“I can’t explain the carriage, but I was nervous at the theatre. It was the first social event I’d ever been to. There were so many people there, and it was so noisy. My father left me by myself in the balcony. I didn’t like being alone like that. I went to the railing to look down at the people because I thought it might calm my nerves. But while I was doing so, I got dizzy. Certainly, it’s possible I fell forward from that instead of being pushed.”

  “You really didn’t feel anyone push you?”

  “It’s hard to recall exactly what happened. There were so many people, and it was so loud.” Eyebrows furrowed, she stared off into the distance for several seconds. “Well, I think there might have been someone behind me. Maybe someone pushed me.”

  Interest piqued, he said, “You didn’t say that before.”

  “It’s hard to remember everything clearly. I was leaning over the balcony to see the place, and I was distracted by all of the people. Being in London was scary for me at the time.”

  He supposed for a lady who’d never been to London before, a room full of strangers would scare her. He offered her a smile that he hoped would put her at ease. “I understand. Events aren’t always clear when we think back on them.”

  “No, I suppose not.”

  He wondered if Stacey happened to be at the theatre that evening. Perhaps Piers had taken her to see the play. “When was this play?”

  Eleanor didn’t hide her surprise. “Is that important?”

  “It might be, though it’s too soon to tell yet.”

  “It seems like a lot of things are too soon to tell.”

  “I have to be careful about how I proceed. I can’t blindly rush into a judgment. I have to examine all of the evidence. It takes time to do that.”

  “That actually makes me feel better. If you truly are careful, you’re bound to realize Stacey is innocent.”

  He wouldn’t be so sure about that, but he couldn’t blame her for wishing it. He hoped, for her sake, that she was right. She should have friends she could trust. No one should feel like they were all alone. Granted, she had a father, but her father kept his distance. It wasn’t that her father didn’t love her. He did. But it was obvious to Byron that her father didn’t know how to act around her, which, Byron supposed, wasn’t all that surprising since he had tucked her away in the country for her entire life.

  Byron spent a moment debating if he should introduce her to his sister. He didn’t like to mix his personal life with his professional one. The only time in the past he’d done that was to arrange a marriage between his sister and the gentleman he’d worked for, and the reason he’d done that was to secure her future. While he made a decent enough living, he didn’t make enough for the two of them. The tactic had paid off. His sister was doing well now. He never had to worry about whether her needs could be met again.

  He glanced at Eleanor. She was a pleasant enough person when she wasn’t arguing with him. His sister might like her. “Would you like me to introduce you to my sister? She’s older than you, but I think you two might get along. She has a lifestyle comparable to the one you’re used to. Your stations would be equal. You wouldn’t have to worry about people not approving of the friendship.”

  Her eyebrows furrowed. “Why would people not approve of the friendship?”

  Considering her father obsessed over appearances, he was surprised she’d ask the question. “The wealthy don’t befriend those of lower financial means. Under ordinary circumstances, I would never be permitted to spend any time with you, let alone attend dinner parties and dance with you. I’m only here because your father trusts me to solve this case.”

  “I know that’s why you’re here, but I don’t see why it should bother anyone if I were friends with someone who isn’t as well off as I am.”

  “Well, it would bother some. It’s the way London is. Everything is about appearances. It’s why your father is adamant that you associate with the right people. It’s why we don’t tell anyone I’m a Runner. Thankfully, I rarely work with nobility, so no one recognizes me.”

  “I can understand the need for secrecy since no one should know you’re a Runner. If there is someone who is trying to harm me, the last thing you want is for them to know your real identity. But it makes no sense to me why people care so much about who someone chooses to befriend. The quality of the friend should be more important than the amount of money she has. It’d be nice to have someone I can do things with. I’m tired of staying home and reading all the time. I did that all of my life.”

  Well, that settled it. “I’m going to introduce you to my sister. If your father will allow it, we’ll pay her a visit during our walk.”

  “Oh, my father would never allow that. I can’t just show up unannounced. It wouldn’t be proper.”

  She was right. Maybe if they were already friends, it would be fine. Sometimes the rules gave him a headache. “I’ll arrange for a time to introduce you both.”

  He heard someone coming toward the room so he directed his attention to the doorway. Since her father was ready for the walk, he escorted Eleanor out of the townhouse.

  Chapter Ten

  The walk turned out to be much more pleasant than Eleanor had expected. For the first time since coming to London, it felt as if someone was taking the time to really listen to her. Mr. Tumilson might not be as bad as she feared. The talk they’d had in the drawing room gave her hope that someone might finally take her seriously.

  “When is the next ball you’ll be taking your daughter to?” Mr. Tumilson asked her father as they passed a tree at Hyde Park.

  “I was thinking of going to the one Lord Roderick is hosting in a couple of days,” her father said. “Do you think she’s ready for it?”

  “I do. The lessons the duchess gave her has paid off very well. Of course, that’s to be credited to your daughter since she had to do the work.”

  Eleanor glanced over at Mr. Tumilson in surprise. She got the impression he didn’t offer compliments lightly.

  “In that case, we’ll attend the ball.” Her father looked at her. “He is very particular in who he associates with, so the quality of gentlemen there will be better than if we were to attend Lord Edon’s ball.” To Mr. Tumilson, he added, “Lord Edon is hosting a ball tomorrow.”

  “Who’s Lord Edon?” she asked.

  “Someone you don’t need to worry about. He’s already married.” He turned his attention back to Mr. Tumilson. “You can’t trust a gentleman who made his reputation in London by lying.”

  She wanted to ask him what Lord Edon had lied about, but she figured he wouldn’t tell her.

  “To be fair, we are lying,” Mr. Tumilson told her father. “I’m not really your daughter’s suitor.”

  “Yes, but our lies are necessary,” her father replied. “We’re making sure no harm comes to my daughter. That’s different than what Lord Edon was doing. He lied for selfish reasons.”

  “I think most people’s motives are selfish,” Mr. Tumilson said.

  “You think so?”

  “It’s natural to look out for our own interests. While I do wish to help you, I need money in order to buy food. My motives in taking this job aren’t completely selfless.”

  “That’s different than what Lord Edon did. All he cared about was impressing a bunch of gentlemen. What’s worse is that even after his lies were exposed, most gentlemen esteemed him even more. Sometimes there is no justice in the world.”

  Eleanor glanced Mr. Tumilson’s way. Would he ask her father what Lord Edon had lied about? She knew it was none of her business, but the more her father went on about it, the more her interest was piqued.

  Unfortunately, Mr. Tumilson only said, “What matters is that justice prevails in our situation.”

  Eleanor hid her disappointment, though it was probably good her curiosity hadn’t been satisfied. All the two would have done was gossip. Many times she’d been instructed to keep away from that kind of thing.

  Her gaze went to the other people at the park. Every single one of them looked like they were happy. Was she the only person who felt out of place? If she didn’t get to join Ladies of Grace, she wasn’t sure what she’d do.

  “Your Grace, I didn’t expect to see you here,” someone called out.

  She turned her attention to the gentleman heading in her father’s direction. There had been so many gentlemen her father had introduced her to since coming to London that it was hard to keep track of them all. She was sure she’d danced with this one.

  “I don’t usually go for walks,” her father said. “But since my daughter is in her first Season, it’s prudent I chaperone her.” He gestured to Mr. Tumilson. “This is one of her suitors, Mr. Tumilson. Mr. Tumilson and Lady Eleanor, this is the Duke of Winnett.” He turned to her. “I believe you remember him from Mr. Jasper’s ball.”

  Now she remembered him. She offered a nod and smiled. “Yes, I remember His Grace.”

  “I was happy to make your acquaintance,” the Duke of Winnett told her. “You’re a graceful dancer.”

  She thanked him.

  “Well, I won’t keep you from your stroll.” His gaze went to her father. “Will you be at White’s later today?”

  “I hadn’t planned to go,” her father said.

  “You’re not still upset with the way things worked out for Lord Edon, are you?” the duke asked.

  “Certainly not. I wouldn’t let something as silly as a vote deter me from going there. What happens or doesn’t happen with Lord Edon has no bearing on me. I’m just surprised so many gentlemen have no qualms about lying.”

  There it was again—the whole matter with Lord Edon. Eleanor bit her tongue so she wouldn’t ask about it. She glanced at Mr. Tumilson and saw that he was studying the Duke of Winnett. Was he curious about Lord Edon, too?

  “Oh, I thought perhaps that’s why you decided not to go to White’s,” the Duke of Winnett told her father. “You haven’t been there as much since the vote.”

  “The reason for my absence has to do with my daughter,” her father replied. “I have to see to it that she finds a respectable husband.”

  “Of course. If I had a daughter, I’d do the same thing. If you don’t have time to go to White’s, would you mind my coming to your townhouse for a visit? I have something I want to discuss with you.”

  “You’re welcome to come by later this afternoon.”

  The duke nodded, wished Eleanor and Mr. Tumilson a pleasant day, and left.

  “Do you talk to him often at White’s?” Mr. Tumilson asked her father.

  “We play a game of cards if we happen to be there at the same time,” her father began, “but he doesn’t go there much. He has more important things to worry about.”

  “What kind of things?”

  “He enjoys travel and educational pursuits. White’s is a place to relax and make friendships, but it’s hardly a place that will improve a gentleman’s intellectual life or his reputation. On some days, I’m not sure why I wanted to be a member there. I suppose in my youth I thought it would greatly improve my social standing.”

  “Has it done that?”

  Her father paused for a long moment. “I think it helped to a point. Other gentlemen wish to belong to an exclusive gentlemen’s club. It’s a badge of honor to be accepted into a place that isn’t open to everyone. But when you consider how many hours are spent there wasting time…” He shrugged. “The older you get, the more you value things that really matter.”

  Mr. Tumilson looked in her direction, and she noted the sympathetic expression on his face. She had no idea what to make of that. What was he thinking? What did she have to do with White’s?

  Her father cleared his throat. “We ought to continue with our walk. I notice a couple of gentlemen taking note of my daughter. I think the fact that she has a suitor is getting their attention.” He smiled at her. “I dare say gentlemen will be lining up to dance with you at Lord Roderick’s ball.”

  Eleanor wasn’t sure if that would be the case, but she would see soon enough.

  ***

  That evening right before dinner, Eleanor was reading a book when her father came into the drawing room with an excited look on his face. She perked up in interest. Did Ladies of Grace decide to include her as a member?

  He sat next to her. “We have a suitor for you!”

  She blinked in surprise. “We do?”

  He nodded. “It turns out that you’ve caught the Duke of Winnett’s attention. I told him he’s welcome to start coming by to visit you but that you have other suitors as well, so we’ll have to work on a schedule. We can’t make things too easy. Besides, there will be other suitors now.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief. Oh good. Her father wasn’t going to insist she marry him. She was allowed to pursue other prospects. She could only hope those other prospects would be coming. The Duke of Winnett was fine, but she couldn’t imagine spending the rest of her life with him, especially when that life had to do with kissing and touching him. She was going to have to put all of the duchess’ advice to good use at the next ball. The sooner she got more suitors, the better.

  “Oh, and there is one other thing we need to discuss,” her father added.

  Her eyebrows furrowed at the hesitant tone in his voice. Had she unwittingly done something wrong and he wished to reprimand her for it?

  “Mr. Tumilson thinks you might benefit from a friendship with his sister,” her father continued. “I don’t know anything about his sister. Mr. Tumilson said she’s married to Mr. Duff. He does well financially, but he isn’t a member of White’s. I don’t think he’s even connected to any members there, but I intend to stop by White’s to find out.”

  “What could be wrong with me being friends with his sister?”

  “I want to make sure you have friends who will help your standing in the Ton. The people you associate with in London are very important.”

  “I can understand why marrying a suitable gentleman is necessary, but I see no reason why it should matter who my friends are.”

  He offered her an understanding smile and patted her hand. “It’s to my detriment that I didn’t bring you to London sooner. All of this is new to you. Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now, is there? I can’t go back and change things. I will ask around about Mr. Duff to make sure he has the lifestyle compatible with us. Despite his insufficient social standing, having Mr. Tumilson around is necessary since he’s doing a job. I will let you know whether or not I approve of the friendship in a few days. Until then, we might hear good news from Ladies of Grace.” He patted her hand again. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

  She watched as he left the room. She could argue with him, but what would be the point? He never listened to her. She should just be grateful he wasn’t going to demand she marry the Duke of Winnett. Things could be worse. Taking comfort in this, she turned her attention back to the book.

  Chapter Eleven

  Byron watched as Eleanor danced with the gentlemen at Lord Roderick’s ball. He couldn’t help but notice the way she acted. It was so different from before. She was flirting this evening. She was subtle about it. She offered gentlemen a teasing smile. She lowered her gaze from time to time and offered a playful shrug. She seemed to be intent on asking a lot of questions. She chuckled at their jokes, which prompted quite a few of them to keep doing whatever they could to impress her.

  From the other side of the ballroom, the Duchess of Ashbourne also watched her. Byron noted the pleased expression on the duchess’ face. Byron had to admit he was just as satisfied with the way things had turned out as the duchess was. For someone who spent her entire life hidden away in the country, Eleanor was a quick learner. And, thankfully, she wasn’t looking over at him this evening. That made his job a lot easier.

  So what was bothering him? He crossed his arms and tapped his biceps with his fingers.

  The dance came to an end, and he noted that two gentlemen made their way toward Eleanor. One was the Duke of Winnett, and the other was a younger gentleman he didn’t recognize. The two stopped when they reached her. Byron glanced her father’s way, and he noted that her father was pleased that she had two gentlemen vying for her attention. Byron supposed he would be happy, too, if this was his daughter. There was no doubt she’d find a husband this Season now. Byron shifted from one foot to the other, which was an uncharacteristic move for him. He stopped himself before anyone else noted the tell-tale sign of apprehension.

  Eleanor glanced between the two gentlemen, seeming to be at a loss on what to do. Her gaze went to the duchess, who made a gesture Byron couldn’t decipher. Whatever it was, it was meant to be a secret code. It was a brilliant move. It was subtle enough for others to miss but still enough to communicate a message.

  Eleanor turned her attention to the Duke of Winnett, tucked her hair behind her ear, and offered him an apologetic smile before she accepted the other gentleman’s arm. Though the Duke of Winnett nodded and walked away, Byron detected a slight scowl on the gentleman’s face.

  Byron arched an eyebrow. He had suspected the duke had an interest in her when he met him at Hyde Park, but the interest didn’t seem to be quite as romantic as one would expect from a suitor. Byron didn’t know what to make of it. All he could do was start paying closer attention to the Duke of Winnett.

  Byron contemplated going over to Eleanor’s father and asking him about the Duke of Winnett, but then, he saw the duke head in her father’s direction. Perhaps, talking to her father about the duke might not be the best move. They were both in White’s, and the duke had come to visit her father yesterday. If there was something to worry about with the duke, it would be in Byron’s best interest not to arouse her father’s suspicions. Her father wouldn’t intentionally let something slip, but his emotions were involved in this case, and emotions had a way of making someone act rashly.