“That’s quite an advancement.” He grinned at her, and she acknowledged he was rather handsome. “This is really my first Season too. I’ve spent the last several years teaching at Christ Church College at Oxford.”

“How fascinating. What did you teach?”

“Religious studies. I’m intending to become a vicar, though my father hopes I’ll be a bishop one day.”

“Do you want that?”

The pink returned to his cheeks. “Honestly? Yes.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I admitted that to you. It’s rather immodest, isn’t it?”

She laughed. “No, it is not. Ambition isn’t bad, even for a man of God.”

“God might disagree,” he said drily.

“Except I’m sure your ambition is entwined with your desire to advance the word of God.”

“The Phoenix Club is a distant second to you when it comes to flattery, Miss Wingate.” He sent her a slightly sardonic look. “Perhaps I’m the type of religious man who only wants to find a living so that I may reap the benefits and will employ a curate who does all the work.”

“Well, that sounds like the vicar in Bitterley.” Fiona thought of poor young Tom Keeble, the curate. The vicar didn’t do a thing beyond sermonizing, and he only did that once a month, leaving the rest to Tom. “I realize we just met, but I can’t see you doing that. And if you did, you certainly wouldn’t admit it. Nor would you think twice about accepting membership in London’s most exclusive club.”

He laughed. “You are a most logical young lady, Miss Wingate.”

“Why thank you, my lord.”

Fiona’s gaze connected with a familiar pair of pewter eyes. Lord Overton stood to her left, his attention focused wholly on her. His expression was inscrutable, but something about his stance made her catch her breath.

Why?

Recovering her wits, she smiled at him and lifted her hand, not quite waving.

“See someone you know?” Lord Gregory asked.

“My guardian, Lord Overton. Are you acquainted with him?”

Lord Gregory shook his head. “I am not, but being relatively new to town, there are many people I haven’t yet met.”

“If you accept the invitation to the Phoenix Club, you will undoubtedly get to know him there. He’s a member, and a close friend of Lord Lucien’s.” She looked over at him. “Are you going to accept?”

“I think I might, owing to your counsel.”

“I don’t think you’ll regret it.” Fiona noted the musicians were preparing to start the next set.

“I think it’s time we made our way to the dance floor,” Lord Gregory noted.

She hesitated, casting him an apologetic glance. “I should warn you that I’m not very good.”

He didn’t appear concerned in the least. “I’m sure you’re more than accomplished.”

“Aside from only recently learning most of these dances, I am apparently clumsy, a trait I hadn’t noticed before coming to London.”

He led her onto the dancefloor. “Surely you’re mistaken. Or exaggerating.”

She let go of his arm and faced him. Arching her brow, she looked him square in the eye. “I fell down yesterday while curtseying to the queen.”