His dance partner’s quietly spoken words jerked him from his reverie. “My apologies. It appears I’m out of practice when it comes to entertaining a dance partner.” Especially when his mind was distracted with musings of Fancy. He didn’t know what he would have said to her if he’d managed to find her outside the courtroom. But he’d had a need to hear her voice, gaze into her eyes, and assure himself that she was happy with her decision that had landed her Beresford instead of himself. Although he still had a devil of time envisioning her succumbing to trickery in order to gain her place in Society.

“I’ve been unable to decide if you’re anticipating the arrival of another debutante or planning your escape.”

He arched a brow at her. “I beg your pardon?”

“I notice your gaze keeps wandering to the doorway at the top of the stairs.”

“I find the announcement of arrivals distracting, and my gaze naturally leaps—”

“It’s more than that.” Perhaps the chit wasn’t as flighty as he’d first thought. “I think you’re looking for someone in particular.”

“You would have the wrong of it.”

“You’re an awful liar.”

He gave her a pointed look. “It does not serve a lady well when in search of a husband to call a prospective suitor a liar.”

“That might hold if you were in search of a wife—which you are not—and I were in want of a husband—which I am not.”

“Every unattached woman here is in want of a husband.”

“Not I. I want to be as independent as Miss Trewlove.”

Even as his heart tightened at the sound of her name, he scoffed. “Miss Trewlove. So independent she tricks a lord into marriage.”

Her delicate brow furrowed as she blinked repeatedly at him. “Are you referring to the Beresford debacle?”

“Debacle? She got what she wanted. She’s marrying a lord.”

“Whoever told you that?”

She did! But for some reason, his mouth wouldn’t form the words. He was trying to recall exactly what Fancy had told him. “I know she was caught in a compromising position. I know she tricked him—”

“Absolutely not. She’s a lady of integrity. She’d never do such a thing. Lord Beresford arranged the entire artifice, shame on him. Told my brother, as they are best mates, and a couple of his friends to gather some ladies on the veranda near the window that looked into the library. Then he got Miss Trewlove into the room and promptly kissed her. Knowing the lady as I do, I rather suspect she wanted only to see the rare Bible in Collinsworth’s possession, not be accosted by Beresford.”