“Baron Vanderbean loves to dash mothers’ dreams,” Tommy assured her, wishing it could be more than an act. “Your mother is lucky Baron Vanderbean’s aim is to court you, not seduce you.”

Philippa’s eyes widened.

Tommy lifted Philippa’s gloved hand and wished she could touch the soft skin beneath. Philippa placed her other hand on Tommy’s shoulder. A waltz. Mayhap the night’s only waltz. Their waltz. It was already a memory to cherish.

Her palm was on the lace skirt covering Philippa’s hip. Those ample curves were soft and inviting beneath Tommy’s fingertips. She longed to explore the rest of her body.

Tommy pulled her into the waltz, keeping time with the music. They moved together effortlessly. Tommy was tempted to pull her even closer until their bosoms were near enough to touch. Improper, she scolded herself. But improper was exactly what she wanted to be.

“I saw you cut quite a swath amongst the ladies,” Philippa said presently.

“Were you watching me?” Tommy arched her eyebrow. “Whatever must Lord Charsdale think of your inattention?”

“What must all of the gentlemen think?” Philippa countered. “You winked at as many married ladies as unmarried ones.”

“I winked at no one,” Tommy protested. “I simply gave them an I-would-wink-at-you-if-we’d-been-properly-introduced smile with my eyes.”

Philippa narrowed hers. “What does a smile like that look like?”

Tommy kept her lips relaxed and made her eyes heavy-lidded, allowing the corners to crinkle meaningfully as she gave an ever-so-slight upward flash to her eyebrows.

Philippa’s lips parted.

Tommy’s grin widened.

“That’s definitely a wink,” Philippa said. “It’s an eyebrow wink, which I hadn’t known could be even more flirtatious than an eyelid wink until I saw you do it just now. Is that how you caused so many faint hearts to swoon in your wake?”

“Did they swoon?” Tommy asked innocently. “My attention wasn’t on them.”

“You littered the ballroom with debutantes, spinsters, and wives—and you know it,” Philippa said. “I think you did it on purpose, just to show me you could.”

“Almost right,” said Tommy. “It wasn’t for your benefit, but for the haughty prigs in the men’s card room who believe Baron Vanderbean to be no romantical threat.”

“Well. Your seductive prowess offers a marked benefit to me.” Philippa darted a glance over each of Tommy’s shoulders. “All the young ladies who were fanning their fichus earlier are staring daggers at me now. As soon as our dance is finished, you will be inundated with admirers, but I will be the woman you chose first.”

“As soon as our set is finished,” Tommy corrected. “I won’t return you to your mother until the last possible second this time.”

Philippa’s voice softened. “Good.”