Before he could retreat and leave as he should have, she was coming toward him smiling, her hand on Lord Gregory’s arm. Tobias deeply regretted not leaving.
“Thank you, Lord Gregory,” she said, taking her hand from his sleeve. Her cheeks were prettily flushed from their dancing. Her eyes were also alight, probably due to his charm or good looks.
“The pleasure was mine, Miss Wingate. I’ll see you soon.” He winked at her, then bowed his head to Tobias. “Lord Overton.”
“Lord Gregory,” he muttered as the man turned and walked away.
Fiona glanced toward the corner, then looked to Tobias in alarm. “Do you know where Mrs. Tucket is?”
“I sent her home.”
She stared at him in surprise. “Why?”
“Because she fell asleep and gave everyone in her vicinity an earful.”
Lifting her hand to her mouth, she looked at him in abject horror. “Oh dear. I am so sorry, my lord.”
He didn’t want her to call him that. He wanted to hear her say Tobias.
That was never going to happen.
Lady Pickering was coming toward them. Good. Now he could leave.
“Lady Pickering is going to act as your chaperone for the remainder of the evening,” he said.
“How was your dance?” Lady Pickering asked Fiona as she came up beside them.
“Lovely, thank you. I have finally mastered the steps. I didn’t tread on his feet once.” She looked quite proud, and while Tobias was happy for her, he was also disappointed that Lord Gregory’s toes hadn’t suffered.
“Splendid,” Lady Pickering said.
“I’m going to leave,” Tobias announced.
“Probably for the best.” Lady Pickering leaned toward him, her gaze dipping to his jaw. “Looks like you might have a bruise come morning.”
Fiona stepped closer to him and lifted her hand, as if she meant to touch his face. His eyes widened at the implication of it, here in the middle of a bloody ballroom where everyone had already been staring at him all night.
She seemed to realize the error too, thank goodness, for she quickly brushed a nonexistent curl behind her ear. “What happened?”
“Mrs. Tucket hit him when he interrupted her slumber.”
“Oh no.” Fiona winced. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“I’ll be fine.” He touched his jaw and easily found the tender spot. Yes, he may well have a bruise. A brilliant culmination to a brilliant few days.
If he could assume his bad luck was over. He probably should not.
Turning to Lady Pickering, he asked, “You’ll see Miss Wingate home?”
“Of course. Have a good evening, Overton. And behave,” she added in a reproving whisper.
Boring as that sounded, Tobias could do nothing else.
Chapter 14
The maid arranged the flowers Lord Gregory had brought and set them atop a side table in the sitting room. Fiona thanked her before she left, then returned her attention to her guest, who occupied a chair opposite the settee where Fiona sat. Prudence was present but removed from them in a chair near the window that looked out onto Brook Street.
Fiona surveyed the bouquet of daffodils and snowdrops. “Thank you again for the flowers, Lord Gregory. They’re just beautiful. I find daffodils so cheerful.”
“I’m glad you like them.” He sat straight in the chair, his frame stiff as if he might be a tad uncomfortable. One leg was slightly extended while the other was bent at the knee. He almost looked as if he were posing for a portrait. And what a handsome portrait it would be with his blond hair waving jauntily over his brow and his mouth drawn into a slight smile.
“It’s lovely of you to call today.” Fiona glanced toward Prudence, whom she could just see from the corner of her eye. She could not, however, offer any help. Not that she knew Fiona needed any. “You are my first caller,” Fiona said, deciding to be honest about her inexperience.
Lord Gregory’s smile widened. “You are my first call.”
Fiona laughed softly. “We are well matched then.”
“I thought so too,” he murmured.
Realizing the potential implication of what she’d just said, Fiona worried she’d made a mistake. She didn’t want him to think they were courting. Were they courting? What constituted a courtship exactly?
“I’m pleased to inform you that I’ve accepted the invitation to join the Phoenix Club. I am looking forward to the first assembly on Friday evening. You will be there, I presume?”
“Oh, well done,” she said, pleased that he’d taken her advice. “Alas, I will not be there.”
His smile completely fell away. “I expected you would be since your guardian is a member.”
“I believe we had already accepted an invitation for another event.” It was an outright lie, but she didn’t know what else to say.
“I see. Well, that is disappointing.” He glanced away, then looked back to her with a light of hope in his gaze. “Which event? I shall see if I can also accept an invitation.”
Fiona darted another look toward Prudence. Their eyes connected, and Prudence gave her a slight shrug.
“I don’t recall at the moment.” Since the earl had reinstated Fiona’s social privileges, she hadn’t asked him what invitations they’d accepted. But then she’d been rather avoiding him. More accurately, he seemed to be avoiding her. She’d only seen him in passing since the ball on Saturday. “I can send word later or tomorrow.”
“I would like that very much.” His shoulders relaxed the barest amount. “If the weather improves, perhaps we can promenade in the park.”
Fiona had been waiting for that in particular, of course. There was just something about walking amongst the ton in a place she’d been looking at on a map for years. “I would enjoy that immensely.”
Lord Gregory sat forward in his chair, his gaze fixing intently on hers. “It seems we are in accord. I am so delighted. I look forward to our next meeting—soon.” He stood and bowed before departing.
Exhaling, Fiona let her body relax completely as she slumped back against the settee. She hadn’t realized just how nervous she’d been.
Prudence came to sit in the chair closer to the settee—the
