Fancy knew any further conversation on Lord Rosemont would not be had now as the couple were becoming lost in each other. She folded her linen napkin and set it beside her plate. “I should be off.”

Guiltily, Aslyn looked at her. “But you hardly ate.”

“I had more than enough. Thank you for inviting me to breakfast. Don’t bother getting up, Mick.” She pushed back her chair and stood. “I’ll see myself out.”

As she was walking from the room, she heard soft murmuring, a sigh.

Once she left Mick’s apartments and was out in the hallway, she glanced over at the glass double doors with “Trewlove” etched in them. She could see Mr. Tittlefitz, Mick’s secretary, already at his desk. She wandered over, pushed open one of the doors, and stepped in. He immediately jumped to his feet.

“Miss Trewlove. What a delightful surprise.”

He was one of the most positive people she’d ever met. Having been born a bastard and raised in the rookeries, he had every right to be bitter, but instead always reflected an optimism that made him a pleasure to be around. “I was just visiting with my brother. Based on the whispering I heard as I was leaving, I think he might be a while before coming in.”

Mr. Tittlefitz blushed profusely, so much so his freckles were fairly obliterated. “He has nothing pressing on the schedule this morning.”

She suspected it wouldn’t matter what he had on his schedule. Pleasing his wife would always come first. She could only hope her own husband would be as attentive.

“I’ve had no luck finding someone to help you with the lessons on the nights I can’t be there.” She and Mr. Tittlefitz volunteered their time two nights a week in order to offer free reading classes to adults who’d had no or very little schooling. She felt guilty that he would have to carry the brunt of the workload once her Season was fully underway. She’d approached some people about filling in for her, but few had the time to spare when it didn’t put coins in their pockets. She couldn’t ask her married siblings as they would be at the balls. Her brother Beast was making himself scarce of late.

“Do not worry yourself overmuch. I shall have no trouble at all seeing to matters by myself. Although your presence will be sorely missed.”

“I fear, Mr. Tittlefitz, I’m going to wish I was helping with lessons rather than being the center of attention at a ball filled with toffs.”

“You shall easily win them over, Miss Trewlove. I’ve no doubt on that score.”

“You say the kindest things.”

“I would not say them if I did not believe them to be true.”