“I am very grateful to you, as I have expressed,” he said, quietly. “I should like to call upon you, Lady Selina, so that I might thank both you and Lady Hayward properly.” With a smile, he looked up and handed her back her dance card, although his eyes strayed to Lady Hayward rather than lingering on her. “If such a call would be welcome.”
“More than welcome, Lord Barrington,” Lady Hayward replied, as Selina looked down at her dance card. “Although there is really no need. You have already thanked us both.”
Lord Barrington shook his head.
“I know Lord Telford’s reputation, as I am sure you do also, Lady Hayward,” he answered, as Selina realized with a start that he had written his name for the supper dance. “My sister was foolish. There could have been a great deal of difficulty caused and I – I would like to express my thanks most sincerely.” Selina looked up at him just as he returned his gaze to her. “I do hope you have no objections, Lady Selina?” he asked, making her wonder if he spoke of his desire to call upon her or the dances he had chosen. “I am, of course, entirely dependent upon your agreement.”
“Of course not, Lord Barrington,” she replied quickly, praying that the warmth she felt in her cheeks would soon dissipate. “I have no objections whatsoever. Thank you for your consideration.”
The smile on his face sent another streak of warmth into her face but Selina managed to keep his gaze and did not look away, despite her blushes.
“Very good,” he said, bowing low. “Until our dance, Lady Selina.”
She smiled back at him despite the trembling in her soul, confused as to why she had such a strong reaction towards him, when only last evening, she had thought him both rude and easily displeased.
“Well, I do not think you need fear that your dance card will remain empty this evening, Lady Selina!” Lady Hayward remarked, as Selina managed to laugh, aware of just how hot her cheeks were. “You have at least two dances filled within only a few minutes!” She smiled at her. “What dance did Lord Barrington choose?”
Selina did not reply but instead handed her chaperone the card, watching for her reaction. Lady Hayward did not disappoint. Her brows rose, her eyes widened and she looked back at Selina with a somewhat astonished expression.
“The supper dance? And a second dance as well!” she remarked, as Selina nodded. “My goodness, Lady Selina. It appears that you may have something of an admirer in Lord Barrington.”
“I am sure that he is only doing so by way of thanks for what we did for Lady Amelia,” Selina replied, hastily. “I do not think there can be anything more meant by it.”
Lady Hayward considered this for a moment, then shrugged.
“We shall have to wait and see!” she declared, as Selina took back her dance card. “But do allow yourself to consider Lord Barrington, Lady Selina. He is an Earl and a very respectable one at that, with an excellent fortune and more than able to keep you very contented indeed for the rest of your days. I am sure that your father would agree.”
Finding herself laughing suddenly, Selina held up both hands, palms out towards Lady Hayward.
“Pray, do not think so quickly of what might be, Lady Hayward!” she exclaimed, as Lady Hayward looked surprised and then began to laugh also. “I do not even know Lord Barrington as yet, for we are barely acquainted! And I remind you that you have been eagerly encouraging me to consider my heart, should the opportunity for courtship or the like present itself.”
Lady Hayward lifted one eyebrow.
“Indeed, I have,” she agreed, her eyes holding something that Selina could not quite make out. “I have always encouraged you to consider what you might feel when it comes to the gentlemen of London and to those who might pay you a little more attention. However, I do not believe that there is not even a flicker of interest within your heart when it comes to Lord Barrington.”
Shock filled Selina’s heart as she looked back at her companion, flushing with embarrassment. She had thought that such emotions, such confusion had been easily hidden, that she had managed to keep any inflection from her voice every time she had spoken of him – but evidently, she had failed in doing so.
“It is only this evening that I have noticed it,” Lady Hayward continued, reaching out to press Selina’s arm. “It is not something that you need to be ashamed of, Lady Selina, and it may very well prove to be nothing of importance, for once you are a little better acquainted with Lord Barrington, you might find him to be very dull indeed, or to have a temper that you dislike intensely. But, for the moment, do not hide away what you feel from yourself. Enjoy the dances with Lord Barrington and do what you can to converse with him.” Her smile widened whilst Selina’s sense of confusion and embarrassment only grew. “There is nothing more you need do at present.”
Finishing her dance with Lord Aldridge, Selina accepted his arm and made her way back towards where they had left Lady Hayward. Lord Aldridge was a reasonable dancer, and what he lacked for in skill, he made up for with excellent conversation and an effervescent delight.
“I do not see Lady Hayward,” Lord Aldridge murmured, as they made their way back towards those who waited by the side of the dance floor. “Where might she have gone?”
“It is a very busy evening,” Selina replied, a little embarrassed that she would have to linger with Lord Aldridge
