But as she watched the butler’s face, she saw something jump into his eyes, although the rest of his expression remained exactly the same.
“Very well, my Lady,” he murmured, inclining his head and turning away from her, leaving Selina praying silently that what she had just seen meant something of importance.
“You spoke well,” Lady Hayward murmured, as Selina closed her eyes and tried to drag a little more strength into her heart. “The butler knows that what you have to speak of is of great importance. I believe that what you overheard has already come to pass, Lady Selina.”
Selina nodded and opened her eyes.
“I do hope that Lord Barrington will listen,” she said, softly. “There is nothing more I can say if he refuses again.”
Lady Hayward laughed softly.
“Oh, but there is!” she replied, as Selina looked back at her in surprise. “Remaining steadfast and determined means that, on occasion, one might have to behave in a manner that is both embarrassing and almost a little rude! You could state that you will not leave this house until you speak with Lord Barrington, for example.” Her eyes twinkled and a smile spread across her face. “I am quite certain that no footman nor butler would be willing to place a hand upon you, my dear. Therefore, you would, in the end, be met by Lord Barrington and have the conversation you so eagerly desire.”
“I do not think I could do such a thing,” Selina replied, doubtfully. “I do not have the strength of character.”
Lady Hayward snorted in a most unladylike fashion.
“Of course you do!” she exclaimed, as Selina shook her head. “It is within you, my dear. You have found a little of it already, given what you are doing and what you have said.” She smiled at Selina, who felt herself almost sick with nervousness. “You might surprise yourself with what you are able to do when you wish it.”
The sound of footsteps prevented Selina from responding, and she looked back towards the butler as he came towards them. His face held the same muted expression as he once more inclined his head towards them.
“If you would follow me,” he said, gravely, as Selina’s heart leapt wildly in her chest. “The master will see you now, although he begs that your visit be kept to only a few minutes.”
This was a little surprising to hear from a butler, although Selina held her tongue and said nothing in response. Lord Barrington, she was sure, would be willing to have her in his home for a little longer once he realized what she knew. All that mattered now was to make certain that he knew everything that she herself had learned.
Stepping into Lord Barrington’s drawing room, Selina saw Lord Barrington rise from a chair near the unlit fireplace. The room was a little cold – for the day was not particularly warm – and from the paleness of Lord Barrington’s cheeks, Selina wondered if there ought to be a little warmth brought into the room for his sake.
“Lady Selina,” Lord Barrington muttered, bowing quickly. “Lady Hayward.” His brow furrowed as he took in Lady Hayward’s limp. “You are injured!”
“I am quite all right,” Lady Hayward replied, sitting down quickly. “It is nothing.”
Selina waited until Lord Barrington asked her to be seated before she too sat down, looking at the gentleman and seeing the anxiety written all over his face. His blue eyes were dark with worry, grooves forming across his forehead as he looked from Lady Hayward to Selina and back again.
“You have something of importance to tell me, I understand,” he said, before Selina could say a word. “Might I beg you to speak to me of it with haste, Lady Selina?” A tiny smile tugged at one corner of his mouth but faded quickly. “There are some matters that have been weighing heavily on my mind these last few hours and I must have them resolved.”
Selina drew in a long breath but forced herself to speak quietly.
“Might it be to do with Lady Amelia?” she asked, as Lord Barrington frowned. “I do not mean to speak ill of your sister, Lord Barrington, nor to suggest that whatever has occurred is her fault in any way, however.”
Lord Barrington snorted.
“It is entirely her doing,” he stated, unequivocally. “It does not surprise me that you know my situation is to do solely with my sister’s behavior, Lady Selina. It shames me, however.”
Shaking her head, Selina tried to find a way to explain what she had overheard.
“Lord Barrington, that is not at all what I meant,” she stated, trying to find a firmness that would flood into her voice. “Might I also ask if Lord Telford is involved in any way?”
This seemed to catch Lord Barrington’s attention, for his eyes flared and he shifted in his chair so that he was leaning a little further forward, his gaze fixed on hers.
“You did not read my letter,” Selina finished, softly. “If only you had, Lord Barrington, you might have known–”
“Your letter?” Lord Barrington barked, making her start violently. “You mean to say that you knew my sister intended to escape with this… this… rogue? You knew, somehow, that Lord Telford’s friend would be the one to do this to her?”
Selina shook her head.
“No, Lord Barrington, it is not as you think!” she exclaimed, glancing towards Lady Hayward, who was watching Lord Barrington with sharp eyes, although she said nothing at all. “This was not your sister’s doing. I wrote to you simply because I could not attend last evening and nor could I call, given Lady Hayward’s condition. I–”
“I do not understand,” Lord Barrington said, slowly, interrupting her. “You come here to tell me that my sister is not the one at fault, when it is she whom I discovered in
