John could not for the life of himself decide if he had made any progress with Lady Eleanor or not. He didn’t know how or when he had determined that she was the lady for him. He simply had. And the waltz he’d danced with her seemed to solidify the idea. He might not have spent much time in Town, but he had attended numerous local assemblies and other entertainments. He’d never felt the way he did around her with any other lady. It was as if they were made for each other. Not only that, but when he had indicated that he had not thought of schools for his tenants and the like, she had not pushed him to immediately come up with a plan, as his sister would have done. Lady Eleanor had been happy to plant the seed, as it were. St. Albans had been right; John wouldn’t be happy with a dim lady. Yet he still wanted a wife who’d let him take the lead and not drag him behind her. He’d always thought that was what Aurelia did with Lytton, but seeing them together this Season, John wondered if he was correct. She appeared to defer to him as much as he did to her. Perhaps having a home of her own and a child had tempered his sister’s need to be in charge. If only he could test his hypothesis. Yet he couldn’t do it with a currently unmarried lady. He’d have to find a lady who had a reputation of being managing before she wed and compare her behavior after she married. But how would he do that?

Drat it all.

If only he’d spent more time in Town. On the other hand, his mother might know. He glanced around and didn’t see her. Then again, there were a great many people here. Lady Eleanor’s group easily exceeded fifteen people, and almost all of them were related in some form or fashion.

Exeter approached Worthington and said something to which the other man nodded. Was there to be another meeting? John would have to ask about it. When they took their seats, he found himself next to Lady Worthington.

She gave him a polite smile. “I understand this is your first time at Almack’s.”

“It is.” He noticed that the other gentlemen had gone to a long table. “Am I correct that I am to fetch the cake from the table?” He had been to all sorts of suppers, some where everyone sat at a dining table. Those were the smaller ones and others where the gentlemen served the ladies.

Her lips tilted at the corners like those of Lady Eleanor’s. “You are correct. The footmen will bring around lemonade and tea.”

“Excuse me.” He stood and bowed to Lady Worthington. “I will be back directly.”