replied, with such firmness in her voice that Charles could not help but smile. “He may very well wish to know all that I intend to do, and might very well demand that I tell him all, but should he do so, then I have no qualms about speaking the truth to him. And I have little doubt that he will be most displeased and upset, but that he will, in the end, understand that I am in no particular danger.”
“No, you will not be,” Charles promised, as Lady Hayward sighed and rose from her chair, her fingers twining together as she held them in front of her, making her way across the room to ring the bell. “You will be watched closely, Lady Selina, and every moment you spend with Lord Havers or Lord Telford, depending on who seeks you out, will be observed. You will never be without help, should they change their intentions.”
She nodded slowly and Lady Hayward turned to look back at Charles directly, although she did not sit down.
“Do you believe that they trust Lord Donaldson’s bet?” she asked, as Charles spread his hands. “Might Lady Selina be in even more danger than we thought?”
Charles wanted to lie, to state that he was quite certain that Lord Telford believed every word of Lord Donaldson’s bet, but to do so would be entirely disingenuous, and he did not want to express any such thing to the lady.
“I cannot say for certain, Lady Hayward, for I do not know the thoughts and considerations agreed between the two gentlemen. However, what I will state is that it is now well known that Lady Selina has rejected Lord Donaldson entirely and, given the outward appearance of both Lord Donaldson and Lady Selina when they first talked at the ball some two days ago, I think that belief has become all the more acknowledged. That is, perhaps, why Lord Telford has now decided to take on Lord Donaldson’s bet.”
“Because he believes that all Lord Donaldson has said is true,” Lady Selina murmured, as Charles nodded. “That does make a good deal of sense, Lady Hayward.”
Lady Hayward nodded, her eyes searching Charles’ face for a moment or two before she sighed.
“Very well,” she said, softly. “Let us pray that the Duke himself will be just as considerate and understanding, should he have to be informed of it all.”
“Indeed,” Charles agreed, smiling just a little.
He looked back at Lady Selina and saw her watching him, her eyes bright despite the nervousness he knew she must be feeling. The urge to say just how much he had come to admire her grew within his heart but, with Lady Hayward present, Charles found himself reticent.
“I must go and chase up that maid!” Lady Hayward said suddenly, as though she somehow knew that Charles had more that he wished to say, but that he did not want to do so when she was present. “I will be but a few moments.”
Lady Selina’s eyes widened in surprise.
“The maid will be coming very soon, Lady Hayward,” she said, as her companion made her way to the door. “I am sure that–”
“A few moments!” Lady Hayward replied, waving a hand before stepping out of the door, leaving it wide open.
Charles smiled a little self-consciously before looking back at Lady Selina, who had only just realized, it seemed, why Lady Hayward had left the room. Her cheeks began to infuse with color and she dropped her gaze to her hands as they rested gently in her lap.
“You must know just how greatly I admire you, Lady Selina.” Charles had thought it would be very difficult indeed to speak the truth to Lady Selina but, as he began, he found his words coming with ease and purpose, as though he was eager to speak them to her. “I want to assure you that I will not allow any harm to come to you.”
“I trust you entirely, Lord Barrington,” she replied, as he smiled at her, seeing the way her eyes darted to his and then jumped away again. “There is nothing that I fear which, I might add, is rather remarkable.”
He tilted his head just a little.
“Oh?”
Her blush deepened.
“I have always been rather quiet,” she told him, speaking slowly as if she needed to choose her words with great care. “My twin sister, Anna, has always been the one to speak first, to allow the ton to become aware of her presence. She has a confidence that I myself have