“Fiona, I’m so glad to see you. I worried you may not come tonight after what happened yesterday. But then I decided that was silly because you would never let such a thing affect you that much.” Cassandra’s brow puckered. “Are you all right?”

Fiona laughed gaily. “More than. Think of the story I have to tell for the rest of my life.”

“What did the queen say to you? Everyone was dying to know.”

“If I tell you, do you promise not to share? I’d rather people continue to guess.” She winked at Cassandra, who grinned.

“I do like how you think. It is no wonder we are friends.”

“As it happens, she told me I was having the adventure of a lifetime, and she’s right. A country girl like me having a London Season. Who could have imagined that? I took it quite to heart and informed Lord Overton last night that I would not be rushed into marriage.”

Cassandra’s dark brows climbed her forehead. “Did you? What did he say?”

“He agreed.” Fiona glanced toward Prudence. “However, he also said that after tonight, I shall be taking a break from accepting invitations for the next week or two.” Fiona pushed her lips into a brief pout.

Cassandra looked crestfallen. “That is utterly unfortunate. Events like this won’t be the same without you.”

“He said we can still take all the outings we planned. I do believe he is relieved to not concern himself with me, since he’s focused on finding his own wife. At least that’s what Prudence and I deduced.”

Prudence nodded in agreement.

Cassandra’s eyes lit with mischief. “Do you know what I should do? I should flirt with Overton and make a courtship seem imminent. My brothers would have fits.” She laughed, then tapped her finger against her lip. “So tempting.” Blinking, she focused beyond Fiona. “Speaking of brothers, here comes Lucien. You haven’t met him yet, have you, Fi?”

Pivoting, Fiona saw Lord Lucien coming toward them. “I have not.” He looked more like Cassandra than like their brother, Aldington. Dark-haired and dark-eyed, Lord Lucien moved with the predatory grace of a cat stalking a bird.

At that moment, Cassandra’s aunt turned from the woman she’d been speaking with. “Lucien, since you’re here, I may take myself off.” She waved to Cassandra. “See you later, dear.” Her gaze landed on Fiona and then Prudence with a bit of surprise. Apparently, she hadn’t noticed their arrival. “And your friend is here with her companion. Yes, you will be quite taken care of. Splendid.” Smiling, she left in the company of her friend without waiting for anyone to respond.

“I see Aunt Christina is as helpful as ever,” Lord Lucien noted with a wry shake of his head.

“Always,” Cassandra drawled. “Lucien, allow me to present my dear friend, Miss Fiona Wingate.”

Lord Lucien took her hand and bowed elegantly. He did not press a kiss to her glove, which Fiona would not have minded. In fact, she would have found it thrilling. There was something rather magnetizing about him. But he was also her newest, dearest friend’s brother, and she would cease to think of him as attractive immediately.