Lisa simply stared at him. It occurred to her that right up until that afternoon in his carriage, this news would have put her over the moon. The very idea of his being so close would have been like a Christmas and birthday gift all rolled into one and would have had her beaming and dancing with excitement. Right now though, after his breaking of her heart in the carriage, it seemed like a nightmare. Robert’s presence day and night. Having to be in his presence at all times when he felt nothing for her but filial emotions. She wasn’t having that!

“Miss Madison?”

Relieved to have the excuse to do so, Lisa turned away from Robert to face Lord Findlay with a smile that was wider and warmer than it would have normally been. “Aye, my lord?”

“You left your drink behind,” he said with a smile, offering her the glass and completely ignoring Robert, who was scowling again.

“Oh, thank you.” Lisa beamed and accepted the drink, saying a bit archly, “I do apologize for Lord Langley’s rudeness in dragging me off like that.”

“Not at all. ’Tis hardly your fault,” Lord Findlay said easily, still not acknowledging the other man’s presence with even a glance. Smiling, he asked, “Are you attending the Hammonds’ ball tomorrow night?”

“No,” Robert answered for her, moving closer.

“Yes, I am,” Lisa countered, ignoring him just as Lord Findlay was. “My sisters and I spoke about it when I arrived yesterday. We plan to attend and have already sent a reply that we would.”

“Then I hope you will agree to another waltz with me there, Miss Madison,” Lord Findlay said with a grin.

“I shall save you one,” she promised. “And keep another quadrille free as well.”

“You are too kind,” he murmured taking her hand and bowing to place a kiss on it. His lips never made contact, however, because Robert’s patience had apparently run out and Lisa suddenly found herself tugged away and hurried through the crowd once more.

“Really, Robert,” Lisa said with exasperation, struggling not to spill her drink. “You are being incredibly rude.”

“And you are behaving like an idiot,” he growled. “Smiling and fawning all over Findlay like some loose—”

His voice died as she jerked her arm from his hold. He stopped at once and whirled on her with surprise, but that turned to shock when the contents of her glass splashed into his face.

“You—” he began furiously.

“Miss Madison?”

Lisa turned from Robert and glanced in question to the man now at her side. Lord Tibald, she thought was his name. She raised her eyebrows in question. “Yes?”

“I believe this is our dance,” he explained and Lisa nodded grimly.