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“ T hank you for serving as my chaperone today as well as Fiona’s,” Cassandra said to Prudence as they sat down at Gunter’s to await their ices.

Fiona situated her skirts around her chair. “She may as well, since she’ll be chaperoning both of us at the Phoenix Club assembly on Friday.”

“I am still a bit surprised we are able to go. My father was not pleased, and he said I can only attend this one .” Cassandra made a face. “It would serve him right if I met my future husband there.”

“Speaking of future husbands,” Fiona murmured. “Apparently, I have a dowry, and my guardian has been dangling it as bait to attract suitors. What a disgusting practice.”

“It’s commonplace, I’m afraid,” Cassandra said with sympathy. “I didn’t realize you didn’t know that.”

Fiona blinked at her. “Did you know I had a large dowry?”

“Not specifically, but Con mentioned you were potential competition for me—and please don’t take that personally because Con is a bit of an ass—so I presumed you had a dowry.”

A shard of hurt sliced through Fiona. “Why, because I couldn’t possibly compete without it?”

Cassandra blinked in surprise. “Not at all. Con, like my father, believes the most important things a woman can bring to a marriage are position, land, and money. Since you don’t have the former two, it seemed you must have the latter.”

“Because of what your brother said.” Fiona ducked her head sheepishly. “My apologies. I should have realized, and I should not have been so na?ve about this. And everything else.”

Cassandra, seated to her left, reached over and briefly clasped Fiona’s hand. “No need to apologize. I just hope you aren’t angry with me.”

“Not at all. You’ve been nothing but a good friend.”

“Except for dragging you to the Phoenix Club.” She frowned with regret. “I can’t believe you aren’t angry with me . Especially since I was safely hidden in a closet.”

Fiona laughed. “Only because you were smarter than me.”

Cassandra grinned as the ices were delivered to their table. It was their second visit to the tea shop, and this time Fiona was keen to try the chocolate flavor while both Cassandra and Prudence had ordered the orange flower.

Picking up her spoon, Fiona returned to the matter of her dowry. “I just wish I could receive the dowry instead of my husband. Then I could ensure Mrs. Tucket could retire. She confided in me last night that she wants to return to the country.”

Prudence gave her a sad look. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“She’s horribly embarrassed about what happened at the Dungannon ball the other night. She’s afraid she’ll ruin things for me.” Fiona dipped her spoon into the ice cream. “If I had money, I could make sure she had a small cottage and could live in comfort and peace.”

“Your cousin in Shropshire won’t see to that?”

“I don’t see why he would. Mrs. Tucket has been my family’s maid-of-all-work since before I was born. He would feel no obligation toward her.” Fiona tried the chocolate and immediately appreciated the dark, rich flavor.

“Have you spoken to Lord Overton about this?” Prudence asked, surprising Fiona because she simply didn’t say much.

“Not directly, but he is aware of my…frustration in not being able to use my dowry,” Fiona said. “I plan to discuss it with my future husband, which at the moment seems to be Lord Gregory. However, I don’t want to be presumptuous, so I must wait until he proposes.”

Cassandra regarded her with a bit of shock. “Are you really considering marrying him?”

“I must consider it.”

“Is that what you really want though?”

For some reason, Fiona thought of Overton. Probably because he’d made her position untenable. If he’d never brought her to London, she and Mrs. Tucket would be living the life they’d long enjoyed.

Enjoyed? Fiona had been bored in Shropshire, horribly so in hindsight.

“What I really want is independence,” she said softly before digging her spoon into the ice cream and taking a large, decadent mouthful.

Cassandra swallowed a bite of her ice cream and gave Fiona a wistful look.

“Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Perhaps Lord Gregory will be the sort of husband who will allow you the freedoms you desire.

And he may very well support Mrs. Tucket, especially if he loves you and sees how important she is to you.

I think a marriage with love or at least mutual respect and care is the greatest freedom we can hope for. ”

Love? Fiona hadn’t contemplated that at all. She was fairly certain her parents hadn’t loved each other. She wasn’t sure what that even looked like. She did know that she hadn’t loved anyone, not beyond her parents, and that was different.

“Why do you think that?” Fiona asked.

“Because marriage is the societal ideal. Without it, we will always be lacking in the ton’s eyes, whether we have the financial ability to live independently or not.

I hope I can find a caring husband. It’s just easier than the alternatives,” Cassandra said, plunging her spoon into her dish.

“My father insists I become betrothed by the end of May or he’s going to arrange a suitable marriage.

I suspect that will diminish my chances for an amiable union. ”

Prudence lifted a shoulder. “Occasionally, an arranged marriage works out well. King George and Queen Charlotte were quite happy before, well, before.”

Fiona knew what she meant—before the king had become ill and his son had been made Regent.

Cassandra waved her spoon. “While that may be true, his eldest son and his arranged wife quite despise each other.”

“There is only one solution,” Fiona declared. “We must pool our pin money and run away. Where shall we go?”

Cassandra giggled.

Prudence raised her hand. “If I also contribute funds, may I come along?”

“Of course!” Fiona and Cassandra answered in unison before they all dissolved into laughter.

“Sounds like you’re having quite a gay time.”

Fiona recovered herself and looked up at the woman who’d approached their table. Petite with pale skin and blonde hair, the woman fixed her blue eyes on Cassandra first. “Good afternoon, Lady Cassandra.”

“Lady Bentley.”

Fiona noted the tightness in Cassandra’s voice and surmised she didn’t care for the new arrival.

Cassandra offered Lady Bentley a weak smile. “Allow me to present my friend, Miss Fiona Wingate and her companion, Miss Lancaster.”

Fiona rose and curtsied, as did Prudence. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She tried to remember who Lady Bentley was. The name was familiar, probably from Debrett’s, but Fiona couldn’t place the title.

Lady Bentley turned her bright blue gaze on Fiona. “Miss Wingate, are you Lord Overton’s ward? It seems you are. I heard about your presentation to the queen.”

Of course she had.

“How charming of you to bring that up,” Cassandra said, her voice and features carrying a sharp edge.

“Yes, well, it was quite the story.” Lady Bentley laughed, a soft but wholly grating sound. At least to Fiona. “I did feel sorry for Overton. He’s had such a bad time of things since I chose Bentley over him.”

Fiona couldn’t think of what to say to that surprising revelation. Why on earth would this woman have chosen anyone besides Overton? He was witty, thoughtful, handsome, caring. “Has he? He seems in rather good spirits to me.” Fiona looked to her tablemates. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Most definitely.” Cassandra blinked in what appeared to be mock ignorance at Lady Bentley.

“Did you actually choose Bentley, or was the choice made for you? I can’t imagine why you’d choose him over the earl.

” Her eyes rounded briefly before she leaned toward Fiona and whispered, though not quietly enough that Lady Bentley couldn’t hear, “Bentley’s opinion of himself wasn’t quite so inflated then.

Also, his father is a duke.” She pursed her lips.

Lady Bentley’s eyes narrowed. “He didn’t attempt to kidnap me to Gretna Green, as Overton did. Overton would have made a terrible husband. Autocratic and cold, as his father was known to be.”

Fiona didn’t believe for a moment that her guardian would kidnap anyone. Nor did she believe the other things Lady Bentley said about him. “I’ve never known Lord Overton to be anything but warm and kind. Perhaps you misunderstood his intentions.”

“Oh yes, that must be it,” Cassandra said eagerly. “I’d wager the truth is that he offered to kidnap Bentley so he could avoid the parson’s trap.”

“You are not at all amusing,” Lady Bentley said with considerable affront.

Cassandra adopted a sober expression and lowered her voice to a remorseful tone. “My apologies. I thought you were jesting, and we were simply playing along.”

“Well, good day.” Lady Bentley turned on her heel and stalked toward the door, her maid following quickly behind.

“What an unpleasant woman,” Prudence murmured.

“Indeed,” Fiona agreed. “Did Overton really want to marry her?”

Cassandra shrugged. “I recall that he’d had his heart broken, but I don’t pay attention to gossip. And, of course, I wasn’t out then.”

He’d had his heart broken. Fiona felt a surge of sympathy for him.

“I realize I don’t know him extensively, but he’s never seemed cold or autocratic to me.

Yes, he’s been demanding and rather managing when it comes to my future, but even then, he seems to change his mind in favor of allowing me to do things as I choose.

Friday’s assembly is a prime example. He wasn’t going to let me go and then changed his mind. ”

Cassandra cocked her head as she studied Fiona. “I wonder why. Has he developed a particular affection for you?”

“It may be that he is striving to not be like his father,” Prudence suggested.

“I have heard talk from the servants about Lord Overton. His relationship with his father was fraught, especially after he didn’t marry as expected two seasons ago.

If the prior earl was autocratic, it makes sense that the current earl may reverse decisions that could be seen in the same light. ”