“Hmm. I must think of a way to obtain an invitation.” He glanced at Eleanor with a glint in his eyes. “Do you think that if I tell her I have never dined with children she would feel it her duty to ask me to join you? Merely to broaden my experience.”

Eleanor thought it was very possible. It would also cause a great deal of hilarity among the rest of her relatives. She ruthlessly suppressed the burble of laughter attempting to escape and composed her features to display only an innocent mien. “You could try.”

“I believe I will.”

They had reached her group and she started to remove her hand from his arm but remembered it was time for supper. Then the realization that she had not wanted to lose the heat of his arm made her wonder why that was.

“Let’s get this over with,” Matt grumbled.

Lord Montagu dipped his head so that his lips were close to her ear, and again she shivered as his breath caressed her neck. “Is something wrong?”

“Did no one tell you that the only thing served at supper is dry cake and tea?”

He made a face. “No.”

“Indeed. My sister will have ordered a repast to be served when we arrive home.”

“Remind me why it is so important to come here.” His lordship’s tone was so disgusted she wanted to go into whoops.

“Because it is extremely select. There are even some dukes and other members of the peerage who are not allowed vouchers. It is all based on bloodlines and connections.”

As they followed her elder brothers and sisters down to supper, Eleanor considered how and how soon Lord Montagu would attempt to secure an invitation to a meal. Or if he really cared to do so. He could have been making polite conversation, but she did not think he was. He had not appeared a great deal more intelligent this evening, yet he had appeared more interested in the topics she had discussed. And she had had a wonderful time dancing with him.