“As I said, we shall see.” The only thing Eleanor knew about the man was that he rode a lovely horse, he had an excellent seat, and he was very handsome. His blue-green eyes had almost tempted her to stare at him. Almost. But there had to be much more to his lordship than a good seat and a handsome countenance.

“He must have the funds to support a family,” Madeline added. “Otherwise Matt would not have introduced him.”

Right then, he was sufficiently wealthy. “I am not falling in love at first sight. He has many more qualities to meet.”

“So it begins.” Ahead of them, Matt groaned.

Grace patted his arm. “They have become shrewd ladies.”

Eleanor exchanged glances with Alice and Madeline. It was nice to have Grace’s approval, but poor Matt.

He helped them all into the coach and took the seat next to Grace. “What did Lady Bellamny say? I remember Louisa telling us she thought she’d look at her teeth.”

“Not much,” Madeline said. “Grace introduced us. We curtseyed and greeted her.”

Alice picked up the story. “Then she stared at us for what seemed like an eternity, but none of us let her see we were nervous.”

“At that point,” Eleanor chimed in, “she said we would do, and told Grace she had done an excellent job, and she supposed the gentlemen would make up some silly name for us.”

Across from them, Eleanor could see Grace in the coach light. “I think it was a matter of like recognizing like. I was very proud of the way the girls held their own under that gaze. Most of the young ladies would have started weeping.”

“One of them did have tears in her eyes,” Alice said. “What was her name? She and her friend want to marry gentlemen who live close to each other so that they will not have to be parted.”

For a moment, Eleanor thought Grace would roll her eyes. “Either Miss Tice or Miss Martindale. Their older sisters wanted the same thing.”

That was interesting. “Were they successful?”

“As it happens, yes, they were,” Grace said. “You should ask Henrietta about them. One set of Martindale-Tices came out when she did.”

“We haven’t seen her since last summer,” Alice complained.

“Dotty has invited us to Easter dinner,” Grace said. “You will see her then.”

That was good news. Yet Eleanor was certain Henrietta would be at the charitable meeting as well. She and her husband, Nate, Lord Fotherby, had met rescuing a child. “I shall look forward to it. It’s nice to have so many people in Town we already know.”

“It is,” Madeline said. “Even if they are not coming out at the same time.”

Eleanor tried to stifle a yawn. “I do not know how I will stay awake during the entertainments.”

Grace chuckled. “You will have so much to do during them that you will not be tired until you get home.”