She and Sylvia moved away to sit by the fire. “She must be truly worried.”

  Sylvia nodded. “I really would like to have a word with Wharton about Scarsdale’s attentions to our cousin, but she made me promise not to. I don’t want to break my word to her.”

  “She refused you, but I made no such promise,” Eugenia said. “If the need arises, I’ll tell him to control his friend.”

  “Thank you.” Sylvia breathed a sigh of relief. “This is all so very strange still, isn’t it? Not really being our home. We cannot order the servants not to admit a man we don’t entirely trust.”

  “It is.” Sylvia was helping the marchioness run the household because she was too weak to do it alone. Aurora and Eugenia had very little to do besides arranging flowers occasionally.

  “I do miss living in Albemarle Street. Our independence was a casualty of accepting Wharton’s proposal. I miss the home we shared, but not the creaking floorboards there.”

  Eugenia chuckled. “I actually miss that. I could always tell which one of you was moving through the house. Now, I don’t hear anything, and you constantly catch me by surprise while I’m sleeping.”

  “You did seem very deeply asleep. Were you dreaming?”

  “Not last night. Not for a while, actually.” She glanced at Sylvia. “I can guess what and who you probably dreamed of.”

  “Falling flat on my face in front of Princess Caroline.” Sylvia sighed. “Things are so complicated now, aren’t they?”

  They were indeed. But Sylvia was in love and loved in return, and that was good. As for Aurora’s situation, Eugenia would watch and act if need be. “Would you change who you love?”

  “No.” Sylvia sighed. “If I didn’t love him, I don’t know that I would have loved anyone.”

  “Not even Mr. Berringer?” Eugenia teased in a whisper. For a while, Eugenia had suspected a partiality on Berringer’s part toward Sylvia. But that had vanished the moment the engagement was announced. He did not call upon them anymore, but he did call on Wharton, as many gentlemen and lords of the ton appeared to do on a regular basis.

  “I never felt that way about him, although you tease that I did. I wish him well, though. He’s a fine man and deserves the best life has to offer.”

  Eugenia chewed on her lip a moment. “So, you wouldn’t mind if some other woman snatches him up?”

  “Of course, I would not. As long as it is what he wants, too. I could not bear the idea of any of our male acquaintances, or our former clients, forced to marry someone they did not love.”

  “But that’s the way of things in society.”

  “Not for everyone. Not for us.” Sylvia looked up at Eugenia. “Promise me you’ll only marry for love.”

  Eugenia swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. “Only love could ever compel me.”

  Sylvia sighed. “I think it will be a long time before I am a wife.”

  “Do you regret your promise to delay the wedding until the marchioness heals, to give her something to live for?”

  “Sometimes. She’s so very weak. I hoped she might improve quicker than this.”

  Eugenia caught her hand. Sylvia had come to love the marchioness as if she was her own mother. If she died, Sylvia would grieve most heartily. But the marchioness was strong-willed. Despite the frequent setbacks, Eugenia couldn’t imagine them losing Lizzy now. “If she’s survived this much, I think you can count on her planning your wedding—as she’s threatened to do.”

  “I hope so,” Sylvia whispered. “The thought of not having her support is terrifying. She tells me that my first ball as marchioness will most likely be attended by the Prince Regent himself.”

  “How ghastly.” Eugenia shuddered. The Prince Regent was known to terrify most experienced hostesses. Eugenia nudged her cousin. “You’d better go. I’m sure there are a dozen things you’re meant to do for the marchioness today.”

  “Yes, there are, unfortunately.” She sighed. “I miss the carefree days we had at the academy.”

  “I miss them more.” Eugenia winked. The academy, for all its limited success, had been their project. Their means of earning an income meant for their old age. It hadn’t exactly been carefree for Eugenia. She’d had a great many tasks to do every day, but she’d enjoyed the challenge. They had lost any hope of busyness the day Sylvia had convinced them all to move here.

  Sylvia disappeared, and Eugenia turned toward the bed. Aurora was sleeping soundly now. It would be Aurora who married next, if Eugenia had her way. Eugenia was determined that her darling younger cousin marry a man worthy of her—and it would not be the man intent on seducing her for the fun of it.

  Eugenia dressed herself in a morning gown, styled her hair herself, and then slipped out of her chamber, leaving Aurora to sleep in her bed.

  At this hour, the atmosphere of the house was subdued, and no visitors were hopefully expected for some hours yet. Maids and footmen trotted in and out of bedchambers, remaking beds, emptying chamber pots, resetting fires for the evening.

  She informed the upper maid not to disturb her chamber, since her cousin was sleeping there, and then her ear caught a criticism leveled at Mr. Bloom—the new footman.

  “You’ve got to work faster,” a shrill upstairs maid complained to him. “No, for heaven’s sake. Not that way around.”

  Eugenia drew closer and watched as the maid gave the new man a dressing down in front of the other giggling maids. Mr. Bloom was younger than most servants in the house and was taking the criticism to heart, she could see. His face was growing quite pink from embarrassment—poor fellow.

  She cleared her throat. “Do keep your voice down. My cousin is sleeping still.”

  “Beg pardon, Miss Hillcrest. I’m sorry you had to hear that,” the maid said, but she scowled at Mr. Bloom, who apologized profusely, though he’d not been making any noise.

  Eugenia regarded the servants and noticed the maids stepping away from Mr. Bloom to gather near the more experienced maid.

  Clearly, Mr. Bloom was on the outs with them all. Perhaps she’d found the one man in the household who might serve their needs and not tattle to the others, if given the right incentive. “Mr. Bloom, would you be so kind as to have tea brought to the parlor downstairs for me?”

  “I can do that for you,” the upstairs maid offered.

  “No. Mr. Bloom is the one I want,” Eugenia said, growing annoyed with the bossy maid now for the suggestion.

  “Right away, Miss Hillcrest,” he said as he came forward. “Will you want sandwiches, too?”

  “Yes, in half an hour, I should think.” She thought a moment. “If you could also supply me with today’s news sheet to read as well, I’d be most appreciative.”

  He nodded. “Any particular one?”

  “The Times will do for a start.” Wharton read The Times each day. She’d asked for her own copy, but the marquess had failed to arrange it yet.

  “I’ll do my best.” The fellow rushed off to do her bidding, and all the maids sighed with apparent relief.

  Eugenia narrowed her eyes on the head maid as she snorted. “What seems to be the problem?”

  “The housekeeper likes things a certain way, and, well, he’s so slow. I’ve had to hurry him along all morning. He’s set me back, and I’ll be scolded for his mistakes.”

  “Hmm. Well, he’s new to the house, and young. I’m sure he’ll learn as he goes.”

  “If he lasts that long,” the head maid whispered under her breath, but Eugenia heard her, and the maids as they snickered.

  Eugenia pursed her lips. “Get back to your duties, all of you.”

  Nobody became good at anything overnight. Perhaps she could appropriate Mr. Bloom’s services. She pasted a smile on her face and continued downstairs.

  Mr. Bloom was waiting in the chilly parlor, paper in hand. “Lord Wharton asked me to say that he’d like it back when you’re done with it.”

  “Well, then,” she murmured. “You’d better find yourself a chair.”

  “Beg pardon, Miss Hillcrest. Did I understand that you want me to wait here with you?”

  “Indeed, I think you must. I’m not going to spend every morning returning the paper to Lord Wharton when I’m done reading it.”

  She perched on a chair positioned at the middle of the table and spread the large paper out. “Did you arrange my tea to be delivered here?”

  “Yes, miss.”

  “Very good.” She looked across the room at the fire. “I’ve a mind to spend the day here with my cousin, instead of the larger drawing room. Would you stir up the fire, please?”

  Mr. Bloom sprang to life, rushing about as if she was in danger of freezing at any moment. “Slowly does it, Mr. Bloom. A good fire cannot be rushed.”

  “Beg pardon, miss, but they say I’m too slow at my duties.”

  Eugenia regarded him evenly. “You’ll hear no complaints from me about your service, and I’ll be sure to pass that along to any in the house who might disparage your attention to detail.”

  Mr. Bloom grinned. A little encouragement went a long way toward ensuring the future loyalty of any servant. When he was done with her fire, she sent him back upstairs to wait outside her door for when Aurora woke again, so he could escort her here. There would be no chance of Scarsdale surprising Aurora today if she had a loyal servant by her side at all times.

  Chapter 4

  Leadership did not come naturally to Teddy, but he would take charge for a good cause. “Gentlemen, you each have your lists. Pay no attention to the order of names and go find your first partner.”

  Scarsdale groaned. “Why are we doing this again?”

  “Because we gentleman have a duty to provide the ladies with an enjoyable evening. All the ladies, not just the ones in want of a husband or a lover.”

  “Surely you’re not saying these women do not wish for matrimony,” the young Duke of Brandestock asked in a shocked tone as he studied the names on his list.

  “Of course, I’m not saying that. Brandestock, have you stuffed wool in your ears again? These ladies are overlooked and bored,” he told them all. “Just as bored as we often are at these sorts of things. Go make someone smile. Don’t compromise any one of them.”

  Each list contained a different set of six spinsters’ names. The recipients were chosen at random. Teddy would play no part in matchmaking. As Eugenia had claimed, not everyone wanted to marry, but dancing and good company were universally acceptable and desired by all.

  At that moment, he heard the announcement that the first set would commence shortly. He smoothed his hair and started back into the ballroom behind his friends, urging them to fan out and seek partners. Admittedly, some were skeptical of his plan for their evening; others had outright refused to consider joining in and walked away. But there were a few who had easily seen the value of Teddy’s suggestion and were willing to play along.

  His first dance partner of the night was Eugenia Hillcrest, but she wasn’t on his list. Her name was on a few other men’s lists, though, and because he was last to return to the ballroom, he had to fight his way through them to claim his already reserved first dance.

  She seemed a little bewildered by her sudden popularity but appeared grateful to take his hand.

  “Excuse me, gentlemen,” she apologized with a regretful smile.

  They stepped aside, leaving a clear space around Eugenia. But after a few steps, she glanced down at her dance card with a perplexed expression.

  “What is wrong?”

  “Nothing now, but I…forgive me. I thought you had not come tonight,” she confided. “Lord Wallingham was trying to convince me to scratch out your name and replace it with his.”

  Teddy turned and wagged a finger at Wallingham, who was pretending innocence a few feet away. “I was just in the garden talking with him.”

  He caught sight of the dance card in her hand, pleased to see so many of his friends had sought her out for a set so quickly. “Any dances left free tonight?”

  “I cannot account for it. I have just one left.”

  “Ah, well. Perhaps someone will come along later to claim that last one, so you can say you danced all night.”

  He held out his hand and swept her away to the dance floor. As they waited to begin, Eugenia began to crane her neck every which way, waving to her friends in similar situations upon the dance floor, each waiting to dance with one of the most popular bachelors of the season.

  Left on the sidelines for this set were all the heiresses and more popular, well-connected debutants—and they did not look pleased about it at all.

  Suddenly, Eugenia swung around and looked at him, eyes wide. “You did this.”

  Teddy held in a grin, shaking his head to deny any responsibility. “I’ve no idea what you mean.”

  “You did,” she protested. “I know it.”

  He looked at her and smiled at her stunned expression. Eugenia wore a gown in an extremely dark shade of red, which was quite different from all the other wallflowers gathered around them, in their prim white muslins and pastel silks. The color suited her, he thought. She stood out in a sea of sameness. The wildflower amongst the wallflowers. “I assume you are pleased, whoever arranged it.”

  “You knew I would be.” She gaped. “I never imagined you would listen so well.”

  “I suspect if we put our heads together more often, we might continue a mutually beneficial partnership in other areas too,” he suggested, flirting because she had all but promised she wasn’t expecting a proposal.

  Teddy had a long, dull future ahead of him, waiting for an inheritance he was in no hurry to receive. Arranging for his bored friends to dance with equally bored wallflowers and wildflowers like Eugenia was perhaps one of the most satisfying things he’d done this month.

  She frowned, though. “My cousin Aurora has a great many ideas in that direction.”

  “I’d rather hear yours,” he promised. Aurora was all very well to laugh with, but Eugenia…he only now suspected she might be more to his taste.

  Teddy had been thinking of Eugenia all day. It was odd that he’d only just noticed her when he’d known of her existence for almost a year.

  And then he had no time left for contemplation. He was swept off his feet by Eugenia’s enthusiasm and skill on the dance floor.

  They danced well together, getting lost in the music and the steps along with everyone else, but always aware of their commitment to each other for the dance. And when other dancers lost their way, they merely laughed and dodged around them to continue on. For Teddy, it was one of the most enjoyable half hours of his life, seeing Eugenia and those other ladies dance and smile and be appreciated, and for his friends to seem to be having a good time, too.

  He turned Eugenia around and around as the set ended and smiled down into her upturned face. There was a look of warm appreciation in her amber eyes that affected him from head to toe. When they finally stopped spinning, he was almost sorry to let her go.

  Regretfully, Teddy guided Eugenia back to her cousin Sylvia and bowed over her hand. “Thank you for the dance. You dance very well, too,” he whispered for her ears alone.

  Before she could respond with more than a smile, she was snatched up by Lord Wallingham to be his next partner.

  Teddy took himself off to find his next woman to dance with but looked over his shoulder once just as Eugenia took the floor with Wallingham. She did not look bored at all, and that was all he wanted.

  His next dance partner proved elusive at first. When he finally found Miss Charlotte Waters to ask her to dance, they were too late to join the current set forming. Charlotte Waters was someone he’d met before, so securing an introduction was unnecessary. She usually sat with the chaperones and tended to sway to whatever tune was being played, which normally made her easy to spot from any angle.

  Tonight, she was seated on the edge of a smaller than the usual group of spinsters. A dozen heads whipped around to stare at him as he neared. Her eyes widened as he smiled. “Miss Waters, might I have the pleasure of the next set?”

  Charlotte spluttered and stammered but eventually found her voice. “Of course, sir. How kind of you to think of me.”

  “I should have long before now, too,” he confessed, apologetic. Charlotte was very nice. A wallflower of longstanding, though. Her parents were acquaintances of Exeter’s and something of an odd pair. Historians with an interest in far-flung places—and not in seeing their daughter make a match. Charlotte had been away from London last year, which explained her continued spinsterhood. She, like everyone else, deserved an enjoyable evening.

  “That is quite all right, sir. You’re here now.”

  By rights, Teddy did not need to remain by her side between asking and the dancing. However, he discovered the wallflower’s location had an almost unobstructed view of the dance floor. He moved slightly to one side and watched Eugenia and Wallingham twirl about.

  A throat cleared. “Do you mind if I stand with you, sir?”

  Teddy smiled at Miss Waters’ timid question. “Of course not.”

  She beamed and looked around the room, unconsciously swinging her skirts about her legs. “It’s a pretty evening, isn’t it?”

  “It is,” he murmured. “Pretty loud at times, too.”

  Miss Waters laughed behind her hand. “Oh, yes indeed. I think the orchestra is determined to be heard in all corners of the chamber, and the guests are equally determined to talk over the music.”

  He looked down at her. “Are you suggesting society is made up of windbags?”

  Charlotte put both her hands over her mouth as she laughed heartily. “Perhaps I did. Are you going to deny it?”

  “No.” Teddy grinned. “Miss Waters, you are very amusing.”

  “My last companion would not agree with you,” she confessed.

  “I don’t believe I had the pleasure of meeting her,” he noted, looking about for a new one. No one seemed to be looking upon him and Charlotte with any great excitement.