“I am quite all right,” she assured him, seeing the concern in his face and wanting immediately to reassure him. “But Lady Hayward?”
“Is waiting for you,” he said, offering her his arm. “I must apologize, Lady Selina, for allowing Lord Telford to notice your nearness to Lady Amelia. I am sure that–”
“It was not your fault,” she interrupted, as they began to walk around the room towards Lady Hayward once more. “Surely you cannot place any sort of blame on yourself for that!”
Lord Barrington fell silent for a few moments and Selina’s heart tightened as she saw him frown. Just what had he said?
“I told Lord Telford that I knew he was involved with Lord Havers,” the gentleman replied, after a very long few minutes. “I was very emphatic about my knowledge of it, rather than expressing a belief or a supposition. Therefore, Lord Telford assumed that someone knew of his connection to Lord Havers and had informed me of it.” His eyes drifted to hers for a moment before snapping away again. “I believe that it did not take him long to realize that it was, most likely, you who had done so. If I had not been so foolish in my speech, then he might never have made that assumption.”
Selina frowned hard, her hand still on Lord Barrington’s arm. She could practically feel the strain within him, as though it was effusing from his very bones. She could understand his regret, certainly, but she herself held no such ill will.
“I am sure that Lord Telford might have come to such a conclusion himself, in time,” she answered, seeing Lady Hayward’s white face only a short distance away. She smiled warmly so as to reassure her chaperone, who then closed her eyes in great relief. “Lord Telford stated that he had noticed how close a friendship Lady Amelia and I had developed of late.” Slowing her steps, she looked up at Lord Barrington again. “You must not allow yourself to think so poorly of your behavior, Lord Barrington. I do not have any ill will toward you.”
Lord Barrington let out a long breath, nodded and thanked her.
“You have such a great kindness within you, Lady Selina,” he said, quietly. “My sister has come to consider you a great friend and I–”
He broke off suddenly and Selina looked up at him, their steps slowing all the more.
“And you, Lord Barrington?”
“I…”
“Selina!”
There was no time for him to finish what he had been about to say and, whilst Selina was greatly relieved to be back by Lady Hayward’s side, there came a swell of disappointment that crushed her heart. Lord Barrington cleared his throat and allowed himself a small smile as Lady Hayward thanked him profusely for what he had done, before making certain that Selina was not harmed in any way.
“I am quite well, Lady Hayward,” Selina assured her, as her chaperone closed her eyes again in apparent relief. “Lord Barrington came to my side at the very moment that I most needed help.”
“You were doing all you could to stop Lord Telford yourself, Lady Selina,” Lord Barrington replied, sending a smile to Selina’s face as she glanced up at him. “You were courageous indeed.”
His words made Selina’s smile grow all the more, as Lady Hayward reached out to press her hand, clearly overwrought now with both relief and the aftermath of fear.
“I am so very glad that you are returned without harm,” the lady murmured, as Selina smiled back at Lord Barrington. “Thank you, Lord Barrington.”
“Yes,” Selina added. “Thank you for watching for me, for coming to my aid. I do not think that I could have escaped Lord Telford without you.”
Lord Barrington inclined his head, although when he lifted it again, his eyes remained fixed on hers, something now held within his gaze that Selina could not quite make out.
“And I shall continue to do so,” he promised, his words swelling Selina’s heart in a manner that she had not expected. “I shall do so until this threat is gone, Lady Selina. Of that, you have my word.”
Chapter Ten
“If you frown any harder, I believe you will terrify anyone who approaches!”
Charles looked up sharply from where he had been staring, realizing that he had been doing nothing more than staring into the fire rather than being aware of anyone else around him.
“Banfield,” he muttered, gesturing to an empty chair. “Join me, if you wish.”
“Join you in your brooding?” Banfield replied, with a small smile. “Very well, but I confess I shall not be permitting such dark thoughts as you have at present to linger in my mind.”
Charles allowed himself a small smile and quickly caught the attention of a footman, ordering two glasses of their best brandy. White’s was quite busy this evening and Charles was grateful for it, feeling as though any conversation he was expected to have would have done nothing to lift his spirits.
“Might I ask if it is Lady Selina that occupies your thoughts?”
Snapping his head to the right, Charles fixed his gaze on Lord Banfield who, rather than apologize or look in any way contrite, arched one eyebrow and waited for Charles to reply.
He did not quite know what to say. The truth was that, yes, he had been thinking solely of Lady Selina, for the look on her face when he had found her last evening with Lord Telford had been one that he could not now remove from his thoughts. Even though tonight’s social occasion had gone very well indeed – for it had been a small gathering of friends and acquaintances at Lord and Lady Borthwick’s townhouse, and Lord Telford and Lord Havers had not been on the guest list – he had found himself continuing to consider Lady Selina.
“You do not answer me.”
“I have no need to,” Charles replied, speaking a little more sharply than he had intended. “Surely you must know that I have a good many concerns on my mind at present!”
Banfield chuckled.
“And one of those
