Lisa didn’t hide her relief and Suzette wasn’t surprised. While Suzette and Christiana had always looked on Robert as a brotherly figure, she suspected Lisa had developed something of a tender for the fellow the last couple of years. The girl had the tendency to watch him with calf eyes and trail him about like an adoring puppy. So far, Suzette didn’t think Robert was really aware of her feelings, but then men could be incredibly obtuse at times.

“Shall we go join them in the parlor then?” Lisa hurried around the table toward her.

Suzette nodded and moved back into the hall, curious as to why the parlor door was closed. It really wasn’t proper behavior for a married lady to be alone in a room with a man who was not her husband. But she knew nothing untoward would be going on in there. Now, had Lisa been alone in a closed room with Robert, Suzette might have worried the girl was attacking the man, but she didn’t worry about that with Christiana. However, she wasn’t terribly surprised when Lisa hurried to the door, opened it and strode right in declaring, “There you are!” in a high trill, before finishing with a scowl. “Haversham said Langley was here. Why was the door closed?”

Suzette bit her lip with amusement as she followed Lisa inside and noted the startled expressions on Robert and Christiana’s faces. It seemed obvious they’d been discussing something serious, but now appeared more surprised by Lisa’s attack than anything.

It was Christiana who said soothingly, “I’m afraid I closed it without thinking when I entered.” Managing a smile, their older sister added, “Come sit down. I was just about to ask Langley if there are any balls we should attend tonight.”

“I thought we were attending the Hammonds’ ball tonight,” Suzette murmured as she and Lisa moved to take up seats on the settee with Robert. She noted the exchange of glances between Robert and Christiana and wondered what they’d been talking about before she and Lisa had arrived.

“Yes, of course,” Robert said easily. “I think Christiana meant what other balls there are after it.”

Suzette glanced to Christiana to see her nodding in agreement, but then turned her attention back to Robert as he began to list the coming events and balls over the next few days. Suzette waited patiently, listening with half an ear in case she needed to attend any of the events to find a replacement for Daniel, but finally interrupted him to ask, “Do you know Lord Woodrow?”

Robert paused, appearing surprised by the question. Obviously, Christiana had not revealed Suzette’s plans or that she’d proposed to Daniel. Finally, he said, “I—Well, yes, as a matter of fact I do. We were at school together. He is good friends with Richard Fairgrave.”