“If he’s lucky, he shall find a girl with fifteen thousand,” her mother said with a caustic laugh. She stood abruptly. “Well. We can sit here all morning speculating over Sir Richard’s motives or we can get on with the day.” She glanced at the clock on her vanity. “I don’t suppose he mentioned when he might arrive?”

Iris shook her head.

“You should make sure you’re ready, then. It will not do to keep him waiting. I know that some women think it best not to appear eager, but you know that I think it’s rude.”

A knock at the door forestalled Iris’s exit, and they both looked up to see a housemaid in the doorway. “Begging your pardon, milady,” she said. “But Lady Sarah is in the drawing room.”

“Ah, well, that’s a pleasant surprise,” Mrs. Smythe-Smith said. “I’m sure she’s here to see you, Iris. Run along.”

Iris headed downstairs to greet her cousin, Lady Sarah Prentice, née Lady Sarah Pleinsworth. Sarah’s mother and Iris’s father were siblings, and as they were reasonably close in age, so were their children.

Sarah and Iris were but six months apart and had always been friendly, but they had grown closer since Sarah’s marriage to Lord Hugh Prentice the previous year. They had another cousin who was also their age, but Honoria spent most of her time with her husband in Cambridgeshire, whereas both Sarah and Iris lived in London.

When Iris reached the drawing room, Sarah was sitting on the green sofa, leafing through Pride and Prejudice, which Iris’s mother had obviously left there the day before.

“Have you read this?” Sarah asked without preamble.

“Several times. It’s lovely to see you, too.”

Sarah pulled a face. “We all must have someone with whom we need not stand on ceremony.”

“I tease,” Iris said.

Sarah glanced at the door. “Is Daisy about?”

“I’m sure she’s making herself scarce. She still hasn’t forgiven you for threatening to run her through with her own violin bow before the musicale.”

“Oh, that wasn’t a threat. It was an honest attempt. That girl is lucky she has good reflexes.”

Iris laughed. “To what do I owe this visit? Or are you simply starved for my sparkling company?”

Sarah leaned forward, her dark eyes gleaming. “I think you know why I’m here.”

Iris knew exactly what she meant, but nonetheless, she leaned forward, meeting her cousin’s gaze dead-on. “Illuminate me.”

“Sir Richard Kenworthy?”

“What about him?”

“I saw him chase after you at the musicale.”

“He did not chase after me.”

“Oh, yes, he did. It was all my mother could talk about afterward.”

“I find that difficult to believe.”