“What has you all in a dither?” Billie asked.
She sighed. Teddy was in the sitting room awaiting afternoon tea with her sister. She'd had been waiting for Billie to make her inquiries about the ball. It was only surprising she’d waited this long to do so.
“It is nothing,” she replied nonchalantly. She held back a smile…Billie had started her inquisition. Unfortunately for her, Teddy didn’t want to tell her sister any of what was on her mind. She intended to keep her secrets safely hidden from her sister. Billie might get excited and think she had a potential suitor. The viscount was not courting her. She hadn’t lost her mind and begun to believe in that possibility.
“Teddy,” her sister said nonchalantly. “Are you thinking about Viscount Carrolton?”
She lifted her head and met Billie’s gaze. How could she have possibly discerned the thoughts in her head? “Of course not. Why would I be?”
Her sister smiled at her. A devious tilt curved around her mouth. Teddy recognized it. Whenever Billie had some scheme in mind, that was the exact smile she gave before imparting the details of said plot. “It was lovely of him to dance with you. I hadn’t thought he recalled meeting you.”
“I don’t believe he did,” Teddy said without considering her words. Drat. She'd hoped she wouldn’t have to explain how she’d come to be in the viscount’s company.
“Then why would he have asked?” Billie tilted her head to the side. “He’s not the sort that bothers to dance at a ball. Zachary told me he isn’t fond of society.”
“I cannot say with any certainty,” she began. “But I think it was to avoid dancing with Lady Evelyn Andrews. I was conveniently nearby when she cornered him. Perhaps he believed I was the lesser of the two evils.” That sounded like a reasonable enough explanation and it was partly true. At least to her knowledge anyway. She wasn’t at all certain how she felt about it either. Teddy had never discovered his true intentions where she was concerned. She believed it might have been a game of some sort for him. The viscount considered her a challenge.
“That rings true,” Billie agreed. “Still, it didn’t go unnoticed that not only are you the only lady he danced with, but he spent some considerable time in your company. Many will believe he intends to court you. I wonder if he realizes how his actions will be perceived.”
He spent a lot more time with her than anyone in the ton realized. She also doubted that Viscount Carrolton had deduced how the members of the gentry perceived the time he spent with her. She certainly hadn’t taken any note of it. Billie had though. Drat. “They’ll stop discussing me and Viscount Carrolton when someone else catches their attention. The ton is fickle. They’re always looking for something or someone else to gossip about.”
“They’ve certainly had a fine time discussing both my rushed marriages,” Billie agreed. “Luckily, I’m a duchess and they don’t give me the cut direct. They want to be invited to all the functions the duchy holds. I’m inclined to ignore them and they keep their mouths closed when I’m around. It’s not a perfect solution, but it works.”
Teddy wrinkled her nose. “This is why I don’t want anything to do with society. They’re so judgmental. I hate them sometimes.”
“Only sometimes?” She lifted a brow.
“All right, most of the time. I don’t need that kind of pressure in my life. I’d rather live in the country and avoid people. They’re too much effort, and I’m not disposed enough to give them any leeway.”
Billie chuckled softly. “That is why, sister dear, you end up being a wallflower at any society function. You should at least attempt to socialize. You might find someone you actually like if you do.”
“I’d rather not. The wall is company enough for me.” It might be better if Viscount Carrolton were there beside her, but she’d make do with being alone. She enjoyed her own company better than anyone she’d met thus far in the ton.
“You’re so difficult,” Billie complained. She scrunched up her nose in displeasure. “I tried to tell Zachary you would be this way, but he asserted we should try. I let him convince me it was worth it. I’ll have to make sure to tell him how wrong he was in insisting on a season for you.”
“Men often believe they know more than women. His assertion doesn’t particularly surprise me. You’re acquiesce doesn’t either. You love him and want to trust in his decisions.” Teddy took a breath. “Neither one of you are entirely wrong. I don’t want a season, and because of that, I sabotage your efforts on my behalf. It might not be so terrible if I tried. The dilemma is I don’t want to and probably won’t.”
Billie shook her head. “I cannot make you, but we’re going to see this through to the end.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “I’m resigned to suffer through it.”
At that moment a maid pushed a teacart into the room. It held a plate of scones, a bowl of jelly, and another with butter. The tea should help keep Billie silent, for a little while anyway. Teddy needed the reprieve, however brief it would be…
Ezra stared at the accounting ledgers on his desk. The numbers were swimming across the page. He’d been working on them all morning, and it was now midafternoon. He should set them aside and leave them be until another time. There wasn’t much chance he’d make any further progress. Not when he couldn’t focus on what he was reading. He sighed and closed the book, then rubbed his hands over his face. He was so bloody tired.
“You look as if you could use a drink,” a man said.
He glanced up and grinned. “Fox…to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” The Marquess of Foxworth was one of his closest friends.
“I heard a
