“Lord Barrington, please!”
Before she knew what she was doing, Selina found herself on her feet, her hands flung out and the sound of her voice seeming to echo around the room. Astonishment replaced his anger on Lord Barrington’s face as he looked back at her, his eyes a little wide and the paleness in his cheeks increasing just a little. Selina wanted to shrink back down into her seat, wanted to apologize for speaking so much out of turn, but a small, encouraging smile from Lady Hayward gave her the modicum of courage she required to continue.
“I overheard Lord Telford and another gentleman speaking,” she said, her voice louder than she had expected. “Two nights ago. One had attempted to pull your sister far away from the rest of the guests but she had refused. This angered Lord Telford. They discussed the matter again, and I knew that they meant to try again when it came to Lady Amelia.”
Lord Barrington rubbed one hand across his eyes.
“And for what purpose?”
“To gain money from you,” Selina stated, firmly. “Lord Telford stated quite clearly that this was their sole intention. I have little doubt that soon, if you have not already, you will receive a note from Lord Telford or from this other gentleman demanding a certain sum of money in order for him to remain silent and protect your sister’s reputation.” Slowly, she sank back down into her chair, her legs trembling slightly, but her hands clenched tight. “Your sister had nothing to do with what occurred, Lord Barrington. It was all planned by these two gentlemen in order to extract wealth from you.”
For what felt like an eternity, Lord Barrington said nothing at all. He held Selina’s gaze and she looked back at him without hesitation, even though her own heart was pounding with both anxiety and embarrassment at how she had spoken to him. The gentleman sighed on multiple occasions before rubbing one hand down his face, clearly a little confused.
“My sister cried into my shoulder,” he said quietly, his expression now growing a little wretched. “When I found them, she was attempting to remove herself from this gentleman’s grasp. I did not believe her, of course. I presumed that she was simply doing such a thing, having regretted allowing him to take her out to the garden in the first place. I never once imagined that….”
He trailed off, a groan escaping his lips as he shook his head.
“You did not believe her,” Lady Hayward said gently, as Lord Barrington nodded, dropping his head. “Might I ask how she fares today?”
“She has kept to her room and will not come out,” Lord Barrington replied, heavily. “I have already told the servants to begin packing her things so that she might be returned to the estate. My mother is in great distress also, believing that her daughter has made some of the most foolish choices imaginable.”
“But she did not,” Selina said, firmly. “I am sure that the gentleman in question forced your sister from the room, given what you say of how she responded to your presence when you found her. It was clearly relief that you had come for her, that you were present there with her. Although I expect that the damage has been done and that, very soon, you will receive a note demanding that you pay a certain sum to this gentleman in order to keep his lips sealed about what happened. No doubt he will share this with Lord Telford.”
“If he does not continue to ask for more,” Lady Hayward added, darkly. “There is no reason for him not to do so. Blackmail tends to be a never-ending thing. I am sure that most gentlemen would do anything they could to protect such a secret as this.”
Selina watched as Lord Barrington let out a long breath, rose and then rang the bell.
“I did not read your letter yesterday, Lady Selina,” he admitted, going to the corner of the room so that he might pour himself a drink. “I found myself quite caught up with things – ironically, things to do with my sister - and, come the evening, I thought to simply speak to you in person, so that I might apologize for being unable to read it, and to ask you what was contained within the missive.”
“But you could not have known that I would be absent entirely,” Selina replied softly. “That is not your fault, Lord Barrington. I quite understand.”
He grimaced and made to say more, only to be interrupted when the butler tapped on the door.
“Enter.”
“Should I send for tea, my Lord?”
“Yes. But also instruct the staff to stop packing away Lady Amelia’s things and return everything to its place,” Lord Barrington said, slowly, as the butler nodded. “And, tell me, have I received any correspondence today?”
The butler nodded.
“Indeed, my Lord.”
“Bring it to me at once.”
Again, the butler nodded, then stepped away, leaving Selina, Lady Hayward and Lord Barrington together once more.
“We will see if you are right, Lady Selina,” Lord Barrington said, heavily. “I feel such a burden of guilt at present, for my poor sister has…”
“Now is not the time to berate yourself, Lord Barrington,” Lady Hayward interrupted, gently. “Will you pay the money?”
Lord Barrington sighed and nodded.
“What else can I do?” he asked, as Selina watched the flickering emotions dart across his face. “If I do not, then I fear for what might happen to Amelia. She is my sister, as you have said, and I am entirely responsible for her. I must protect her, especially if she is not at all at fault for last evening events.”
“I am sure that she is not,” Selina replied, softly. “I am aware that you have
