How Eleanor could possibly have enough people available and willing to fill all those positions he had no idea. Setting the list aside, he started going through his other correspondence. He picked up one card. Eleanor’s come out ball was next week. She hadn’t even mentioned it. Then again, they had been talking about other things. While he was at her house today, he would ask for the opening set and a waltz. If she accepted two dances, he’d know a little more where he stood with her. John thought they were moving— albeit slowly—on the same track, but it would be nice to be certain.

Several hours later, John arrived at Worthington House and was ushered into a bright, sunny room in the back of the house. Long windows covered two sides of the room, along with a pair of French windows leading out to the garden. The parlor was decorated more for comfort than fashion. Eleanor and Lady Worthington sat on one of the two large sofas standing opposite each other. Her sisters were seated on the other. A large, low, rectangular, solid oak table stood between them. Smaller tables of various sizes and woods were at the ends of the sofas and next to well-upholstered chairs. A small sofa stood before the fireplace. Colorful rugs covered the floor and lace curtains fluttered in the windows.

“The Marquis of Montagu,” the butler intoned.

Eleanor glanced up and smiled, and two Great Danes lifted their heads. Their tails thumped on the floor before they rose. John had never seen dogs in the house before. Naturally he had heard of dogs like pugs allowed in the house, but not ones almost as large as a pony.

She came to him. “Good afternoon, my lord.”

The dogs went to her, leaned forward, and started to sniff him. “Good afternoon, Lady Eleanor.” He motioned to the dogs. “Will you introduce me?”

A mischievous sparkle was in her sky-blue eyes. “Posy, Zeus”—the dogs looked at her—“This is Lord Montagu. My lord, Posy and Zeus. They would like to be stroked.”

This was obviously true, as Posy leaned up against John and stared at him longingly. He obliged, and soon he was also stroking Zeus. “Do they live in the house?”

Eleanor seemed a bit taken aback. “Of course; where else would they live?”

This seemed almost like a test. “You have a point.”

She took his arm and led him to the sofa upon which she had been sitting. “Once Posy has puppies, I shall have a Great Dane of my own.”

Ah, it was a test. If having her meant having a large dog in the house as well, that was an easy decision. “I’ve always admired Great Danes. Perhaps I can have one as well.”