Page 203 of From Rakes to Riches

“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 wasthe 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’tyoudancing?”

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 his forehead.

“You’ve come to like Miss Wingate very much,” Lucien remarked softly. “That’s very kind of you to give her a reprieve—just the opposite of what your father would do, in case you hadn’t already noted that.”

“I hadn’t, but that does endorse the change in tactic, doesn’t it?” Tobias came to a stop and pivoted to face the dance floor where dozens of dancers were moving in concert, including Miss Wingate. “For now, it’s best that I focus on my own marriage goals instead of Miss Wingate’s.”

“Your time is dwindling, isn’t it?”

Tobias shot him another dark stare. “Thank you for pointing that out.” He scanned the ballroom and found Miss Goodfellow lingering in the corner with her mother. Good, he’d ask her to dance when he finished with Lucien. Looking to his friend, he asked, “What was the name of the widow you suggested to me?”

“Lady Alford, but she’s already accepted a proposal. Lord Pettiford got there first, I’m afraid.”

“That was bloody fast.”

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