Improper (The Phoenix Club #1) - Darcy Burke Page 0,104

Perhaps you should help him with that. Since you are so fond of—and skilled at—providing assistance.”

“I’ve actually suggested that. It’s not as if Sabrina is awful or a bad wife. I truly don’t understand why they are estranged. But then it’s none of my business according to Con, and he’s right.”

MacNair came up the stairs then and greeted them both with a smile. “Have you had more than enough ball for one night as I have?”

“Not at all,” Tobias said with a smile. “In fact, I am on my way downstairs.”

“Lucien, you should come up to the members’ den with me,” MacNair said, pivoting.

“I should check on the assembly, converse with Mrs. Renshaw, and make sure all is well.”

“You can do that later.” He reached for Lucien’s arm. “Come and have a glass of port with me.”

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. “Is there some reason you don’t want me to go downstairs?”

Tobias was itching to get to the ballroom and see how Fiona was faring. He hoped her absence hadn’t caused a stir. “I’m going then.”

“I’m coming with you.” Lucien started to descend with him.

MacNair let out a groan. “Lucien, your sister is dancing with Wexford.”

Lucien swore and increased his pace down the stairs. Tobias looked up at MacNair. “Why would you tell him that? You know how he is about Lady Cassandra and…any of us.”

“Better he knows what he’s about to see than be surprised.” MacNair inclined his head toward the lower floor. “You’d better ensure he doesn’t do something stupid, such as call Wexford out.”

“He wouldn’t do that,” Tobias said with a snort. Still, he followed after Lucien with alacrity. “Wait, Lucien. It’s just a dance.” Tobias caught up to him in the staircase hall, but Lucien didn’t slow.

“That’s all it better be.”

Tobias caught his friend by the arm, pulling him to a stop. “Why are you upset? Wexford is our friend, and he’s only dancing with her.”

“Dancing with someone means something, as you bloody well know, and I wasn’t jesting when I told you all to leave her alone. Don’t forget how well I know you all, and while I might have been able to tolerate her forming an attachment with you or MacNair, Wexford is completely unacceptable.”

“But he’s our friend.”

Lucien’s features darkened. “That doesn’t mean he should be dancing with my sister.” He tugged his arm from Tobias’s grasp and stalked into the ballroom.

Fiona retraced the path she and Tobias had taken from the ballroom. However, instead of going back into the ballroom from the garden, she went to the other door she’d used with Mrs. Renshaw the week before. The beautiful gold and ivory sitting room was being used as a ladies’ retiring room. Once inside, she ducked behind a screen and was grateful to find the space empty. After a short while, she emerged and conversed briefly with a pair of ladies who were resting.

Apprehension threaded through her as she left the room. What would she encounter when she reentered the ballroom? Were people already gossiping about her and how she’d disappeared from the ball for an hour? She honestly had no idea how long she’d been gone.

Taking a deep breath to fortify her anxiety, she walked into the ballroom and immediately looked for Lord Gregory. Before she could find him, Prudence bore down on her wearing an expression of what could only be described as extreme distress.

“Where have you been?” she whispered urgently, drawing Fiona away from anyone who might want to listen in on their conversation.

Fiona smiled. “Could you try to look less concerned and upset? I was, er, ill. I just came from the retiring room.” That much, at least, was true.

“You were gone a very long time after you disappeared from the ballroom following your dance with Lord Overton. Were you with him?”

“Yes.” There was no reason to lie, not to Prudence. “We are betrothed.”

Prudence grabbed her hand. “Truly?” At Fiona’s nod, she smiled broadly. Indeed, it was the happiest Fiona had ever seen her. “Then I am sorry for my behavior. Still, it was ill-advised to disappear. Your absence has been noted. You missed a dance with Mr. Arbuckle.”

“Blast. I will find him and apologize. But you must say you knew I was ill.”

“That won’t be difficult since that’s what I told him.” She arched a shoulder. “I had to say something.”

Fiona squeezed Prudence’s hand before letting it go. “Thank you. I don’t know how I would have survived these past weeks without your support. Now, I must find Lord Gregory