Lucius refused to answer that, although Miss Lockhart’s presence had made keeping his promise to the former Lord Harrowden a matter of importance at last. “I am fulfilling an old promise,” he said. “I should go myself, but I don't like to leave just now."

He saw Philippa and George exchange a look. Since he himself was not entirely sure whether his decision to remain had as much to do with Miss Lockhart’s presence as he suspected it might, he did not wish for impertinence from them.

“I will leave tomorrow,” George said.

“Very good," Lucius said. “I will give you a note to take to my banker to fund your trip. Just try not to get into trouble while you're there. And George?" His brother paused on the way to the door, and Lucius leveled his gaze at him. “Thank you for seeing to Miss Lockhart tonight.”

George flashed him a smile, and he was gone.

Chapter Seventeen

Alone in her room at last, Selena pulled the pins from her hair with leaden movements. What would wait for her in Bedford? Likely a marriage to the squire, whose intelligence was not above average and whose physical appearance she regarded with something akin to disgust. Had he not been intent on pursuing her, she probably would have liked him a little bit. She certainly would not have noticed any of his shortcomings. But to think of being tied to him—of him laying his hands on her…Selena shuddered. She would have to bury any hopes of passion, or even intelligent conversation.

It did not occur to Selena until she was packing her trunk, carefully laying one dress above the other without the benefit of silver paper, of which she had none, that she had no idea how exactly she was to return home. She supposed she would have to approach Lady Harrowden for her wages and beg a ride to the station where she would have to purchase a ticket on the stagecoach. She went over to the window and stood looking through it. A sliver of moonlight lit a patch on the darkened, snowy landscape.

Should she leave in such a hasty manner? Was that the best? Or should she ask Lady Harrowden whether she wished for Selena to stay on at least until someone new could be brought in?

The next morning brought little counsel, and she decided she would not make a final decision until having first spoken with Lady Harrowden. Selena went to the breakfast room with the desperate hope she would not have to meet Lord Harrowden there, but her wish was not granted. Despite his frequent late nights, he seemed oddly averse to missing his breakfast.

"You are up early," Lord Harrowden said before stuffing the last bite of breakfast into his mouth. "I would have thought you would still be abed trying to recover from last night’s humiliation."

Selena paused, eyeing him with unveiled disfavor. She did not know if she should tell him she was planning to leave Woolmer Green. After a second’s consideration, she decided not to do so, since it was none of his affair anyway. She filled her pink-flowered Limoges plate from the sideboard without a word and sat as far from him as she could. It didn’t matter that he fixed his gaze on her in a way intended to provoke her to a hasty retort. It wouldn’t work.