“Might I ask the specifics of this bet?” Lady Hayward asked, as Selina laced her fingers in front of her tightly. “What has been said?”
Lord Barrington cleared his throat, perhaps feeling a trifle awkward. “Lord Donaldson has declared himself to have been rejected by you, Lady Selina,” he said, with a small, apologetic smile. “He states he is distraught but also filled with irritation that such a chit of a girl should treat him such a way. The cries he made in Whites, I believe, were heard by almost everyone present!” His smile grew just a little. “He talked of how he expected to be considered by you, how, as an Earl, he did not think himself too lowly, but how you were less than eager to dance with him and converse with him. Given that he was pretending to be in his cups, the fact that he placed a most ridiculous bet was accepted by all.”
Selina swallowed hard.
“The bet,” she asked, quietly. “What did it say?”
Lord Barrington took a small step closer to her, his voice dropping low.
“Lord Donaldson stated that he was so greatly injured by your rejection that he wants very much to see you similarly injured, rejected by those around you,” he said, quietly. “Therefore, to any gentleman who can pull you from your chaperone, who can encourage you into a less than proper situation where Lord Donaldson himself might then happen to see such a thing occur, will be given a great deal of coin from Lord Donaldson.”
Lady Hayward shook her head urgently.
“But that might mean, Lord Barrington, that a great many gentlemen will be seeking to do such a thing!” she exclaimed, as Selina sucked in a breath into her tight lungs, realizing what her chaperone meant. “Lady Selina is in very great danger!”
“Indeed, it may well appear so, but most gentlemen of the ton will find such a bet most improper and downright disgraceful,” Lord Barrington assured her. “In addition, Lord Donaldson has stated that any gentleman who wishes to take on such a task must inform him of it at once, and of their movements, so that he can make sure that he will be present to see Lady Selina being so compromised. Those who do not will not receive a single penny from him. It has all been written out in great detail and the specifics are quite clear.”
A measure of tension left Selina’s frame, but the nervousness and anxiety still remained.
“Lord Donaldson will inform either myself or Lady Hayward of the gentlemen who have sought to do as he has asked,” Lord Barrington continued, gently. “I do not expect there will be many.”
“And, in doing so, he will be able to inform us of Lord Telford’s plans,” Selina finished, as Lord Barrington nodded. “I quite understand, Lord Barrington.”
He inclined his head towards her.
“I will have Lord Donaldson introduce himself to you this evening, albeit in as quiet a manner as possible, given the animosity that is meant to be between you.” Reaching out, he touched Selina’s hand and she gave it to him at once, feeling the gentle press of his fingers and finding herself a little more encouraged. “You are doing a great deal for Lady Amelia and myself, Lady Selina. I do hope that you know just how grateful I am to you.”
“I do it not only for both of you, but also for those who might otherwise have been ruined by Lord Telford’s cruelty,” Selina replied, squeezing his fingers in return before reluctantly letting them go. “But I should very much like to see you freed from this burden, Lord Barrington.”
Grimacing, he shook his head.
“I would pay as much as was asked of me, if it kept my sister – and you also, Lady Selina - safe from harm,” he said, fervently, “but it is their cruelty, selfishness and arrogance that I must battle against.”
“And it seems we shall do so,” Lady Hayward stated, as Lord Barrington allowed himself a small smile. “Let us pray that we are successful.”
There is a fondness in your heart for Lord Barrington.
Lady Hayward’s words spun around Selina’s mind as she waltzed with the very gentlemen in question. She could not deny that there was such a thing, and certainly, it seemed, could not hide it either. The fact that Lady Hayward believed that it was returned to her, that Lord Barrington also had an affection for her, was something too wonderful to believe.
And yet, Selina knew that there could be no discussion on such a matter until the situation with Lord Telford could be brought to a close. However, for the moment, she could steal little moments of joy for herself – such as this very moment here.
“You dance very well, Lady Selina.”
“I thank you, Lord Barrington,” she murmured, all too aware of his nearness as he held her gently. “I do very much enjoy dancing with you.”
Shock and embarrassment filled her as she realized precisely what she had said. There was no escaping from it now. She had meant to state that there was nothing she enjoyed more than dancing but had managed to tell him just how much she appreciated his company specifically!
“I am honored, Lady Selina,” came the reply, as he glanced down at her, probably aware of the flush of mortification which now washed right through her. “And for what it is worth, I would say the very same to you.”
Swallowing hard, Selina nodded, smiled briefly and then focused solely on the dance itself. She did not need to say anything more, did not need
