His Lady Mistress

50 His Lady Mistressover as I came around the corner. It wasn’t her fault.’ Keepit simple. No explanations. Hopefully she won’t rememberyou were supposed to be going to Celia’s room—in the oppositedirection.She held her breath.So, from his vantage point just inside his bedchamber, didMax. Obviously Godfrey didn’t confine his harassment to Selina.He opened the door a little more.Lady Faringdon had her back to him, but she looked asthough a poker had been stitched into her gown. He focusedon Selina, standing between her mistress and the weepingmaid. Her face was blank, expressionless, the eyes downcast.Silence held for a moment. He could see the fierce tensionin Selina’s body as she waited for the inevitable. Any momentnow she’d be dismissed. She’d saved the maid at thecost of her own position. Savagely he reminded himself thatit didn’t matter, that he’d look after her even if she didn’tknow it.Then a blur of movement and a ringing slap. Selina stoodunflinching as her cheek flamed scarlet from the blow.He didn’t even realise he had moved. ‘Good morning,Lady Faringdon. A little domestic disaster?’ He avoided Selina’seyes. If he saw that mark on her cheek he might juststrangle his hostess.Lady Faringdon blanched, her hand going to her mouth.‘Oh!’Max waited. If she struck Selina again...‘Why, Lord Blakehurst! I do hope we didn’t disturb you.’With a suppressed snarl she turned on Selina. ‘Insolent hussy!I’ll deal with you later.’Then she snapped at the maid. ‘Clean that up and get backto your duties, girl. Godfrey—our guests are waiting to goriding. You should be down already.’ Her smile became gracious.‘And you, Lord Blakehurst? Are you not going?’He lied without hesitation. ‘That was my intention, but I