“Perhaps there’s a way for us to steal inside,” Fiona suggested with a grin.
Cassandra laughed, a devilish glint in her eye. “I do like how you think.” She sobered and cast a glance toward Prudence. “I really hope you don’t gossip.”
“I do not,” Prudence said. “That would be a most unwelcome trait in a companion.”
“I assure you, she’s completely trustworthy.” Fiona smiled at Prudence just as the door opened.
The maid had returned with a plate of biscuits. She was also followed by two guests.
“Here you are, my lady.” The maid offered the plate to Cassandra, who plucked a biscuit from the top.
“Thank you so very much. These are my favorite.” Giving the maid a bright smile, Cassandra nibbled the biscuit before rising.
Fiona also stood. Taking a biscuit for herself, she silently asked Prudence if she wanted one by inclining her head. Prudence gave a slight negative shake. Then the three of them quit the retiring room.
By the time they’d returned to the ballroom, Fiona was feeling even more excited about the Season ahead. It wasn’t just because of all the places Cassandra had mentioned, it was finding Cassandra. A friend.
After several more dances, multiple glasses of warm lemonade, and making the acquaintance of more people than she could ever recall, Fiona made her way to the coach on aching toes. Lady Pickering said good night and went to her own carriage, while Fiona, Prudence, and the earl climbed into his.
Fiona and Prudence situated themselves, and Overton sat on the rear-facing seat. He reached up and loosened his cravat the barest amount. Fiona suspected he would like to remove it entirely, but to do so would probably be improper.
“What did you think of your first ball?” the earl asked.
“I’m glad it was smaller. There is so much to remember. Particularly the dancing.”
He chuckled. “You’ll get better.”
“I should have practiced more.”
“Perhaps I should have practiced with you. My apologies.” He leaned back against the seat. “Did you have a favorite dance partner?”
“Mr. Rowntree, I think. He was the most adept at avoiding my missteps.”
“That bad, eh?” the earl asked, wincing. “I really am sorry I didn’t help you prepare. We’ll do that before the next ball.”
“Speaking of the next ball, I heard about the Friday assemblies at the Phoenix Club. Will we attend one?”
His gaze arrested on hers. “No.”
Disappointment doused Fiona’s enthusiasm. Cassandra had quite provoked her anticipation to attend. “Are you not a member?”
“I am. A founding one, in fact. Lady Pickering, however, is not, and as your sponsor, she would need to accompany you.”
“Why isn’t she a member? Cassandra made the club sound quite popular. I would imagine she would belong.”
He hesitated in answering. “I’m not sure. You’d have to ask her.”
“Can someone else sponsor me for that assembly?”
Again, he took his time answering. “Let me think on that. The first one isn’t until the first Friday in March.” He folded his arms over his chest and studied her for a moment, the light from the lantern hanging in the coach casting a warm glow over the planes of his face. “Finding someone to sponsor you—indeed, retaining Lady Pickering as your sponsor—will depend upon your behavior.”
Fiona’s pulse quickened. “Did I do something wrong tonight?”
“Not that I saw, and I do recognize this is a huge change for you. But it has come to my attention you were seen walking in Hyde Park early yesterday morning. That is not something young ladies do.” He transferred his disapproving gaze to Prudence. “I would have expected you to know better.”
“She did,” Fiona said, coming forward from the squab. “She said I couldn’t go, but I insisted. I said I’d go without her.” She glanced over at Prudence and hoped she wouldn’t contradict her. “It was my fault, not hers.” Fiona stared squarely into the earl’s eyes. The pewter looked almost silver in the dim light.
“I see.” He cast a dubious frown toward Prudence. “I expect you will be more persuasive in the future?”
Prudence stiffened. “I will try, my lord.”
Fiona felt terrible. She would not risk Prudence’s position ever again.
Turning her head as her heartbeat finally began to slow, Fiona stared out the window. This was a big change from the life she’d known. Was it so bad that she wanted to experience every moment, to see as much as she could?
“I am sorry, Lord Overton,” she said quietly.
“Just be careful, Miss Wingate. You wouldn’t want to ruin your chances.”
For marriage. He hadn’t said that, but that’s what he’d meant. For a brief moment, Fiona wondered if ruination might be better.
Chapter 5
Tobias could still feel the excitement radiating from his ward as they left the map room at the British Museum. They’d spent all of their time in just this one place, and she still hadn’t seen everything she wanted to.
“I’m sorry we didn’t view anything else,” she said a bit sheepishly as they made their way along a gallery, her hand curled about his forearm. “And I’m glad Prudence didn’t come, for then I would have bored two people instead of one.”
Lady Pickering had assured Tobias that he could escort his ward to the museum without a companion or chaperone since he was her guardian, and it was a very public place.
“I wasn’t bored at all.” He’d enjoyed perusing the maps with her. In all honesty, he enjoyed watching her delight. “Besides, I’ve been here many times, and we shall return.”
She beamed at him, her deep brown eyes gleaming with joy. “This is the best day I’ve ever had.”
Tobias felt rather humbled by her statement. It was, after all, just a trip to a museum. Except he supposed it was much more than that for her. She’d spent a few hours poring over maps, which was apparently her favorite thing to do. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. Since you like maps so
