Improper (The Phoenix Club #1) - Darcy Burke Page 0,16

Pickering’s brows climbed.

“Not that kind of experience, though a widow would be acceptable.”

“I see. You want a woman who already knows who she is and what she wants.”

“That would be wonderful, actually.”

“I will keep that in mind. And I do have suggestions. I’ll introduce you to one or two of them tonight if they are here.” She gave him a sharp stare that made him want to fidget, and he never fidgeted. “Why are you in a rush to marry suddenly?”

He shrugged, not intending to tell her, or anyone else, the true reason. “I just am.”

“There is more to it than that, but I won’t demand an answer.” She narrowed her eyes. “Yet.”

Pausing to tell Miss Lancaster they were going to mingle, Lady Pickering led him to the refreshment area and introduced him to Miss Goodfellow. If Tobias had met her before, he didn’t remember. He also didn’t remember her mother, who stood alongside her. Both were attractive women, taller than average, with bright cobalt eyes.

Tobias asked Miss Goodfellow to dance the next set, and she agreed. In the meantime, he noted the arrival of Lucien’s brother, Constantine, the Earl of Aldington, and their younger sister, Lady Cassandra.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment, Lady Pickering, Mrs. Goodfellow, Miss Goodfellow. I’d like to speak with a friend briefly.”

Miss Goodfellow curtsied, and Tobias bowed in response. He quickly made his way toward Aldington.

“Good evening, Overton,” Lucien’s brother said with a warmth that was not reflected in his hazel eyes. There’d always been something off about Aldington, as if he were eternally uncomfortable.

“Good evening, Aldington, Lady Cassandra.” He bowed to the young lady and felt sorry for Lucien because he seemed bothered by the prospect of his sister marrying. And she would marry—she was far too beautiful and charming to last long. Plus, she was the daughter of a duke and in possession of a large dowry. That alone made her a sought-after bride.

Lady Cassandra rose from her curtsey, her sherry-colored eyes sparkling. “How lovely to see you, Overton. I’d almost forgotten you aren’t Deane anymore.”

“I will still answer to that.” In fact, he rather preferred it to Overton, which in his mind was his father, not him. “You must meet my ward, Miss Wingate, when she is finished with the set. It is her first Season too and she is new to London. Indeed, it’s the first time she’s left Shropshire. She’s in the ivory gown with the ribbons.”

“Green and gold ones or pink?” Lady Cassandra asked.

Tobias squinted. “Oh, I suppose there is another ivory gown with ribbons. The green and gold ones. I should have just said dark red hair.” She was the only woman in the room with such vibrantly colored locks.

“I look forward to meeting her.”

Turning his attention to Aldington, Tobias clapped him on the shoulder. “We must catch up. Perhaps later we can have a drink—” He abruptly cut himself off before saying at the Phoenix Club because Aldington was not a member. It wasn’t that Lucien wouldn’t have invited him, but Aldington had made it clear that he would never accept. As a result, they hadn’t bothered.

Aldington seemed to know what he meant, for his eyes narrowed very slightly.

“At White’s,” Tobias said. He was still a member there, even if he hadn’t entered the building in nigh on two years.

“You’d come to White’s?” Aldington asked dubiously.

“Certainly! I’ll see you there later.” He bowed to Lady Cassandra before returning to Miss Goodfellow.

After greeting her and her mother once more, he asked if Miss Goodfellow would like to take a turn about the room. The current set was nearing its finish, and there would be a short break before the next.

“That would be amenable,” she said with a slight nod. She had an intense gaze, but her demeanor was…measured. Yes, that was the best word to describe her.

Her mother smiled approvingly as Tobias offered Miss Goodfellow his arm.

Tobias looked at her askance as they began their circuit of the room. “You are quite tall.”

“So I’m told.” There was no inflection to the statement, but Tobias understood her meaning.

“My apologies. That was not only unoriginal; it was a ridiculous thing to say.”

The edge of her mouth curved up. “You’re fairly tall, though not the tallest man I’ve met.”

He laughed. “Touché. Tell me, what do you like to read?”

Her gait slowed momentarily, and she looked at him as if he’d sprouted another ear. “Newspapers. Pamphlets about matters of the day.”

“Indeed?” Tobias’s eye caught his ward on the dance floor just