across the Duke’s expression with interest. Lady Hayward smiled warmly at him, her blue eyes meeting his.
“I am much recovered, Your Grace,” she replied, evidently grateful for his concern. “My ankle is still a little painful, certainly, but it is not something that troubles me a great deal.” She glanced back at Selina. “Besides which, I knew that Lady Selina would be worrying about me and so I thought it best to visit just as soon as I could.”
“Well, I am glad to see you recovering,” the Duke replied, as Selina dropped into a chair, wisely choosing to remain quite silent.
She listened as the Duke and her chaperone talked of a few other matters – mostly about the gentleman who had caused Lady Hayward’s accident in the first place and whether or not he was even aware of what he had done – before, finally, the Duke chose to take his leave.
Selina rose with him and rang the bell for tea, smiling at her father as he looked towards her.
“You will be glad to have Lady Hayward back with you, I know,” the Duke said kindly, as Selina nodded. “It is good to see you smile, Selina.”
“Thank you, Father.”
She waited until her father had left the room before letting out a long, pained sigh, rubbing one hand across her forehead and feeling a knot of tension tighten her stomach.
“Lady Selina?” Lady Hayward asked, as Selina looked back at her, having no urge to resume her seat. “Is something wrong?”
Selina, who was still a little intrigued by her father’s obvious concern for Lady Hayward, chose not to speak of that particular thing but instead, realized that she could, in fact, share with Lady Hayward what she had overheard some two nights ago. There had not been an opportunity to do so before, given what had happened to Lady Hayward and her ankle, but now, perhaps, was the right time.
“There has been a matter weighing heavily upon my mind these last two days,” she began, starting once more to pace the length of the room as her skirts swished gently. “It is to do with Lord Barrington.” Lady Hayward’s eyes flickered but she said nothing, clearly choosing to remain silent as Selina spoke. “When you had your accident, I was with Lord Aldridge, as you know,” Selina continued, forced to stop for a few moments as the maid brought in the tea tray and set it down on a side table near Lady Hayward.
“Shall I pour?” Lady Hayward asked, as Selina nodded. “I can tell that you have a great deal on your mind.”
“Please do,” Selina murmured. “Whilst we were searching for you, I overheard something. Something dreadful.”
Quickly, she explained to Lady Hayward what Lord Telford had said, frustrated that she did not know the name of the second gentleman.
“Goodness!” Lady Hayward exclaimed, the tea now steaming gently in the two china teacups. “And did you inform Lord Barrington of…” She trailed off, a look of understanding coming into her eyes. “Of course, you could not call upon him, given my inability to be present with you. And last evening, you remained at home.”
“I had no wish to step outside into society, I assure you,” Selina replied, her fingers twisting together as she kept her hands in front of her, still pacing up and down the room. “After what I overheard, the only thing I wished for was to inform Lord Barrington of the plans that were being made for both himself and Lady Amelia. Unfortunately,” she continued, with a shake of her head, “I am not certain that he read the letter I sent him, despite my request that he do so with the greatest urgency.”
Lady Hayward sighed with evident frustration and waved Selina into a chair. Feeling a little less tense, now that she had told Lady Hayward everything, Selina did as she was instructed and sat down, reaching for her teacup and saucer so that she might take a sip.
“It may be that Lord Barrington did not read your letter,” Lady Hayward said softly, as Selina closed her eyes. “I have heard no gossip from last evening, but I suppose that is to be expected, given what Lord Telford intends.”
“Precisely,” Selina replied, reaching for a honey cake. “But if Lord Barrington has still not read my letter – for I did beg him to inform me that he had done so, in order for my own mind to be at ease – then it means that something dreadful might