“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 have occurred last evening, and he will think that it is solely Lady Amelia’s doing.”
Lady Hayward nodded, but remained silent. Sipping her tea, she waited for a few minutes before she spoke again.
“Then there is only one course of action open to us,” she said eventually, as Selina finished the last of her tea. “We must make our way to Lord Barrington’s townhouse and demand that he speak with you.”
Selina’s eyes flared as her heart immediately began to quicken.
“But I –”
“I know there is a lack of confidence within your heart, Lady Selina,” Lady Hayward continued, before Selina could finish speaking. “I know that there is a part of you which wants to retreat from society all the more, which wants to make certain that there is nothing required of you save for having written this letter, but you must be a little bolder now.”
Selina swallowed hard and reached to set her teacup down.
“But surely I need not call upon him,” she said, emphatically. “I am certain that he is in a dreadful state already, and will not be grateful for my presence.”
“I believe that Lord Barrington will be very grateful for your arrival, once you have explained all!” Lady Hayward exclaimed, a fresh light sparkling in her eyes. “Have a little more courage, my dear. Lord Barrington may, at first, state that he is not receiving calls at present, but you will be required to demand it, to force it, if you must. Do you think that you can do such a thing?”
Selina wanted to shake her head, wanted to say that no, she could not, but the challenge in Lady Hayward’s eyes gave her pause. If she went to Lord Barrington’s townhouse, if she insisted on telling him all that she knew, then he would have no choice but to listen, and Lady Amelia’s relationship with her brother might be saved. If she said nothing, if she waited at home and prayed that her letter would finally be opened and read, then there was no promise that Lord Barrington would ever realize the truth of what was occurring. He might receive the request for funds to ensure the gentlemen to remain quiet about the matter, might be willing to pay it and would never know the truth – that his sister had done nothing wrong.
Was that a risk she wished to take?
“Very well, Lady Hayward,” she said, after a few moments of silence. “Very well. But only if you feel that you are able to do so.”
Lady Hayward chuckled, her eyes dancing.
“I am more than determined to attend, regardless of my ankle,” she said, as Selina gave her a wan smile. “Come then, Lady Selina. Let us go.”
Standing in the doorway of Lord Barrington’s townhouse, Selina drew in a long, shuddering breath and forced herself to remain strong.
“I am aware that your master has said that he is unable to see us at present,” she said, wishing that Lady Hayward would speak up so that she did not have to do so. “But I must insist. It is a matter of great urgency.”
The butler looked back at her, his brows low over his eyes.
“My Lady, I beg your understanding. The master is –”
“Please, return to Lord Barrington,” Selina continued, her heart pounding furiously. “Tell him that what I have to say is relevant to his current situation.”
Her mouth went dry as she finished speaking, knowing full well that what she had just said might mean nothing whatsoever
