The gentleman in question was someone Selina did not know. He bowed to first one lady and then the other, although, as far as Selina was concerned, he stood a little too close to Lady Amelia. Her breath caught as she saw him run his hand down Lady Amelia’s arm, catching sight of the blush that spread over Lady Amelia’s cheeks as he did so. When he took Lady Amelia’s hand and brought it to his lips – with the other young lady giggling like a foolish child – she found herself on her feet and making her way directly towards them.
“Lady Selina?”
The voice filled her with relief.
“Lady Hayward,” Selina said quickly, never taking her eyes from the scene before her. “How glad I am that you have returned.” She took the glass of wine from Lady Hayward without even looking at it. “Please, might you join me?”
Lady Hayward nodded, although the confusion on her face was more than evident.
“But of course. Why –”
“Lady Amelia has found herself in a less than proper situation,” Selina said, as Lady Hayward looked in the direction that Selina was watching – and Selina heard her swift intake of breath. “Might we join them?”
“Of course.” Lady Hayward started forward at once, not allowing even a moment of hesitation. “Where is Lord Barrington? Or her mother?”
“I do not know,” Selina answered, her voice low. “Nor do I know the gentleman, but I thought it best we join them.”
Lady Hayward threw her a quick, admiring glance.
“Very considerate of you, Lady Selina,” she said, before clearing her throat, lifting her chin and placing a broad smile on her face.
“Lady Amelia!” she exclaimed, as the gentleman suddenly took a few steps back, a look of panic catching his eyes as both Lady Hayward and Selina came to join them. “I did not get a moment to speak to you when your brother introduced us. Forgive me.” She looked all about her, feigning confusion. “Where is your brother at present, Lady Amelia?”
Much as Selina had expected, Lady Amelia blushed furiously and dropped her gaze.
“We must have left him with another,” she said, haltingly. “I – I did not notice, given that I was speaking to my dear friend, Miss Newington.” She gestured to the young lady beside her. “Miss Newington, this is Lady Hayward and Lady Selina Forrest, daughter to the Duke of Landon.”
Miss Newington – a young lady with very pale blue eyes, a sharp nose and cheeks that were entirely absent of color at present – dropped into a quick curtsey, although she said nothing at all, clearly aware that both she and Lady Amelia had been seen in the company of a gentleman without a chaperone beside them.
“And this gentleman you were conversing with?” Lady Hayward asked, one brow lifting as she turned to the yet unnamed stranger. “Might you introduce us also, Lady Amelia?”
A coldness came into her eyes as Lady Amelia hastily introduced one Lord Telford and Selina was all too aware of Lady Amelia’s flushed cheeks, as well as the gentleman’s clear embarrassment. He bowed and murmured a greeting to both Selina and to Lady Hayward, only for his eyes to flare as he caught sight of someone – or something – just to Selina’s left. She turned and, to her relief, saw none other than Lord Barrington approaching.
“Do excuse me,” she heard Lord Telford say, turning back to see him bow low. “I shall leave you to your conversation.”
“How very strange,” Lady Hayward murmured, as Lord Telford hurried away. “I do hope that he –”
“Amelia!”
The Earl’s furious voice crashed between them, ending Lady Hayward’s words and making the group, as a whole, turn towards them.
“Barrington,” Lady Amelia replied, her voice a little hoarse as she tried to smile at her brother, although Selina could see the wariness in her eyes. “We – we must have wandered off without realizing you were not with us. I –”
“Did I see Lord Telford conversing with you?” he interrupted, speaking directly to his sister as though Selina and Lady Hayward were not present. “I have told you before that such a gentleman must be entirely ignored, no matter how many words of flattery he puts before you.”
Selina, who still thought Lady Amelia most unwise and believed that she had deliberately escaped her brother in order to have a conversation with Lord Telford, turned towards Lord Barrington a little more.
“If I might, Lord Barrington, Lord Telford was only in your sister’s company for a few moments,” she said, a little surprised at how confidently she was speaking. “Lady Hayward and I joined them very soon after he drew near.”
Something flickered in Lord Barrington’s eyes, although he swiftly inclined his head by way of thanks.
“Then I am relieved to know that no harm has come to my sister or to her friend,” he replied, shooting a hard glance towards Miss Newington, who had dropped her gaze to the floor and kept it there. “It was foolish of you, Amelia, to walk away as you did. I do hope that you have expressed your own gratitude to Lady Selina and Lady Hayward for coming to your aid.”
Lady Amelia’s color heightened all the more, and she lifted her chin, her eyes a little narrowed as she returned her brother’s hard stare. For some moments, she said nothing, her lower
