But will Lady Amelia give in to Lord Telford’s advances?
The question in her mind did not wait long for an answer. She knew very well that Lord Barrington would have given his sister a stern talking to and that, quite certainly, Lady Amelia knew precisely what was expected of her. However, Selina also knew how Lady Amelia had behaved in the past, when it came to Lord Telford. There was a chance that the lady would refuse – but if she did so again for what would be the second time, Selina feared that Lord Telford might force her to go as he expected.
And Lord Barrington would have to witness what followed.
No doubt Lord Telford and the other gentleman intended to gain money from Lord Barrington by promising to remain silent. It was all truly disastrous and Selina knew she needed to speak to Lord Telford at once.
“Ah, there you are!”
An older lady came towards her, with Lord Aldridge just behind her.
“I have been looking everywhere for you!” the lady exclaimed, just as Lord Aldridge joined them. “Lady Hayward has had something of an accident. She will be waiting for you in the carriage.”
Alarm seared Selina’s heart. “She is injured?”
“A slight accident, as I have said,” the older lady replied, although, much to Selina’s dismay, she did not give any further details. Glancing at the gentleman and clearly recognizing him, the lady gestured to him swiftly. “Come now. You also, if you wish, Lord Aldridge. Accompany the lady.”
Lord Aldridge nodded and offered Selina his arm, which she took at once, feeling a little lightheaded as she walked alongside him.
“As I have said, she is waiting for you in the carriage,” the lady said, encouragingly. “A twisted ankle, that is all it is, I am sure. She will be quite well in a very short time indeed.”
Selina nodded but said nothing, her thoughts drifting between concern for Lady Hayward and worry over Lady Amelia and Lord Barrington. She would have to write to Lord Barrington in the morning, she determined, for he had to know of what she had overheard just as soon as was possible. To keep it to herself would not only be wrong but entirely unthinkable.
“I am sure all will be well,” Lord Aldridge murmured, as they made their way through the crowd towards the door that would lead them out of the ballroom. “No need to fret.”
Selina gave him a tight smile.
“I hope it will be, Lord Aldridge,” she murmured, throwing one last glance over her shoulder as though she might be able to see Lord Barrington. But the ballroom was too crowded and with a heavy sigh, Selina turned away from them all and made her way through the door.
Chapter Six
Charles stepped into the drawing room to what was a rather tense scene. His mother was standing, her hands on her hips, glaring at her daughter. Lady Amelia was sitting demurely in a chair, looking back at her with a calm if not somewhat supercilious expression, which Charles knew would only make his mother all the more irritated.
“Is something wrong, Mama?” he asked, closing the door behind him so that none of the staff would hear him speak. “You appear a little upset.”
Lady Barrington shook her head and let her hands drop to her sides.
“You speak to your sister, Barrington,” she said, wearily. “I did not want to inform you of this but I was told by Lady Fitzherbert last evening that your sister stepped away from Lady Pembrokeshire for a few minutes.”
Charles’ heart twisted in his chest.
“I beg your pardon?” he asked, looking towards his sister who, to his frustration, merely gazed back at him without any trace of embarrassment or shame. “What is the meaning of this, Amelia?”
Lady Amelia let out a long sigh, as though she was tired of them both.
“I did nothing of the sort,” she said. “A gentleman I am acquainted with spoke to me quietly and I returned the conversation before making my way back to Lady Pembrokeshire.”
Closing his eyes, Charles drew in a deep breath.
“You returned to Lady Pembrokeshire?” he repeated, as the small, flickering smile faded from Lady Amelia’s face. “What do you mean, ‘returned’?”
“I – I…” She stopped for a moment, now appearing a little flustered as she tried to speak clearly. “It is not as though I quit the room or walked far from her, Barrington! I did nothing of the sort! It was only a step or two away from Lady Pembrokeshire’s side and she herself did not notice nor complain. I always remained in her view and –”
“And what is the name of the gentleman?” Charles interrupted, his voice loud and determined. “You will tell me at once, Amelia!”
She rose from her chair, her hands balling into fists by her side.
“I shall not,” she stated, firmly. “Else, no doubt, you will demand that I never be in his company again. There was nothing wrong with my behavior nor my conduct, Barrington. You take the word of someone you are not very well acquainted with over that of my own! That is entirely unfair!”
“I trust Lady Fitzherbert!” Charles’ mother protested loudly, but Charles held up one hand, asking her to be quiet for the moment.
“Amelia, there should be not even a hint of impropriety from you,” he stated, as his sister scowled and looked away. “I do not know what you were doing precisely last evening but if you were seen talking to a gentleman in a secluded fashion, then that is not at all appropriate – and you must know that!”
“I will return you to the estate if you do any such thing again,” Lady Barrington interrupted, taking a step closer to her daughter. “I have heard your brother reprimand you severely already, Amelia, and for him to
