Anthea had barely crossed the threshold into Cassandra's drawing room before her friend descended upon her with the enthusiasm of a general preparing for battle.
Lady Cassandra Burrow, daughter of the Marquess of Lotterdale, was dressed impeccably as always, her blonde hair arranged in perfect ringlets and her morning dress a confection of pale pink muslin that would have looked ridiculous on anyone else.
"Good morning to you as well, Cassandra," Anthea said dryly, removing her gloves. "How lovely to see you."
"Do not attempt to deflect with pleasantries," Cassandra said, pulling her toward the settee with surprising force. "The entire ton is buzzing about you and the Duke of Everleigh being caught alone together in a music room at Sybil's ball, and you did notthink to send me word immediately? I had to hear about it from Lady Pemberton of all people!"
Anthea winced. "I apologize for the oversight. The evening became rather... complicated."
"Complicated," Cassandra repeated, her eyes gleaming with barely restrained curiosity. "Yes, I imagine being caught in a compromising position with London's most eligible Duke would qualify as complicated."
"We were not in a compromising position," Anthea said firmly, settling onto the settee. "We were merely conversing."
"Conversing," Cassandra said with evident skepticism. "Standing quite close together, from what I heard. Lady Thornbury said you were practically in his arms."
Damn Lady Thornbury and her eagle eyes,Anthea thought viciously. "Lady Thornbury should perhaps invest in spectacles if her vision is that unreliable."
"So you were not standing close together?"
Anthea felt heat rise in her cheeks. "We may have been... in proximity. But only because we were arguing."
"Arguing," Cassandra's expression turned delighted. "Oh, this is even better than I imagined. What were you arguing about?"
"It is a rather long story," Anthea hedged.
"Then you had best start from the beginning." Cassandra rang for tea with the air of someone settling in for an excellent performance. "And do not leave out any details. I wish to hear everything."
By the time the tea arrived and Anthea had recounted the events of the previous evening, carefully editing out certain details, such as Gregory's accusations about perfume and the way her heart had raced when they stood toe to toe, Cassandra was practically vibrating with excitement.
"He called upon you this morning?" she asked, leaning forward. "To offer marriage?"
"To offer a practical arrangement," Anthea corrected. "He needs someone who understands Society. I need..." She paused, uncertain how much to reveal. "I need a way to secure my sisters' futures."
"Ah yes, your stepsisters." Cassandra's expression sobered slightly. "How are Poppy and Veronica faring this season? I have seen them at a few events, but we have not had the opportunity to converse properly."
"That is actually why I came to see you," Anthea admitted. "I need intelligence. I have been away from Society for three years, and I am woefully out of touch with the current dynamics. If I am to help my sisters find suitable matches, I need to understand what I am working with."
Cassandra nodded, immediately shifting into what Anthea privately thought of as her 'strategic mode.' For all her love of gossip and social events, Cassandra possessed a remarkably sharp mind when it came to the machinations of the ton.
"Very well," Cassandra said, setting down her teacup with deliberate care. "Let us begin with Veronica. She is the elder of the two, is she not?"
"Three and twenty," Anthea confirmed.
"I have observed her at several balls," Cassandra said carefully. "She is quite lovely, and her manners are impeccable. However..."
"However?"
"She is painfully shy," Cassandra said gently. "At Lady Ashford's ball, I watched her spend nearly the entire evening standing beside the potted palms. When gentlemen did approach her, she could barely string three words together in response."
Anthea closed her eyes briefly. "I feared as much."
"It is not an insurmountable problem," Cassandra assured her. "Many gentlemen find shyness charming. But she must be encouraged to engage in conversation, even if only briefly. Perhaps you could practice with her? Give her topics she might discuss that feel safer than the usual weather and gossip."
"That is an excellent suggestion," Anthea said, mentally filing it away. "And Poppy?"
Cassandra's expression turned more complicated. "Miss Poppy is... quite the opposite of her sister."
"Oh dear."
