from him. Looking into his face, she saw the flicker of concern which still lingered in his eyes – a concern that had not left him since she had told him the truth about his sister. “Might I ask, Lord Barrington, whether or not Lord Havers or Lord Telford are present this evening?”
“They are,” he replied, darkly. “Do be on your guard, Lady Selina.”
She frowned at this.
“Your sister should be so, Lord Barrington, but as for myself, I do not see –”
He swiped the air in front of her with his hand.
“They are searching for the next young lady they might accost,” he said, warning her. “What is to say it is not you?”
Selina shook her head.
“I am sure that I would not be chosen, given my friendship with Lady Amelia,” she said, firmly. “Lord Telford would not consider it, given that surely, as he would expect, you would have spoken to me of his deceit and manipulation.”
Lord Barrington looked away before clearing his throat hard, shaking his head as he did so.
“I believe, Lady Selina, that he is a man capable of a great many things,” he replied, slowly. “You must be careful.”
Selina frowned, holding Lord Barrington’s gaze and wondering if there was more to his words than he was able to express at present. However, he said nothing more and she was only able to nod and thank him for his concern, although her worries and her questions still remained within her heart.
“Lady Selina, good evening.”
Selina’s stomach dropped to the floor but she forced herself into a curtsey as none other than Lord Telford bowed first to Lady Hayward and then to her.
“Good evening, Lord Telford,” she replied, doing all she could to keep her expression one of amiability. “I do hope that you are enjoying this evening?”
He smiled at her, tilting his head just a little.
“I would enjoy it all the more if you would be willing to allow me a dance, Lady Selina,” he said, gesturing to her dance card. “Or am I much too late?”
Selina hesitated, looking down at her dance card and wishing that she had the confidence to tell Lord Telford that she had no desire to dance with him and that, therefore, she would rather he did not.
“No?” Lord Telford asked, now looking rather delighted. “Then I do hope you will allow me to take whichever dance you have remaining.”
Swallowing hard, Selina forced a smile to her lips and then tugged her dance card from her wrist. She did not give it to him straight away however, aware of Lady Hayward’s presence beside her and using that encouragement to find a little strength for herself. “I believe that one dance would be suitable, Lord Telford,” she said, as firmly as she could, “for we would not wish to give people the wrong impression, and I am rather fatigued this evening.”
It was a poor excuse and, as the smile slid from Lord Telford’s face, she knew that he was aware of her true feelings. It was clear that she did not wish to be in his company for long. Hopefully, he would consider it a result of her first introduction to him, when he had made such eager advances towards Miss Newington and Lady Amelia.
“The country dance,” he said crisply, looking at her directly as a thin smile pulled at his lips, a darkness in his eyes that made Selina shudder inwardly. “One I hope you will enjoy, Lady Selina.”
Selina murmured something quiet and Lord Telford stepped away, but not without shooting her a hard glance and a dark scowl. Lady Hayward watched him with an equally hard gaze before she turned to Selina.
“I do not like the idea of you dancing with Lord Telford, Lady Selina,” she said, as Selina let out a long breath. “You could easily have refused him.”
A little ashamed of her lack of courage, Selina nodded.
“I am aware I could have done such a thing, Lady Hayward, but I lacked the strength of will. After all, it would be perceived as remarkably rude to refuse a gentleman, when I still have dances unclaimed.”
Lady Hayward nodded, a sympathetic look crossing her face.
“I shall not reprimand you, for you are right that others would see it as rude,” she said, softly. “But I am inclined to agree with Lord Barrington. You must be on your guard.”
Selina smiled tightly.
“I will,” she promised, knowing that Lady Hayward would be watching her also. “And let us hope that the dance will be of