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“So I’m told.” There was no inflection to the statement, but Tobias understood her meaning.

“My apologies. That was not only unoriginal; it was a ridiculous thing to say.”

The edge of her mouth curved up. “You’re fairly tall, though not the tallest man I’ve met.”

He laughed. “Touché. Tell me, what do you like to read?”

Her gait slowed momentarily, and she looked at him as if he’d sprouted another ear. “Newspapers. Pamphlets about matters of the day.”

“Indeed?” Tobias’s eye caught his ward on the dance floor just as the set came to an end.

Her partner bowed to her, then took her hand.

His gaze lingered on Miss Wingate’s chest before he led her from the floor.

Tobias felt the urge to go and knock him down.

How dare the scoundrel look at his ward like that?

“Is something amiss?” Miss Goodfellow asked.

Tobias blinked and refocused on the woman at his side. “What? No. I have a ward, and I’m afraid I’m new to this guardian business. My father didn’t give me much notice on that front.”

“Your father recently passed away, is that right?”

He nodded. “In December.”

“Yet here you are, mingling in Society so soon after. I’d be shunned if I did that.” Her jaw tightened, and he felt the ripple of tension that passed through her.

“It’s not fair, is it?” he asked, thinking she’d probably fit right in at the Phoenix Club.

It’s too bad she wasn’t eligible. They did not invite young unmarried ladies.

They did, however, invite spinsters. Not many, but a few.

When exactly did a woman pass from marriageable to spinster? More importantly, why ?

He surveyed Miss Goodfellow and judged her to be approaching her middle twenties, if not already there.

She was likely seen, at least by some, as on the shelf, meaning she was past the point where most men would take an interest in her.

Tobias understood her quiet outrage and, frankly, shared it.

There shouldn’t be an expiration on a woman’s marriageability. There certainly wasn’t one on his.

“Fair is subjective, isn’t it?” She cast him an enigmatic glance.

“I suppose it is. However, I think I can state, without argument, that when it comes to expectations of men and women in Society, they are not held to an equal standard.”

“On that we agree, my lord.”

They’d reached the opposite corner of the room. He turned and started back the way they’d come. In doing so, he had a clear view of his ward speaking with Lady Cassandra. Lady Pickering and Miss Lancaster stood nearby. Likely Lady Pickering had taken care of the introduction then.

“Lord Overton?”

Tobias pulled his attention from Miss Wingate. “Yes?”

“Have you reentered Society so soon after your father’s death because you’ve decided to take a wife?”

Bollocks. She’d cut right to the heart of his intent. Logic may not be rampant amongst the ton, but he’d selected a lady with a keen intelligence. He looked forward to discussing the “matters of the day” with her when they danced.

“I am an earl and must marry at some point,” he said diplomatically.

“And who knows, perhaps my countess is in this very ballroom.” He gave her a broad smile before darting another look toward Miss Wingate.

Her arm was linked with Lady Cassandra’s.

They looked thick as thieves already. He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

Lady Cassandra was, after all, Lucien’s sister.

She was also Aldington’s, so her behavior could go either way.

She could be the best possible influence on Miss Wingate, or she could be a problem.

Now they were leaving the ballroom together. Suddenly, Tobias wondered at the wisdom of them meeting.

Alas, the music began. He’d have to play guardian after.

Fiona had only collided with one dancer but had stepped on Mr. Mansfield’s feet at least twice.

As he escorted her from the dance floor, she noted her guardian was strolling the perimeter of the room with a tall, rather pretty woman with dark hair.

Was he looking for a countess? She hoped so.

Perhaps he’d focus on that instead of trying to marry her off.

Mr. Mansfield delivered her to Lady Pickering and Prudence. He took Fiona’s hand and bowed over it. “Thank you so much for the dance. I shall look forward to next time.” He smiled at her, keeping his mouth closed. She’d caught sight of his somewhat crooked teeth during the dance.

“Thank you.” She dipped into a brief curtsey before he turned and departed.

“Well done,” Lady Pickering said. “I want to introduce you to someone who will be a good ally for you this Season.” She led Fiona and Prudence to a beautiful young woman and a rather stoic gentleman.

“Lord Aldington, Lady Cassandra, may I present Miss Fiona Wingate? She is Lord Overton’s ward.

And this is her companion, Miss Lancaster.

” She looked to Fiona. “Lord Aldington is the heir to the Duke of Evesham, and Lady Cassandra is his sister.”

Lord Aldington was dressed very conservatively in all black with a dark blue waistcoat.

His tawny hair was styled neatly, if not terribly fashionably, and his hazel eyes regarded her with interest, if not warmth.

Conversely, Lady Cassandra wore a stunning coral ballgown with embroidery on the sleeves and seed pearls sewn into the bodice.

Her dark hair was artfully arranged with more pearls, and she wore a beautiful coral necklace.

She was like a bright flower waving in the sun.

Fiona had thought her own gown was lovely and that her curled and styled hair looked nice, but Lady Cassandra commanded attention.

She also possessed an air that said she didn’t particularly care about getting it.

Fiona instantly liked her.

Lady Cassandra held out her hand. Uncertain, Fiona glanced toward Lady Pickering, who inclined her head.

Fiona took the young lady’s hand, and Lady Cassandra gave her a warm squeeze.

“I’m delighted to meet you. Navigating the Season together will be such fun.

” Her eyes danced with enthusiasm, and Fiona couldn’t help but smile.

Letting go of Fiona, Lady Cassandra gestured for her to come stand next to her. She looked toward her brother. “Con, aren’t you going to say something?”

He arched a tawny brow at her. “May I?”

“No, no, you don’t get to say that.” Lady Cassandra rolled her eyes. “I am not monopolizing the conversation. However, I intend to, so say something now.”

Aldington gave Fiona a slight bow. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Wingate. You are quite fortunate to have Lady Pickering sponsoring you.” He sent an approving look toward Lady Pickering.

“I think so,” Fiona said. “Who is your sponsor, Lady Cassandra?” It occurred to Fiona that it was probably her mother. She oughtn’t assume other young ladies were like her and no longer had mothers.

“My aunt. She’s here somewhere.” Lady Cassandra glanced briefly about the room, but without any apparent intent of finding her. “She rarely stands still.”

“Like you,” her brother murmured.

Fiona couldn’t tell if Aldington was being kind or not.

Without any siblings of her own, such relationships were foreign to her.

But Lady Cassandra’s answering laugh said she wasn’t offended by what he’d said.

“Just so, Brother. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I must visit the retiring room, and Miss Wingate is going to accompany me. ”

“Fiona, when is your next dance?” Lady Pickering asked.

“Not this set but the next.” She had plenty of time to visit the retiring room, and she wanted to ask Lady Cassandra a thousand questions.

“Go along with them, Miss Lancaster,” Lady Pickering said with a gentle smile.

Lady Cassandra looped her arm through Fiona’s and led her from the ballroom. “How was your dance with Mansfield?”

“Fine, I think. I did step on his feet a few times. I have not had much experience dancing.”

“You’re new to London then?” She directed Fiona up the stairs.

Fiona glanced back to make sure Prudence was following. Of course, she was. “I just arrived from Shropshire the other day.”

“And you’re already out? My goodness, Overton didn’t give you much time to prepare.”

“It’s quite all right. I’ve spent my entire life in a small town without much family. I am eager to be out.”

Lady Cassandra flashed her a smile as they reached the landing of the next floor.

“Then this will be an exciting Season! It’s my first one too.

I presume the goal is for you to wed before it ends.

” She waved her hand. “It must be. There is no other reason to have a Season. If you don’t want to marry, you may as well be Miss Lancaster.

” She turned toward Prudence. “My apologies, I meant no offense. Indeed, I envy you in many ways.”

“I have no complaints about my current station,” Prudence said pleasantly.

Lady Cassandra led them into a room arranged with chaises and chairs, as well as several mirrors. There was lemonade, pitchers of water, and a maid to presumably provide assistance.

“Would you mind fetching a plate of biscuits or similar?” Lady Cassandra asked. “I’m feeling a bit peckish.”

The maid curtsied and took herself off.

Fiona would never have realized you could ask for something like that. “There was food in the ballroom.”

“Oh, I’m not really hungry. I just wanted her to leave us alone. Servants often gossip.” Lady Cassandra winked at Fiona. “How can we get to know each other if we’re thinking about whether our words will be repeated?” She looked at Prudence. “You don’t gossip, do you?”