the broad stone steps with a measured gait. “I knew you were poor, but I had no idea you had been shunned from Society. I now know that it is not what I want for my own life.” She met Selena’s gaze. “I would never want to end up like you."

Selena faced forward as they entered the house. Rebecca had not meant to wound with her words—Selena knew that. If anything, it was done in a spirit of complete and utter self-focus. She supposed she could be glad at least that Rebecca would learn a lesson from what had happened to her and, perhaps, temper her own behavior.

Selena accompanied Rebecca up to her room, parting ways with Lady Harrowden and her nephew without another word. She had nothing left to say, and it seemed had no further business here. She took Rebecca to her room where her maid was waiting for her then turned to her own bedroom.

As Selena readied herself for bed, taking the pins out of her hair and brushing it smooth, she thought through the evening’s events. She had not been hurt by Matthew—not really. Selena was so vastly different from the person she was three years ago that she could not look upon a marriage with Mr. Downing with any sort of pleasure. She supposed she had been shallow then, although she could not have known it until it was all taken away. Balls, dresses, and conquests were all she knew back then. It was only now she saw that what had seduced her in her youth no longer held any interest.

What hurt was not Mr. Downing’s public raking down—no! What hurt was that Sir Lucius did not come to her aid. She had grown accustomed in their short acquaintance to him being there for her, even rescuing her. Public humiliation was not a greater danger than being lost in a snowstorm, but somehow it felt just as desolate. There was truly nothing to keep her here.