“And if it had been, it still wouldn’t have been your business. I don’t know why you and Con and Father seem to think you can manage every part of my life. I won’t tolerate it.” Cassandra glanced toward Fiona. “I’m for the retiring room.” She left in the direction of the ladies’ side of the ballroom.

“Perhaps you should go with her,” Fiona suggested to Prudence.

Prudence flicked a glance toward Tobias before saying, “It seems you’re the one I should stay with.”

Fiona laughed softly. “I promise I will stay right here.”

Prudence hesitated but ultimately departed after Cassandra. Lord Lucien, who continued to frown, turned to Tobias and Fiona. “Allow me to offer my most heartfelt congratulations. However, I hope you’ll excuse me.”

“Thank you and yes.” Tobias gave him a meaningful look. “You heard what your sister said.”

“That I’m like my brother and father? Yes.” A slight tremor passed over him. “I’m going to find Upton.” He stalked off.

“Uh-oh, alone again,” Tobias murmured, moving to stand as close to her as propriety would allow. His fingers grazed hers.

“You can hardly call this alone.” She swept her gaze over the crowded ballroom and smiled.

“I suppose not. I’m just glad to be with you again, hopeless as that sounds.”

She couldn’t keep herself from staring into his eyes. “I feel the same.”

“Were you able to speak with Lord Gregory?”

“I was. He was disappointed, but he was also glad for me.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That my heart was engaged elsewhere. He wanted to ensure my feelings were reciprocated. I assured him they were.”

“If there is any question, my love,” he whispered, “let me confirm that I adore you most fervently. Did you tell him I was the gentleman who stole you away?”

Fiona briefly clasped his fingers and hated to let them go. “You didn’t steal me—I willingly chose you. I did not tell him it was you. We did not discuss anything about getting married, and I didn’t want to inadvertently spread gossip about myself.”

He chuckled. “An excellent consideration. We can send the announcement to the newspapers tomorrow and have the banns read on Sunday.”

“But then we’ll have to wait three weeks, and that will be after the twelfth.”

“I already told you I don’t need to wed by then. Anyway, something tells me the new owner of Horethorne will invite me to visit often.” His eyes gleamed with mirth.

“I want you to be the owner.” She almost touched his mouth when he parted his lips to argue. “I feel very strongly about this—it was your mother’s house, and it should be yours.”

“That is incredibly wonderful of you. However, all that matters to me is that our son or daughter inherits it someday.”

“We are agreed on that.” It was a struggle not to put her arms around him, to kiss him, to hold him. “I have an alternate idea to reading the banns on Sunday. What if we eloped to Gretna Green? I understand that’s something you’ve longed to do.”