Page 228 of From Rakes to Riches

Boring as that sounded, Tobias could do nothing else.

14

The maid arranged the flowers Lord Gregory had brought and set them atop a side table in the sitting room. Fiona thanked her before she left, then returned her attention to her guest, who occupied a chair opposite the settee where Fiona sat. Prudence was present but removed from them in a chair near the window that looked out onto Brook Street.

Fiona surveyed the bouquet of daffodils and snowdrops. “Thank you again for the flowers, Lord Gregory. They’re just beautiful. I find daffodils so cheerful.”

“I’m glad you like them.” He sat straight in the chair, his frame stiff as if he might be a tad uncomfortable. One leg was slightly extended while the other was bent at the knee. He almost looked as if he were posing for a portrait. And what a handsome portrait it would be with his blond hair waving jauntily over his brow and his mouth drawn into a slight smile.

“It’s lovely of you to call today.” Fiona glanced toward Prudence, whom she could just see from the corner of her eye. She could not, however, offer any help. Not that she knew Fionaneeded any. “You are my first caller,” Fiona said, deciding to be honest about her inexperience.

Lord Gregory’s smile widened. “You are my first call.”

Fiona laughed softly. “We are well matched then.”

“I thought so too,” he murmured.

Realizing the potential implication of what she’d just said, Fiona worried she’d made a mistake. She didn’t want him to think they were courting. Were they courting? What constituted a courtship exactly?

“I’m pleased to inform you that I’ve accepted the invitation to join the Phoenix Club. I am looking forward to the first assembly on Friday evening. You will be there, I presume?”

“Oh, well done,” she said, pleased that he’d taken her advice. “Alas, I will not be there.”

His smile completely fell away. “I expected you would be since your guardian is a member.”

“I believe we had already accepted an invitation for another event.” It was an outright lie, but she didn’t know what else to say.

“I see. Well, that is disappointing.” He glanced away, then looked back to her with a light of hope in his gaze. “Which event? I shall see if I can also accept an invitation.”

Fiona darted another look toward Prudence. Their eyes connected, and Prudence gave her a slight shrug.

“I don’t recall at the moment.” Since the earl had reinstated Fiona’s social privileges, she hadn’t asked him what invitations they’d accepted. But then she’d been rather avoiding him. More accurately, he seemed to be avoiding her. She’d only seen him in passing since the ball on Saturday. “I can send word later or tomorrow.”

“I would like that very much.” His shoulders relaxed the barest amount. “If the weather improves, perhaps we can promenade in the park.”

Fiona had been waiting for that in particular, of course. There was just something about walking amongst the ton in a place she’d been looking at on a map for years. “I would enjoy that immensely.”

Lord Gregory sat forward in his chair, his gaze fixing intently on hers. “It seems we are in accord. I am so delighted. I look forward to our next meeting—soon.” He stood and bowed before departing.

Exhaling, Fiona let her body relax completely as she slumped back against the settee. She hadn’t realized just how nervous she’d been.

Prudence came to sit in the chair closer to the settee—the one Overton had occupied when they’d bumped noses. “There can be little doubt about Lord Gregory’s intentions. Are you pleased?”

“Forgive me for being obtuse, but exactly what intentions are those?”

“Courtship, marriage. One follows the other. He was clear with his intent to see you again soon.” Prudence gave her a satisfied smile, which said something because she rarely smiled. “As you told him, you are well matched.”

Fiona groaned and dropped her forehead into her hand for a moment. She had said that, but she hadn’t meant it like that. She’d only meant that they shared the fact that it was their first social call in common. Should she have clarified the matter so he didn’t have the wrong idea?Wasthere a wrong idea? Didn’t shewantto be courted by him?

Wiping her fingers across her eyes and down her cheek, she looked over at Prudence, who was no longer smiling. “I was speaking about our newness at social calling.”

“I don’t think he realized that,” Prudence said softly. “Nor did I. If you aren’t interested in courtship, you should tell him as soon as possible.”

“I don’t know what I’m interested in.”

That question plagued her through the day and past dinner, which they had once again eaten without the earl. The question was still uppermost in her mind as she tried to distract herself with maps in the library later that evening.

She’d just immersed herself in the topography of southern Europe when Lord Overton came in. At once, the air changed, filling with a thick tension. Her heart rate picked up speed.

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