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Jo scrambled off the floor, entered the room, and helped Selena to her feet. Both women started adjusting their clothing.

“What happened?” Jo looked Selena up and down. Her hair was disheveled, and her gown was wrinkled. Jo imagined she didn’t look much better, not because of the tumble, but rather because of her lurid interlude with the viscount.

“I just came to our room, rather tired, and leaned against the door,” Selena said as she readjusted her clothing. “And then a moment later, you pulled the rug out of my feet, or rather pushed the door from behind my leaning back.”

Jo let out a chuckle and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, I’m sorry, darling.”

Selena’s troubled face softened. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know I was there. Should have leaned against the wall.”

“What are you doing here so early?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Selena said, eyeing Jo’s appearance. “By the look of it, it wasn’t the tumble that wrinkled your perfect appearance. Or at least, not that kind of tumble.”

Jo looked down at her gown and self-consciously smoothed her hair. Her cheeks heated, and her mouth went dry.

Selena let out a chuckle and hid behind the screen as she started disrobing. “Tell me, who is the lucky gentleman? Or should I say the lucky chap, since I know you don’t cavort with aristocrats?”

Jo swallowed. She didn’t want to lie to Selena. Besides, she needed to get it off her chest. “Viscount Gage.”

Selena’s head appeared from behind the screen, her eyes wide. “The viscount?”

“Yes, I know!” Jo threw up her hands and started pacing. “I don’t know what came over me. One minute we were talking about the place of women in society and the next moment he was kissing me… And I, well… I was kissing him back.”

Selena laughed as she made her way from behind the screen in her underskirts and stays. She turned her back to Jo. “Would you mind helping me undo the stays?”

Jo heaved a sigh. “Of course. Although I do not understand why you hide behind the screen in the first place if you’re still trotting in front of me in your undergarments. And I’ve seen you a few times without.”

Selena let out a cackle. “Dear, I use the screens to hang my clothing and nothing more, I assure you. But do not change the subject. Tell me about the viscount.”

Jo undid Selena’s stays, and the latter caught it against her chest and hid behind the screen again.

“You can hang your clothing onto the screen from this side, too, you know!” Jo said irritably, then continued her pacing.

Selena mumbled something in response, but Jo didn’t hear her.

“But you know what the most annoying part of this is? I don’t think I can resist him if he wants to do it again later.”

Selena’s head popped out from behind the screen. “Why resist?”

“You know why!” Jo cried.

Selena slowly emerged from behind the screen in her nightgown. “No, I don’t know why. I understand your insistence on not having a protector. But why not amuse yourself with the viscount during the house party?”

“Because… Because…” Jo chewed on her lower lip.

“Yes?” Selena asked as she climbed into bed.

“Because it will lead to complications. It always does.”

Selena shrugged. “Then give him a few conditions. You only get together when you want it. You always use… the armor, and it is only for the duration of the house party. It shall keep all other men away from you, too. You know we are always accosted by men at these functions. What better way to keep them at bay than having a protector?”

“You don’t have a protector.” Jo raised a brow. “And you were gleefully saying you would be free to enjoy the house party with all of its delights without any restrictions because of it.”

“Well, I was wrong.” Selena buried herself under the covers. “I forgot what it’s like to be unattached at a house party, deflecting unwanted advances. And that’s why I am going to bed instead of enjoying the ball.”

Jo frowned. “Did something happen? Was someone too insistent in their advances?”

Selena shook her head. “Nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps I am just getting old. Which is another reason to enjoy the liaisons while we can. The offers will be coming fewer and farther in between as we age.” She shrugged then turned to her side.