“And now I have another friend. You must call me Fiona.”

“Then you must call me Cassandra. We will make the best of the time we have left. Hopefully we can delay having to accept a proposal until the very end of the Season.”

“That would be lovely. I, er, haven’t told Lord Overton that I don’t wish to wed. I don’t think he’d understand.” Then again, Fiona hadn’t been sure Cassandra would either.

“Probably not. Men like him have a duty to marry, and women like us are expected to fulfill that duty.” Cassandra lip curled ever so slightly. “And why don’t you want to marry?”

“It’s so…final. And limiting? I’ve been stuck in a very small town with very few options for so very long.”

“That’s a great many verys.”

“It’s so very lovely to be somewhere else. With other people.”

“You want to experience some freedom,” Cassandra said with an understanding smile. “As much freedom as we’re allowed anyway.” She looked toward Prudence. “What are you doing to help Fiona?”

“We walked to Hyde Park yesterday morning since she hadn’t been there.”

“An excellent start.” Cassandra turned her gaze back to Fiona. “Monday we must go to Gunter’s.”

“Lord Overton is taking me to the British Museum on Monday. I can hardly wait.”

“Tuesday then. We must also visit Hatchards, Fortnum and Mason, and it would be ever so wonderful to take you shopping in Cheapside.” She frowned. “I’m not allowed to do that, but my aunt has secretly taken me twice.”

Fiona grinned, so glad she’d met Cassandra. “That all sounds splendid. I want to see everything.”

“And the Phoenix Club!” Cassandra exclaimed. “That’s the best part of finally having a Season. Now I can see for myself what takes up so much of my brother’s time.”

“What is the Phoenix Club?” Fiona asked.

“For us, it’s like Almack’s but so much better.” Cassandra paused, riveting her gaze to Fiona. “Are you familiar with Almack’s?”

“Only that there are weekly balls later in the Season, and one of the patronesses must invite you or something.”

“That’s about right. It’s very exclusive and is the premier location of the Marriage Mart. It’s also dreadfully boring, and the food and drink are atrocious.” Cassandra made a face. “Not that I’ve been yet, of course, but that’s what my brother says.”

Fiona tried to follow everything Cassandra said. There were so many places and people to remember. “Aldington goes to Almack’s but spends most of his time at the Phoenix Club?”

“My apologies, I have two brothers,” Cassandra said with a smile. “Aldington thinks Almack’s is pleasant—that’s what he says about most things, which renders his opinion almost moot—and he’s never been to the Phoenix Club because he isn’t a member. My other brother, Lucien, owns the Phoenix Club, and he finds Almack’s dreadful. I suppose that’s one of the reasons he founded his club.”

Her mind swimming, Fiona wanted to know more about this club that Cassandra was so keen to visit. “What’s so exceptional about the Phoenix Club? And why wouldn’t Aldington be a member if your other brother is the owner?”