Improper (The Phoenix Club #1) - Darcy Burke Page 0,15
his own family.
Lord and Lady Edgemont greeted them in their grand staircase hall.
“So many lovely young ladies having their first Season,” Lady Edgemont exclaimed after meeting Miss Wingate. “You shall have a hard time choosing a wife, Lord Overton!”
He smiled blandly before offering his arm to Lady Pickering so they could climb the stairs to the ballroom. Or what was likely, in a house this size, a drawing room and another chamber opened up together to create something approaching the breadth of an actual ballroom.
“How did Lady Edgemont know I am in search of a wife?” he whispered to Lady Pickering.
“Because you are.” She sent him a scolding look. “Why else would you be back in Society after your…respite?”
The word respite made his activities seem positively benign. “It’s obvious I am looking for a countess?” He’d hoped to conduct his search without the pressure of Society watching his every move. But Lady Pickering was right—his return to Society after nearly two years of skirting the edges would be noted. And questioned. And endlessly remarked and speculated upon. He groaned inwardly.
“It is the logical conclusion. Particularly since you have recently inherited the earldom.” Lady Pickering pressed her lips together. “On second thought, perhaps people won’t make that assumption. Logic isn’t found in the greatest abundance in the ton.”
Tobias grinned as they reached the drawing room. There were already a few dozen people in attendance, and the musicians were warming up.
Lady Pickering looked back at Miss Wingate and Miss Lancaster and inclined her head toward the wall where a tall window looked over Charles Street below. A line of carriages moved slowly beside the pavement.
“Now, Miss Wingate, do remember everything we discussed. You must accept every invitation to dance until your card is full.”
Miss Wingate nodded.
“Are you feeling nervous?” Lady Pickering asked.
“Only about some of the dances.”
Apparently, her mother had taught her to dance, but with no occasion to practice or become proficient, the lessons had faded from Miss Wingate’s memory. Resultingly, she’d spent yesterday afternoon and a good portion of today with a dancing master.
Lady Pickering gently patted her arm. “You’ll do fine. Now, let us make the rounds and do your best to remember everyone’s name.”
Tobias again escorted Lady Pickering as they circulated the room, introducing Miss Wingate—and Miss Lancaster as her companion—to everyone they encountered. The higher the rank, the longer they stayed to converse. By the time they’d nearly reached the door again, Miss Wingate had received four invitations to dance. Then the music started, and Mr. Mansfield came to lead her onto the floor.
Tobias pivoted to excuse himself. He needed to extend his own invitations to dance.
“Just a moment,” Lady Pickering said. She edged closer to him, lowering her voice to a bare whisper. “Are you aware that your ward was seen walking in Hyde Park yesterday morning?”
Evidently that was bad, given Lady Pickering’s disdainful expression. Her dark brows were pitched low over her eyes, which flashed with mild irritation.
He looked toward Miss Lancaster, who stood far enough away that she couldn’t hear what they said. In addition, she’d fixed her attention on the dancefloor. “Er, no. I didn’t even realize she’d gone for a walk at all.”
“This must not happen. Ladies do not walk in Hyde Park before the afternoon. Do you know what sort of nastiness happens in Hyde Park in the morning?”
Tobias looked at her blankly. “I often ride on Rotten Row in the morning.”
“Precisely. You are a man. And an obtuse one at that. You must instruct Miss Wingate, and more importantly, her companion, that they are not to do that.”
“I’m certain it was an oversight.” Except Miss Lancaster should have known better, shouldn’t she? But then Tobias didn’t know her that well. He’d relied entirely on Lucien’s recommendation.
“Good. You’ll need to keep a much closer eye on your household, particularly if you want to achieve your own goals. Regarding that matter, who are you considering?”
“Ah, Miss Goodfellow perhaps?” He still didn’t know who she was.
“Then why aren’t you dancing with her?”
Tobias glanced about, which was absurd since he didn’t even know who he was looking for. “She’s here?”
Lady Pickering sighed. “Have you even met her?”
“Probably.”
“Can you pick her out?”
“No.”
She exhaled with exasperation. “Come with me.”
He held up his hand. “Wait just a moment and then you may introduce us. Or reintroduce us.” He shook his head. “If you have other recommendations, I’d be interested to hear them. Just no young ladies in their first Season.”