She did what?
Chapter Nine
The first timeSelena ever found herself in a fix—stuck in a tree after picking apples in the countryside—she had been scolded for several hours on end by her brother. The two of them may not always have seen eye to eye, but her brother had always been there to get her out of scrapes. He had always been there for her, period. Always him. Their mother had decided to embark on a new life, but Selena didn’t blame her for that. She’d had Saville and that was enough.
Until the list of heiresses that he and his friends had created was exposed. For once, he had been the one who had caused the trouble. However, instead of helping her as he had done in the past, he had brought in Warrick.
Recalling those moments of his past protection, Selena’s current anger and sense of betrayal was partly over the list, but mostly over her brother’s abandonment. She had felt deserted by the very man who ought to have shielded her.
Warrick had been right about conflicting feelings.
So many conflicting feelings.
Because she had also experienced a sense of relief since she hadn’t entirely wanted him to protect her. She wanted to stand on her own. But then he’d gone and enlisted a proxy, confusing the matter further still.
Her feelings were deeply in conflict this very moment, though in this case they were about Warrick, hoping he wouldwalk through the door, and at the same time wishing he would not.
He didn’t.
And again, that feeling of inner turmoil surfaced.
Selena straightened when the barman approached with another two beers and set them on table.
“We didn’t order these,” Selena said, glancing at the big man with frank suspicion.
“Nevertheless, they’re for you.” He reached for their empty glasses. Only then did she notice the scars that crisscrossed his hands. “Don’t go anywhere. Wait.”
Selena watched his back as he strode off. Just what situation had they gotten themselves into? She turned her wide eyes to Leonora.
“Don’t go anywhere? Wait?” Leonora’s face mirrored hers. “Should we make a run for it? I can run pretty fast, but his legs are longer.”
Selena agreed. “I’m not sure how far we would get.”
“Aren’t you scared?” Leonora asked in a hushed voice.
“A bit,” Selena admitted truthfully. “But I’m also curious.”
Leonora’s eyes widened in disbelief. “About what?”
“Why we should wait.”
“Perhaps he caught onto us. I mean, we did ask him about charities, and we weren’t exactly inconspicuous when inspecting our glasses.”
“Speaking of which...” Selena carefully lifted her beer to peer at the bottom. No emblem. Highly suspicious. “You might be right.”
“This is not good, Selena. What are we going to do now?”
“Don’t fret,” Selena reassured even while her own heart thundered. Could it be a mere coincidence? She didn’t believe so. Odds were that they were finally going to meet whoever wasin charge of this club. This was what she had wanted. Also, “We still have our driver and footmen outside. We shall be fine.”
But for the first time since she started her search, Selena experienced a sense of crisis. These women, she knew nothing about them, nor did she know anything about the club. Though after today, it was clear that it was no ordinary club of women gathering and discussing the demise of the world hierarchy. And this time, neither her brother nor Warrick was here to save and protect her. Plus, she had dragged Leonora along.
Selena calmly took a sip of her beer. In a time of panic, never let the panic show. She’d learned that in all her years testing the boundaries of her brother’s temper. “I wonder if we know anyone in the club.”
“I suppose we shall be surprised by the reveal.”
“Would you join if they invited you?” Selena asked.
“That shall depend on what happens here today.” Leonora shifted in her seat, reaching for beer as well. “What about you? Will you join without evaluating the benefits?”
