“I think I might, owing to your counsel.”
“I don’t think you’ll regret it.” Fiona noted the musicians were preparing to start the next set.
“I think it’s time we made our way to the dance floor,” Lord Gregory noted.
She hesitated, casting him an apologetic glance. “I should warn you that I’m not very good.”
He didn’t appear concerned in the least. “I’m sure you’re more than accomplished.”
“Aside from only recently learning most of these dances, I am apparently clumsy, a trait I hadn’t noticed before coming to London.”
He led her onto the dancefloor. “Surely you’re mistaken. Or exaggerating.”
She let go of his arm and faced him. Arching her brow, she looked him square in the eye. “I fell down yesterday while curtseying to the queen.”
His eyes rounded with horror. “That was you?”
Of course, he’d heard the story. Fiona had noticed people staring at her tonight.
“It was indeed.”
“And here you are tonight without a shred of embarrassment. You are a most astonishing young woman, Miss Wingate.”
Smiling, she inclined her head. “I hope you still think so at the end of the set.”
It was the best she’d ever danced. She looked graceful and confident, and, most importantly, like she was having a grand time. So did her partner. Tobias diverted his attention from her and made his way to Lucien, who was standing with Miss Lancaster.
“Not dancing this set?” Lucien asked. “I expected you to have a full dance card.”
“Allow me to just get it out and show you,” Tobias said sarcastically. “Why aren’t you dancing?”
Lucien let out a laugh. “I’ll pretend you didn’t ask that. Why are you in a mood?”
Was he? Tobias stroked his hand down his jawline. “I see you introduced Lord Gregory to Miss Wingate.”
“That was the plan, wasn’t it?” Lucien stared at him as if he’d gone daft.
Tobias glanced toward Miss Lancaster, who would likely repeat anything she overheard to Miss Wingate. Smiling, he begged her to excuse them before motioning to Lucien to walk with him.
“What’s going on with you?” Lucien asked as they left Miss Lancaster.
“I don’t want to discuss Miss Wingate in front of her companion. I assumed that would be obvious.” Tobias waved his hand. “There’s been a change in plan. I’m not pushing my ward into marriage. As you so helpfully suggested the other night, I’m giving her a break from this sudden turmoil in her life.”
“Is this because she fell down in the queen’s drawing room yesterday?”
Tobias heard the humor in his voice and sent him a glower. “That was very traumatic.” Except she was laughing about it now, so perhaps it wasn’t. “But no, it’s not because of that. Not specifically.” He brushed his fingertips across his forehead.
“You’ve come to like Miss Wingate very much,” Lucien remarked softly. “That’s very kind of you to give her a reprieve—just the opposite of what your father would do, in case you hadn’t already noted that.”
“I hadn’t, but that does endorse the change in tactic, doesn’t it?” Tobias came to a stop and pivoted to face the dance floor where dozens of dancers were moving in concert, including Miss Wingate. “For now, it’s best that I focus on my own marriage goals instead of Miss Wingate’s.”
“Your time is dwindling, isn’t it?”
Tobias shot him another dark stare. “Thank you for pointing that out.” He scanned the ballroom and found Miss Goodfellow lingering in the corner with her mother. Good, he’d ask her to dance when he finished with Lucien. Looking to his friend, he asked, “What was the name of the widow you suggested to me?”
“Lady Alford, but she’s already accepted a proposal. Lord Pettiford got there first, I’m afraid.”
“That was bloody fast.”
“Perhaps you should consult with Lord Pettiford for advice on how to move more quickly.”
Annoyed, Tobias stared at Lucien. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t haul you into the garden and plant you a facer.”
“Because I’ll give you one right back, and then you’ll be horribly unattractive to your prospective brides.” Lucien grinned, clearly enjoying needling Tobias about his wife hunt.
With a low grunt, Tobias started to turn. “Your company has been most helpful this evening. I’m off to speed up my endeavors.”
Lucien snagged his sleeve. “Wait just a moment, if you don’t mind.”
Exhaling, Tobias gave him his full attention.
“Cassandra has asked me to invite our aunt to the Phoenix Club so that she may act as sponsor for Cassandra to attend a ball. And for Miss Wingate, since Lady Pickering has never responded to our invitation.” He spoke in a near whisper, and Tobias moved closer so no one would overhear their conversation.
“Should we be discussing this in a ballroom?” Tobias asked softly. Who was and wasn’t invited to the Phoenix Club was a topic of great debate and inquiry. Anyone overhearing even a snippet of this conversation would most certainly crow about it.
Lucien lowered his voice even more. “No, but it’s an urgent matter.”
“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
