Although she had to wonder: If the ladies didn’t acknowledge her as belonging, would the gents? She understood the power that a woman held, especially when it came to Society. Gents might make the laws that governed the land, but it was the ladies who created the rules that determined acceptable behavior.

Perhaps she needed to find a way to earn the ladies’ favor. Nothing like a mother suggesting to her son that he might want to take a closer look at Miss Trewlove.

“Excuse us, Miss Trewlove.”

Turning toward the unexpected feminine voice, she was met by three ladies, who seemed at once nervous but giddy, their smiles flickering like a candle flame on the verge of running out of wick as though they weren’t quite certain they should speak to her. She’d never realized flaxen hair came in different shades until she saw these three together. Wheat. Moon. Straw.

She gave them her most welcoming smile. “Ladies Penelope, Victoria, and Alexandria.”

Their eyes widened considerably.

“You remembered our names,” Lady Penelope said. “There must be at least two hundred people in attendance.”

And she’d been introduced to nearly every one of them. “I’m quite skilled at remembering names. It’s a little game I play, you see. Lady Penelope, your eyes are an unusual coppery shade that remind me of pennies, hence Penelope. Lady Victoria, you have such a regal bearing and so naturally I thought of the Queen, and since you share her name you were unforgettable in my mind.”

“And me?” Lady Alexandria asked eagerly.

“You were a bit more complicated. Your gown is so lovely with all the flounces reminding me of waves rolling upon the shore, which led me to thinking of a city on the ocean. Alexandria.”

“That’s remarkable, Miss Trewlove,” Lady Penelope said, and Fancy decided she was the leader of the group as the other girls nodded enthusiastically.

“As I said, it’s just a game I play. It helps me to remember the names of the people who visit my bookshop.” She’d long thought it made her customers and students feel special if she could recall their names after one introduction.

“Well, I say it’s brilliant. We shall have to give it a go.” More nods.

“It’s your first Season, isn’t it?” They appeared so young, seventeen if they were a day, and made her feel remarkably ancient or at least incredibly worldly.

“It is, indeed.”

“How’s it going thus far?”

“Quite well, really. I’ve had three gentlemen call on me. My dear friends have each had two.”

“But we’ve not settled on anyone,” Lady Alexandria said hastily.

“It seems far too early for that,” Lady Victoria added.

“I quite agree,” Fancy said. “You have no idea who you might meet before Season’s end.”