She clutched it in her hand, unable to stop her broad smile. “Oh, Aiden, I do believe you’ve made my night.”

“Don’t give him too much credit,” Finn said with a grin. “It’ll go to his head. I’ll let you know if anyone takes me up on my offer so you can look at them unfavorably.”

“No one has taken you up on the offer regarding horses and breeding?”

“Not so far.”

“Looks like some good news is being shared here,” Mick said as he and Aslyn joined the group.

“It seems not all the gents are collecting on the offers made last week,” she told him. “Has anyone come to you for advice?”

“A couple of gents did.” He shrugged. “But they are already married. I should have put a few stipulations on who I was willing to assist.”

“Are we having a family gathering?” Gillie asked as she and Thornley entered their circle.

Fancy explained the news her brothers had shared.

“That’s jolly good to hear, although I had confidence in you and knew you wouldn’t need the bribes,” Gillie said.

“I appreciate your faith.”

“Hand over your card, let us claim our dances,” Mick said.

“No.” She gave them a gentle smile to lessen the harshness of her decision. “I’m not dancing with anyone tonight to whom I’m related. I’ll make exceptions for your friends or your families”—she looked at each of her siblings’ spouses—“but I’m not dancing with you four gents. I’m quite certain I’m going to need those dances for other gentlemen.”

Gillie gave her a hug. “I like your confidence.”

Taking a deep breath, she slowly released it. “Let’s see how long I can maintain it.”

To her surprise, it wasn’t at all difficult to maintain her confidence. Once her family wandered off, gentlemen began to approach her and within five minutes she had half a dozen dances claimed. She’d even been introduced to two lords who had not attended Gillie’s ball.

The Marquess of Wilbourne was the first to take her on a turn about the dance floor. She was grateful for the waltz because it allowed them to speak more intimately. She told him about her bookshop and her efforts to teach adults to read. “An investment in the future.” She didn’t ask for a donation. Instead she asked his opinion on how she might expand her programs, where he thought she might have success teaching in other areas of London.