Cassandra offered Lady Bentley a weak smile. “Allow me to present my friend, Miss Fiona Wingate and her companion, Miss Lancaster.”

Fiona rose and curtsied, as did Prudence. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She tried to remember who Lady Bentley was. The name was familiar, probably from Debrett’s, but Fiona couldn’t place the title.

Lady Bentley turned her bright blue gaze on Fiona. “Miss Wingate, are you Lord Overton’s ward? It seems you are. I heard about your presentation to the queen.”

Of course she had.

“How charming of you to bring that up,” Cassandra said, her voice and features carrying a sharp edge.

“Yes, well, it was quite the story.” Lady Bentley laughed, a soft but wholly grating sound. At least to Fiona. “I did feel sorry for Overton. He’s had such a bad time of things since I chose Bentley over him.”

Fiona couldn’t think of what to say to that surprising revelation. Why on earth would this woman have chosen anyone besides Overton? He was witty, thoughtful, handsome, caring. “Has he? He seems in rather good spirits to me.” Fiona looked to her tablemates. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Most definitely.” Cassandra blinked in what appeared to be mock ignorance at Lady Bentley. “Did you actually choose Bentley, or was the choice made for you? I can’t imagine why you’d choose him over the earl.” Her eyes rounded briefly before she leaned toward Fiona and whispered, though not quietly enough that Lady Bentley couldn’t hear, “Bentley’s opinion of himself wasn’t quite so inflated then. Also, his father is a duke.” She pursed her lips.

Lady Bentley’s eyes narrowed. “He didn’t attempt to kidnap me to Gretna Green, as Overton did. Overton would have made a terrible husband. Autocratic and cold, as his father was known to be.”

Fiona didn’t believe for a moment that her guardian would kidnap anyone. Nor did she believe the other things Lady Bentley said about him. “I’ve never known Lord Overton to be anything but warm and kind. Perhaps you misunderstood his intentions.”

“Oh yes, that must be it,” Cassandra said eagerly. “I’d wager the truth is that he offered to kidnap Bentley so he could avoid the parson’s trap.”

“You are not at all amusing,” Lady Bentley said with considerable affront.

Cassandra adopted a sober expression and lowered her voice to a remorseful tone. “My apologies. I thought you were jesting, and we were simply playing along.”

“Well, good day.” Lady Bentley turned on her heel and stalked toward the door, her maid following quickly behind.

“What an unpleasant woman,” Prudence murmured.

“Indeed,” Fiona agreed. “Did Overton really want to marry her?”

Cassandra shrugged. “I recall that he’d had his heart broken, but I don’t pay attention to gossip. And, of course, I wasn’t out then.”

He’d had his heart broken. Fiona felt a surge of sympathy for him. “I realize I don’t know him extensively, but he’s never seemed cold or autocratic to me. Yes, he’s been demanding and rather managing when it comes to my future, but even then, he seems to change his mind in favor of allowing me to do things as I choose. Friday’s assembly is a prime example. He wasn’t going to let me go and then changed his mind.”