Page 83

T obias walked into Lord and Lady Edgemont’s house near Berkeley Square, trailing his ward and her chaperone and sponsor.

Miss Wingate looked lovely this evening, dressed in an ivory ballgown trimmed in pale green and gold.

Her dark red hair was expertly styled, proving her new lady’s maid, recommended by Lady Pickering, was a welcome addition to the household.

Tobias didn’t want to think about how much money his ward was costing him.

It didn’t bear consideration because his father had set aside a rather large sum for precisely this purpose.

Why his father was so willing to invest in this young woman was baffling.

Tobias supposed it was simply because of the affection he bore Miss Wingate’s father, but since Tobias had never witnessed any sort of warm feeling from him—toward anyone —it was hard to believe.

Or perhaps it was only difficult to accept that he’d apparently liked his friend from Oxford better than his own family.

Lord and Lady Edgemont greeted them in their grand staircase hall.

“So many lovely young ladies having their first Season,” Lady Edgemont exclaimed after meeting Miss Wingate. “You shall have a hard time choosing a wife, Lord Overton!”

He smiled blandly before offering his arm to Lady Pickering so they could climb the stairs to the ballroom. Or what was likely, in a house this size, a drawing room and another chamber opened up together to create something approaching the breadth of an actual ballroom.

“How did Lady Edgemont know I am in search of a wife?” he whispered to Lady Pickering.

“Because you are.” She sent him a scolding look. “Why else would you be back in Society after your…respite?”

The word respite made his activities seem positively benign.

“It’s obvious I am looking for a countess?

” He’d hoped to conduct his search without the pressure of Society watching his every move.

But Lady Pickering was right—his return to Society after nearly two years of skirting the edges would be noted.

And questioned. And endlessly remarked and speculated upon. He groaned inwardly.

“It is the logical conclusion. Particularly since you have recently inherited the earldom.” Lady Pickering pressed her lips together. “On second thought, perhaps people won’t make that assumption. Logic isn’t found in the greatest abundance in the ton.”

Tobias grinned as they reached the drawing room. There were already a few dozen people in attendance, and the musicians were warming up.

Lady Pickering looked back at Miss Wingate and Miss Lancaster and inclined her head toward the wall where a tall window looked over Charles Street below. A line of carriages moved slowly beside the pavement.

“Now, Miss Wingate, do remember everything we discussed. You must accept every invitation to dance until your card is full.”

Miss Wingate nodded.

“Are you feeling nervous?” Lady Pickering asked.

“Only about some of the dances.”

Apparently, her mother had taught her to dance, but with no occasion to practice or become proficient, the lessons had faded from Miss Wingate’s memory. Resultingly, she’d spent yesterday afternoon and a good portion of today with a dancing master.

Lady Pickering gently patted her arm. “You’ll do fine. Now, let us make the rounds and do your best to remember everyone’s name.”

Tobias again escorted Lady Pickering as they circulated the room, introducing Miss Wingate—and Miss Lancaster as her companion—to everyone they encountered.

The higher the rank, the longer they stayed to converse.

By the time they’d nearly reached the door again, Miss Wingate had received four invitations to dance.

Then the music started, and Mr. Mansfield came to lead her onto the floor.

Tobias pivoted to excuse himself. He needed to extend his own invitations to dance.

“Just a moment,” Lady Pickering said. She edged closer to him, lowering her voice to a bare whisper. “Are you aware that your ward was seen walking in Hyde Park yesterday morning?”

Evidently that was bad, given Lady Pickering’s disdainful expression. Her dark brows were pitched low over her eyes, which flashed with mild irritation.

He looked toward Miss Lancaster, who stood far enough away that she couldn’t hear what they said. In addition, she’d fixed her attention on the dancefloor. “Er, no. I didn’t even realize she’d gone for a walk at all.”

“This must not happen. Ladies do not walk in Hyde Park before the afternoon. Do you know what sort of nastiness happens in Hyde Park in the morning?”

Tobias looked at her blankly. “I often ride on Rotten Row in the morning.”

“Precisely. You are a man. And an obtuse one at that. You must instruct Miss Wingate, and more importantly, her companion, that they are not to do that.”

“I’m certain it was an oversight.” Except Miss Lancaster should have known better, shouldn’t she? But then Tobias didn’t know her that well. He’d relied entirely on Lucien’s recommendation.

“Good. You’ll need to keep a much closer eye on your household, particularly if you want to achieve your own goals. Regarding that matter, who are you considering?”

“Ah, Miss Goodfellow perhaps?” He still didn’t know who she was.

“Then why aren’t you dancing with her?”

Tobias glanced about, which was absurd since he didn’t even know who he was looking for. “She’s here?”

Lady Pickering sighed. “Have you even met her?”

“Probably.”

“Can you pick her out?”

“No.”

She exhaled with exasperation. “Come with me.”

He held up his hand. “Wait just a moment and then you may introduce us. Or reintroduce us.” He shook his head. “If you have other recommendations, I’d be interested to hear them. Just no young ladies in their first Season.”

“Why?”

“I prefer someone with a bit more experience.”

Lady Pickering’s brows climbed.

“Not that kind of experience, though a widow would be acceptable.”

“I see. You want a woman who already knows who she is and what she wants.”

“That would be wonderful, actually.”

“I will keep that in mind. And I do have suggestions. I’ll introduce you to one or two of them tonight if they are here.” She gave him a sharp stare that made him want to fidget, and he never fidgeted. “Why are you in a rush to marry suddenly?”

He shrugged, not intending to tell her, or anyone else, the true reason. “I just am.”

“There is more to it than that, but I won’t demand an answer.” She narrowed her eyes. “Yet.”

Pausing to tell Miss Lancaster they were going to mingle, Lady Pickering led him to the refreshment area and introduced him to Miss Goodfellow.

If Tobias had met her before, he didn’t remember.

He also didn’t remember her mother, who stood alongside her.

Both were attractive women, taller than average, with bright cobalt eyes.

Tobias asked Miss Goodfellow to dance the next set, and she agreed. In the meantime, he noted the arrival of Lucien’s brother, Constantine, the Earl of Aldington, and their younger sister, Lady Cassandra.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment, Lady Pickering, Mrs. Goodfellow, Miss Goodfellow. I’d like to speak with a friend briefly.”

Miss Goodfellow curtsied, and Tobias bowed in response. He quickly made his way toward Aldington.

“Good evening, Overton,” Lucien’s brother said with a warmth that was not reflected in his hazel eyes. There’d always been something off about Aldington, as if he were eternally uncomfortable.

“Good evening, Aldington, Lady Cassandra.” He bowed to the young lady and felt sorry for Lucien because he seemed bothered by the prospect of his sister marrying.

And she would marry—she was far too beautiful and charming to last long.

Plus, she was the daughter of a duke and in possession of a large dowry.

That alone made her a sought-after bride.

Lady Cassandra rose from her curtsey, her sherry-colored eyes sparkling. “How lovely to see you, Overton. I’d almost forgotten you aren’t Deane anymore.”

“I will still answer to that.” In fact, he rather preferred it to Overton, which in his mind was his father, not him.

“You must meet my ward, Miss Wingate, when she is finished with the set. It is her first Season too and she is new to London. Indeed, it’s the first time she’s left Shropshire.

She’s in the ivory gown with the ribbons. ”

“Green and gold ones or pink?” Lady Cassandra asked.

Tobias squinted. “Oh, I suppose there is another ivory gown with ribbons. The green and gold ones. I should have just said dark red hair.” She was the only woman in the room with such vibrantly colored locks.

“I look forward to meeting her.”

Turning his attention to Aldington, Tobias clapped him on the shoulder.

“We must catch up. Perhaps later we can have a drink—” He abruptly cut himself off before saying at the Phoenix Club because Aldington was not a member.

It wasn’t that Lucien wouldn’t have invited him, but Aldington had made it clear that he would never accept. As a result, they hadn’t bothered.

Aldington seemed to know what he meant, for his eyes narrowed very slightly.

“At White’s,” Tobias said. He was still a member there, even if he hadn’t entered the building in nigh on two years.

“You’d come to White’s?” Aldington asked dubiously.

“Certainly! I’ll see you there later.” He bowed to Lady Cassandra before returning to Miss Goodfellow.

After greeting her and her mother once more, he asked if Miss Goodfellow would like to take a turn about the room. The current set was nearing its finish, and there would be a short break before the next.

“That would be amenable,” she said with a slight nod. She had an intense gaze, but her demeanor was…measured. Yes, that was the best word to describe her.

Her mother smiled approvingly as Tobias offered Miss Goodfellow his arm.

Tobias looked at her askance as they began their circuit of the room. “You are quite tall.”