“It’s nice you see the best in people. It’s your most notable trait.” He hurried to finish his tea. “The ball is tomorrow evening. If I am to be good enough to go there with the Duke of Dormondton and his daughter, I better go to the market. Who knew my first assignment would be buying clothes?”

  Eris set her cup down and put her hand on his arm. “Wait here, and I’ll get the money.”

  Byron stood up as she left the room but returned to his seat after she was gone. He hadn’t come across a gentleman as particular about things as the Duke of Dormondton before. He wasn’t sure if the gentleman would make it easier to figure out what was going on with Lady Eleanor or not. Sometimes loved ones, even well-meaning ones, could complicate things.

  ***

  “She’ll have the pink gown with the matching gloves,” the Duke of Dormondton told the seamstress as he inspected the drawings in front of him and Lady Eleanor. “I want these pearls removed from it, though. She has a pearl necklace that will suit her just fine.” To Eleanor, he added, “Simple is better. I know some ladies want to be flamboyant, but I find it unbecoming. The best wife is one who lets her sweet temperament win a gentleman’s heart.”

  Eleanor didn’t have a problem with the gown being simple, but she wasn’t sure she wanted pink. The red gown seemed much more exciting. Before she had time to voice her opinion, her father was paying the seamstress.

  “Are you sure you can have this ready by tomorrow afternoon?” he asked the seamstress.

  “The design is an easy one,” the seamstress assured him. “I’ll have it done before I go to bed tonight.”

  Eleanor wondered if the lady could sew clothes that fast for everyone or if it was her father’s additional money that prompted her to speed the process. Eleanor knew how to make clothes. She’d gotten bored in the country and had begged the maids to teach her how to make clothes after she was done with the lessons the governess had given her for the day. If there was one thing Eleanor didn’t care for, it was having nothing to do. She’d thought coming to London would be a lot of fun. Upon first glance, there was so much to do. But it seemed that it was just as boring as the country. She still spent most of her time all by herself.

  The seamstress left, and her father turned his attention back to her. “There you go.” He sat next to her on the settee. “A new gown will give you more confidence. I know new clothes do that for me.” He gathered his cup and a scone.

  She tapped the side of her cup, which was still full of tea.

  “Is something troubling you?” he asked then bit into his scone.

  “I have a difficult time around people I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t think a gown is going to make me exciting to talk to.”

  “It’s a pretty gown, and you are a pretty lady. It almost pains me to say that since a part of me can’t believe you’re already grown up. But I’d be remiss in my duties as your father if I didn’t see to it that you get married. Every lady has a right to a husband and children. I’m just not sure if there’s one who deserves you.”

  Considering that she hadn’t had a single suitor in all of these months of trying to find one, her father should be glad to have anyone take an interest in her.

  “I never realized how difficult it is for fathers when their daughters are ready to marry,” he continued. “A daughter is like a precious gem. You don’t want just anyone to take her. Picking the right gentleman is paramount. In order to even attract him, we need to make sure you’re safe.”

  “I am safe. No one is trying to harm me. The carriage wheel could have happened to anyone, as could the rat. As for tripping on the stairs and at the theatre, I was clumsy. My foot got stuck on the hem of my clothes. These gowns go down to the ankles.”

  He nodded, though he didn’t seem to believe her.

  She hid her disappointment. She shouldn’t be surprised he wasn’t listening to her. She’d already exhausted him on this topic. Maybe after the Runner assured him that there was no killer, her father would feel better.

  “Tomorrow evening, I’ll let Mr. Tumilson watch over you,” her father said. “I’m sure he can be more discreet than I am. Since he’ll be coming with us, you’ll need to set aside two dances with him. I’d like gentlemen to assume he’s interested in you. Sometimes gentlemen need to think a lady already has a suitor in order to make an effort to get to know her.”

  Eleanor felt the color drain from her face. “You didn’t hire Mr. Tumilson to play the part of my suitor, did you?”

  “No, of course not. I only hired him to figure out who’s trying to kill you. But since he’s a bachelor and will be associating with us, people might think he’s hoping to be your suitor. I’d rather have them thinking that than knowing he’s a Runner.”

  She supposed that made sense. “You’re not going to tell him to pretend to be romantically interested in me, are you?”

  “When people see you dancing with him and learn you’re going to a dinner party with him, they’ll assume it.”

  She relaxed. As long as Mr. Tumilson didn’t know this was part of the arrangement, she didn’t have to feel awkward around him. She was having a difficult enough time in London fitting in with the people here. She didn’t need Mr. Tumilson pretending to like her to add to the embarrassment.

  She picked up a scone and took a bite. “What will happen if I don’t find a husband?”

  “You will find one. I have some gentlemen in mind who haven’t met you yet. I asked around at White’s earlier today, and a couple will be at the ball tomorrow night. They all have titles and money, and, best of all, they’re looking to get married. I already arranged for them to be on the dance card. One wanted to make sure you weren’t a redhead before he agreed to dance with you.” He chuckled. “That was Lord Quinton. He’s a good gentleman, but he has a tendency to be superstitious. He won’t dance with a lady who has red hair. He thinks it’ll be bad luck.”

  Her eyebrows furrowed. “How can red hair bring bad luck?”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t ask him. I think most gentlemen have something that makes them peculiar.”

  Did they? She wouldn’t know. In fact, she knew very little about people in general. She hoped once she married, she wouldn’t have to keep running from one social activity to another. She barely had any time to read or sew. She used to do those things all the time in the country. They’d been pleasant ways to pass an afternoon, and they had always made her feel at peace. All of this running around had the opposite effect on her. But she would do it if it meant she would get married. This was what her father wanted for her, and she wanted to make him happy.

  Her father patted her hand. “I have a feeling having Mr. Tumilson around will be the thing those gentlemen need to notice you.”

  Since he expected it, she smiled before she sipped her tea.

  Chapter Three

  Byron paused at the entrance of the ballroom. He’d been in plenty of crowded places, but he’d never been around so many wealthy people before. The Duke of Dormondton had been right to insist he purchase better attire. As much as Byron hated to admit it, he had underestimated how important it was to give people the impression of wealth when attending a ball.

  “Mr. Tumilson, I’m glad you made it,” the duke’s familiar voice called out to him. “And I’m happy to see you’re appropriately dressed.”

  Byron turned from the entrance as the duke and his daughter approached. Lady Eleanor had on a gown that flattered her. She had a nice figure. Her hair, however, did little to flatter her face. He doubted the gown would be enough. He glanced at the other ladies in attendance. They knew how to make themselves look pretty. Yes, he doubted the gown would do much good. While the duke wanted his daughter married, he didn’t seem inclined to make her physically appealing to the gentlemen.

  “I reserved two dances between you and my daughter,” the duke said. “It’s the best way for you to blend in. Also, I’m going to tell others that I’m helping you with your financial endeavors. This will work since Mr. Jasper is an excellent investor.”

  Byron nodded. “That’s fine.” He glanced at Lady Eleanor. “When do you want me to dance with her?”

  “The first dance you’ll have with her will be in thirty minutes. The second will be another thirty after that. I have her dance card full in hopes it’ll keep her out of harm’s way. In the meantime, you should mingle with the others. While you’re working here tonight, ask a couple of ladies to dance so others assume you’re looking for a wife. And, when you’re dancing with my daughter, I want you to laugh and smile more than you will with the other ladies. That ought to make the gentlemen notice how lovely she is. You might as well help me get her a husband while we’re figuring out who is trying to kill her.”

  Lady Eleanor gave a slight roll of her eyes that let Byron know she thought her father was overreacting, but the movement was so small that he doubted the duke picked up on it.

  “I’ll introduce you to Mr. Jasper right after I take my daughter to the next gentleman she’s due to dance with,” the duke said. “I won’t be but a moment.”

  Byron offered a nod to let him know he’d wait for him, but it did strike him as odd that the gentleman would escort his daughter to the potential suitor. Byron assumed it was the potential suitor’s job to go to the lady for the dance. But perhaps when a father filled the dance card for his daughter, this was the way things were done.

  As the two walked away, Byron scanned the people in the room. The sooner he took note of the way they behaved in this setting, the sooner he’d know what was normal at these balls.

  Most people seemed to be wrapped up in their conversations. There were a few who stood or sat somewhere alone. They either watched others or stared at the floor. He guessed the ones watching others were there to pick up on the latest gossip. Those looking at the floor were probably too shy to join in with the others. If it hadn’t been for her father, Lady Eleanor would probably be one of those looking at the floor.

  His gaze went back to the duke and his daughter. The duke was talking to the gentleman who would be dancing with her. While the duke and gentleman talked, Byron noticed that she was glancing around the room. She had no interest in the gentleman. Byron took a closer look at the gentleman and saw that he was significantly older than her. So that was it. He certainly couldn’t blame her for her lack of interest. He wouldn’t want to be with someone a lot older than him if he’d been in her situation. It seemed that one of the younger and energetic gentlemen would be more fitting for a lady her age.

  Her father gestured for her to join the gentleman. The gentleman, it seemed, was more inclined to have the dance than she was, but Byron didn’t pick up on any romantic interest coming from him. Byron’s eyebrows furrowed. There was interest, however. And, perhaps, that was worth noting.

  When the duke returned to him, Byron asked, “Who is that gentleman?”

  “He is the Duke of Winnett. Are you acquainted with him?”

  Byron shook his head. “I’ve never seen him before.”

  “He mostly keeps to himself. I’ve known him for a good twenty years. We aren’t friends, but when we see each other, we stop to talk.”

  “And you think your daughter is a good match for him?”

  “His estate is in good standing. He’s always pleasant. The Ton approves of him. He’s never been married. At his age, he must be serious about having an heir.” He shrugged. “To tell you the truth, I’m at my wit’s end. My daughter is a lovely girl, but for some reason, no one wants her. This is the first time she’s met him. Maybe this will be the one.”

  “While it is good for a father to be agreeable to the union, I think it’s just as important for the daughter to want it, too.”

  The duke faced him. “She didn’t say she didn’t want to dance with him.”

  “Maybe not in words, but a lady has other ways of communicating what she wants and doesn’t want. I noticed that she was looking at other people while you were talking to him. If she was interested in him, she would have been looking in his direction.”

  The duke grinned in excitement. “It’s excellent how you detected that. Your reputation is well-deserved. Now come. I want to introduce you to Mr. Jasper. We must pretend you’re with me to improve your financial standing.”

  Byron gave another glance at Lady Eleanor and the Duke of Winnett. No, the match would never lead to a happy one. While the Duke of Winnett might benefit, she would not. In this situation, Byron surmised it was to her benefit that she had a difficult time finding suitors.

  ***

  “I feel awful in admitting this, but I didn’t even know the Duke of Dormondton had a daughter until recently,” the Duke of Winnett told Eleanor as they danced. “Your father really is a private person.”

  Was he? Eleanor thought her father said way too much at times, such as him just telling the Duke of Winnett exactly how much money he’d just made from an investment. If it was her, she wouldn’t go around telling someone who was only an acquaintance the amount of money she made. At the most, she’d just say that the investment was a success. But it wasn’t her place to tell her father what to do.

  “How long have you been in London?” the Duke of Winnett asked.

  She took her gaze off of a couple next to them who were laughing at each other’s jokes. “I’ve been here for four months.”

  “Four months? That explains why I didn’t know about you sooner. I was delayed at my estate up until last month.”

  She didn’t know how to respond to that, so she settled for smiling at him.

  “What do you enjoy doing in London?” His Grace asked.

  Nothing so far. Of course, she couldn’t say that. She might be new to this kind of life, but she knew what kind of response was appropriate and what wasn’t appropriate. Since she had to come up with something, she offered, “I’ve been to a tea party with the Ladies of Grace.”

  His eyes lit up. “That’s a very prestigious social group. I’m impressed. I heard they have rigid rules for membership.”

  She bit her lower lip. Did she say she was a member? She was sure she hadn’t. So what in her statement had led him to conclude that?

  “There is another social group for ladies. I think it’s called Enduring Friendships.” He shook his head in the same dismissive fashion her father had used when the seamstress had offered to make her a red gown. “That’s a group for ladies rejected by Ladies of Grace. It would be humiliating to be associated with them.”

  It was a good thing Eleanor had no interest in this particular gentleman, for if she had, she would be disappointed in his comment. If the ladies in the groups were friends, what did it matter how prestigious each group was?

  “Have you been to the theatre?” His Grace asked.

  “Yes.” Now that was something she could maintain a conversation about. “I saw the play, and I thought it was amusing. Did you see it?”

  He shot her a teasing look. “I did not. Don’t spoil it for me. I plan to see that next week.”

  Well, in that case, she didn’t even have that little bit to help the conversation along. She didn’t know what to say. This whole thing of socializing was far more difficult than she’d expected it to be when she left the country. It didn’t help that the ladies around her were able to converse with their dance partners as if they’d always known them.

  Her gaze happened to go to Mr. Tumilson. To her surprise, he was looking at her. She shouldn’t be surprised, she supposed. Her father had hired him to make sure nothing bad happened to her. He couldn’t do that if he didn’t take the time to pay attention to her. But it did make her feel uneasy. It was bad enough to be socially inept, but she really didn’t want someone noticing it. She looked away from him and hoped he would look elsewhere. After a few seconds, she glanced back in his direction and was relieved to see he was paying attention to something Mr. Jasper was saying.

  The dance finally came to an end, and she said she enjoyed the dance, though she really hadn’t. Come to think of it, she didn’t enjoy any of the dances she’d had. She was sure her inability to participate in the conversation played a big factor in that.

  “What did you think of the Duke of Winnett?” her father asked when he came up to her. Before she could respond, he added, “I know he’s quite a bit older than you. It might be best to put your attention on someone younger.” He escorted her to the side of the room. “I had to agree to let him have two dances with you. He’s someone I’ve known for a long time. It would have been rude to tell him no when he made the request.”

  “Why would he want to dance with me?” She doubted he’d taken one look at her and fell in love. She wasn’t a simpleton. She knew she wasn’t as attractive as the other ladies in the room.

  “I think he was curious about you,” her father said. “His interest in you was merely an inquisitive one. He’s a confirmed bachelor. He’s never been married.”

  “Isn’t that odd considering he has a title?”

  He shrugged. “Not all gentlemen are inclined to marry and have children. Some don’t mind if their nearest male relative inherits the title instead. Take me, for instance. I have no problem with my cousin taking my title. After your mother’s death, I couldn’t see marrying another lady. The love I shared with her is one you only get once in a lifetime.”

  She didn’t hide her surprise. Her father so rarely ever spoke of his feelings for her mother. She had no idea he loved her so well.

  “Your Grace,” a gentleman greeted as he approached.

  “My dear, this is the Duke of Augustine,” her father introduced. “I thought it might ease some of your nerves if not every gentleman you dance with this evening is a potential suitor. His Grace is already betrothed. Their fathers arranged the match years ago. Her name is Lady Carol, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” the gentleman replied.

  Eleanor noticed an underlying tension in the Duke of Augustine’s reply and realized the match wasn’t something he wanted. Either he resented having a marriage arranged for him or he didn’t want to marry Lady Carol.