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“You want to extend the invitation immediately?” Tobias smiled as he shook his head.

“You are impossibly devoted to your sister.” He often wished he had a sibling for whom he could care about in that way.

Perhaps he should try to think of Miss Wingate in that manner.

Yes, a younger sister he would oversee and protect.

“Someone has to be,” Lucien said. “I’m merely trying to speak to as many of…us as possible. Will you stop by the club later?”

“I will. Are you prepared for your father and brother to be furious with you?”

Lucien smirked. “Always. Father will try to prohibit Cass from going to the balls, but I’ll win out in the end, particularly if Aunt Christina joins the cause.”

“Do we really want her though?” She possessed an air of insincerity that pricked Tobias’s ire.

“Think of another way for my sister and your ward to gain entry, and I’ll support it. Now go dance with Miss Goodfellow.”

“It’s your bloody club,” Tobias muttered. “If you can’t find a way for your own sister to come, whose fault is that?” With a final look over his shoulder, Tobias took himself off to the corner.

“Good evening, Lord Overton,” Mrs. Goodfellow greeted him. “How pleasing to see you this evening.”

He bowed to both women. “The pleasure is mine. Might we promenade and then dance, Miss Goodfellow?”

“I would appreciate that, thank you.”

Appreciate. What did that mean?

Christ, he was in a mood. And he still didn’t know why. He exhaled the tension from his shoulders and gave Miss Goodfellow his arm and a bright smile.

Later that night, when Tobias was settled in his coach with Miss Wingate and Miss Lancaster, he stretched his legs out, feeling much better than he had earlier.

His promenade and dance with Miss Goodfellow had gone exceedingly well.

He’d call on her Monday, and perhaps a week from now, they’d be ready to announce their betrothal.

“How was your evening?” Tobias asked. “I barely saw you.”

“I danced a great deal. Did you happen to see?” Her eyes held a delightful sparkle. “I’m much better.”

“I did, actually. Well done.”

“Several people did ask me about the unfortunate situation at the queen’s drawing room. Most commented that I looked well recovered.”

Tobias wrinkled his nose. “Did that bother you?”

“Not at all,” she said brightly. “Lord Gregory and I had quite a laugh about it, actually.”

“Lord Gregory?” Tobias asked as if he didn’t know who the man was or that he’d all but delivered him into her orbit.

“We danced. And promenaded, I suppose. I liked him very much.” Her eyes sparkled in the lamplight. “He said he was recently invited to join the Phoenix Club but hadn’t yet decided whether to accept. I convinced him he should.”

“Did you now?”

“What possible reason could there be to decline it?” She stared at him intently.

“It’s a coveted invitation. I heard one woman carping about being ignored by the club, but she seemed unpleasant.

And since everyone I know who is a member is exceedingly pleasant, it’s easy to deduce that the membership must be of a high quality. ”

Enchanted by her reasoning, he curled his mouth into a faint smile. “Which members do you know exactly?”

“Er, you, of course. And I met Lord Lucien this evening.” She looked up at the ceiling of the coach, as if she might find an answer in the brocade. “Very well, I don’t know many, but you are exceedingly pleasant.”

Feeling inordinately flattered, Tobias sat a bit straighter. “Thank you.”

Miss Wingate tipped her head to the side. She brushed at a dark red curl grazing her temple. “What is the Star Chamber?”

Tobias stared at her. “The what?”

“That’s what some call the club’s membership committee.”

“Is that true?” He glanced toward Miss Lancaster.

Her brows rose. “Why would I know?”

“No reason. I’m just…surprised.” He laughed. “And amused. The Star Chamber , really?”

“Because it’s so secretive ,” Miss Wingate said, lowering her voice and grinning as she said the last word.

“And because the committee has such power,” Miss Lancaster put in.

“So you did know?” Tobias asked Miss Lancaster.

She shrugged, smiling faintly.

Miss Wingate nodded. “Yes, their power. I’d love to know who’s on this committee. Besides Lord Lucien, of course. And the patronesses.”

“Who said the patronesses are on the committee?” The question leapt from his mouth before he considered how it might sound. But it was silly to think they’d gather he was on the committee from just that.

“No one said ,” Miss Wingate answered breezily, not seeming to make any assumptions about his question. “Lord Gregory and I were only musing as to who the members might be. They seemed the most obvious candidates. I have not met Mrs. Renshaw. I understand she oversees the ladies’ side.”

Tobias knew what she was doing. “You’re trying to maneuver your way into an assembly, aren’t you?”

“Is that bad?” Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she pursed her lips. “You’re certainly not helping.”

“That’s not true.” He crossed his arms. “Why are you so bloody interested in going to a Phoenix Club ball anyway?”

She blew out a breath. “Didn’t I just finish explaining how coveted an invitation to the Phoenix Club is? Truly, if you want me to have a successful Season, I must attend a Phoenix Club assembly. Only think of how attractive that will make me to potential suitors.”

Laughter exploded from him then. “Attending a ball as a guest is not the same as being a member. I daresay there will be a number of young ladies who attend a ball who will not find themselves members in the future when they are eligible.”

“So some of the attendees will be beneath the club’s lofty standards, while I won’t even be able to go.” She clasped her hands in her lap and blinked at him.

Hell, he’d walked right into that. “I am working on how you might attend an assembly, all right?”

Unlacing her hands, she rested them on the seat on either side of her lap. “You are?”

“Don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t come to fruition.”

“It’s a stupid rule. You’re a member and you’re my guardian . I should be able to go with Prudence as my chaperone.”

Once again, he couldn’t argue with her reasoning.

If she knew he was a member of the committee that could change such rules, she would never let the matter alone.

“I’ll speak with Lucien.” Perhaps they should allow young ladies with male family members—or guardians—to attend the assemblies.

And Lucien wouldn’t have to invite his irritating aunt.

Damn, why hadn’t he thought of this earlier?

“Miss Wingate, if I haven’t already marveled at your intelligence, allow me to do so again.”

She inclined her head with a well-earned, smug smile. “Thank you, my lord.”

Very smart. And amusing.

And far too beautiful by half.

“I must say, I did like Lord Gregory,” she murmured, turning her gaze toward the window.

And she just might beat Tobias to the altar.