“Retrieving champagne.” He tilted his head toward the attendant pouring in the corner. “Let’s stand in line.”

Her brows pinched but she didn’t argue. There were about ten people in line for refreshments, so he positioned himself behind her and spoke to the back of her head. “Having a nice time?”

She angled to the side ever so slightly. “I suppose. I hadn’t realized you were here. Do you have a box?”

That she’d spotted Lockwood and not Kit grated across his nerves. “I’m with my friend Preston in his box. Fourth beyond Lockwood on this tier.”

“Oh.” She worried her lip between her teeth. “Just the two of you, then?”

“No.” He didn’t elaborate. There was no reason to tell her of Arabella and Lottie. “You and Lockwood looked cozy.”

She lifted a shoulder as the line progressed a tiny bit. “I thought he seemed lonely so I went over to visit him.”

“Lonely? That is ridiculous.”

“It’s not.” She shot him a frown. “He’s embroiled in a scandal not of his making. And I know better than most what it’s like to suffer a public humiliation. It’s nice to be offered an unexpected kindness every now and again.”

Dash it, why must she be such a good person? “Hard to feel sorry for Lockwood when he taunted Harrison at every turn.”

“You men.” She shook her head as if disgusted with his entire gender. “Everything is a contest, even marriage.”

Kit crossed his arms over his chest. “Speaking of marriage, how goes your search? Any progress since I last saw you?” Please say no.

“No. My ankle hadn’t healed well enough to attend events until yesterday.”

Damn, he’d forgotten about her ankle. Because you were jealous and let it cloud your thinking. This was unlike him. He should be charming that beautiful actress back in Preston’s box, yet he’d raced after Alice like a hound to a fox. And why? Because she was doing what she set out to do—finding a husband?

Shame coated his skin like needles. “Forgive me. I hadn’t even inquired after your injury. Are you feeling better?”

“I am, thank you. How are your supper club plans coming along?”

“Better, now that we have those recipes. Thank you for that, by the way. I’ve sent a check to Franconi.”

“Yes, he mentioned it.”

“You’ve seen him, then?”

“Once or twice. You know me, always curious.”

The line went more quickly, with the second act now underway onstage. “We plan to credit Franconi on the menu. I think his food will be a nice draw.”

Alice stepped up to the counter and moved aside, motioning to Kit. “How many?” she asked.

“Four,” he told the attendant.

As the glasses were poured, Alice asked, “Is she pretty?”

“Who?”

“The woman you are with tonight.”