Well, bully for him. She didn’t need him here distracting her anyway, Lisa decided. Though, one small part of her brain wished he was here to see what a success she was. And she was a success. Every man who had approached her to request a place on her dance card had complimented her on her beauty, her wit and her grace. It was like balm to her shaken confidence after Robert’s “little sister” business. It seemed all men did not see her as still belonging in the schoolroom.

“My dance, I believe.”

Lisa came to a halt beside her last partner who had gallantly been leading her off the dance floor, and glanced around to flash a smile at Lord Findlay. “Yes, my lord, it is.”

“Ahh,” Lord Pembroke murmured, releasing her arm and giving a bow. “Thank you for your charming company, Miss Madison. It was a delight to dance with a lady as lovely and graceful as you.”

Lisa turned her beaming smile on Pembroke now. Dark-haired and nearly as attractive as Lord Findlay, Pembroke had been amusing and fun for most of the dance until her mind had begun to wander.

“Thank you, my lord. I enjoyed it,” she assured him.

“Then perhaps if you are attending the Hammonds’ ball tomorrow night, you would be kind enough to grant me a dance there?” he suggested hopefully.

“Most definitely, my lord. I shall look forward to it,” she said with an encouraging grin.

“As will I,” he assured her as Lord Findlay led her back onto the dance floor.

“You’ve won a heart there,” Lord Findlay said with amusement as he took her into his arms for the dance. “But then from what I have seen you have won many hearts tonight. Almost every man who has danced with you has walked away happy to have made your acquaintance.”

“Why my lord, one would think you had been watching me all night,” she teased lightly.

“I have,” he said without apology. “It’s impossible not to. You exude an air of confidence and beauty that is hard to look away from.”

Lisa blinked at the words and then laughed gaily. Her confidence was a combination of the residual effects of Mrs. Morgan’s potion and all the compliments she’d received this evening. She hadn’t realized until tonight just how Robert’s lack of return interest in her had squashed her self-esteem. She knew it hadn’t been deliberate on his part, but that had been the end result anyway—confusion and despair over the fact that he didn’t return her feelings, concern that she wasn’t pretty enough, witty enough, smart enough. But it was hard to feel that way after being showered with compliments all night by the other men in attendance. It seemed Robert was just a dullard too blind to see how lucky he was to have her affections.