shook his head. “I can’t believe I admitted that to you. It’s rather immodest, isn’t it?”
She laughed. “No, it is not. Ambition isn’t bad, even for a man of God.”
“God might disagree,” he said drily.
“Except I’m sure your ambition is entwined with your desire to advance the word of God.”
“The Phoenix Club is a distant second to you when it comes to flattery, Miss Wingate.” He sent her a slightly sardonic look. “Perhaps I’m the type of religious man who only wants to find a living so that I may reap the benefits and will employ a curate who does all the work.”
“Well, that sounds like the vicar in Bitterley.” Fiona thought of poor young Tom Keeble, the curate. The vicar didn’t do a thing beyond sermonizing, and he only did that once a month, leaving the rest to Tom. “I realize we just met, but I can’t see you doing that. And if you did, you certainly wouldn’t admit it. Nor would you think twice about accepting membership in London’s most exclusive club.”
He laughed. “You are a most logical young lady, Miss Wingate.”
“Why thank you, my lord.”
Fiona’s gaze connected with a familiar pair of pewter eyes. Lord Overton stood to her left, his attention focused wholly on her. His expression was inscrutable, but something about his stance made her catch her breath.
Why?
Recovering her wits, she smiled at him and lifted her hand, not quite waving.
“See someone you know?” Lord Gregory asked.
“My guardian, Lord Overton. Are you acquainted with him?”
Lord Gregory shook his head. “I am not, but being relatively new to town, there are many people I haven’t yet met.”
“If you accept the invitation to the Phoenix Club, you will undoubtedly get to know him there. He’s a member, and a close friend of Lord Lucien’s.” She looked over at him. “Are you going to accept?”
“I think I might, owing to your counsel.”
“I don’t think you’ll regret it.” Fiona noted the musicians were preparing to start the next set.
“I think it’s time we made our way to the dance floor,” Lord Gregory noted.
She hesitated, casting him an apologetic glance. “I should warn you that I’m not very good.”
He didn’t appear concerned in the least. “I’m sure you’re more than accomplished.”
“Aside from only recently learning most of these dances, I am apparently clumsy, a trait I hadn’t noticed before coming to London.”
He led her onto the dancefloor. “Surely you’re mistaken. Or exaggerating.”
She let go of his arm and faced him. Arching her brow, she looked him square in the eye. “I fell down yesterday while curtseying to the queen.”
His eyes rounded with horror. “That was you?”
Of course, he’d heard the story. Fiona had noticed people staring at her tonight.
“It was indeed.”
“And here you are tonight without a shred of embarrassment. You are a most astonishing young woman, Miss Wingate.”
Smiling, she inclined her head. “I hope you still think so at the end of the set.”
It was the best she’d ever danced. She looked graceful and confident, and, most importantly, like she was having a grand time. So did her partner. Tobias diverted his attention from her and made his way to Lucien, who was standing with Miss Lancaster.
“Not dancing this set?” Lucien asked. “I expected you to have a full dance card.”
“Allow me to just get it out and show you,” Tobias said sarcastically. “Why aren’t you dancing?”
Lucien let out a laugh. “I’ll pretend you didn’t ask that. Why are you in a mood?”
Was he? Tobias stroked his hand down his jawline. “I see you introduced Lord Gregory to Miss Wingate.”
“That was the plan, wasn’t it?” Lucien stared at him as if he’d gone daft.
Tobias glanced toward Miss Lancaster, who would likely repeat anything she overheard to Miss Wingate. Smiling, he begged her to excuse them before motioning to Lucien to walk with him.
“What’s going on with you?” Lucien asked as they left Miss Lancaster.
“I don’t want to discuss Miss Wingate in front of her companion. I assumed that would be obvious.” Tobias waved his hand. “There’s been a change in plan. I’m not pushing my ward into marriage. As you so helpfully suggested the other night, I’m giving her a break from this sudden turmoil in her life.”
“Is this because she fell down in the queen’s drawing room yesterday?”
Tobias heard the humor in his voice and sent him a glower. “That was very traumatic.” Except she was laughing about it now, so perhaps it wasn’t. “But no, it’s not because of that. Not specifically.” He brushed his fingertips across