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He told her he’d changed his mind and wanted her as his wife. And she, like a bird-witted ninnyhammer, had simply accepted his dramatic change of heart.

She’d given herself to him, sure the act would create an unbreakable bond. She’d been wrong.

Tonight, on one of the most important nights of her life so far, he’d chosen to cavort with Blackwell and Neville, rather than stand by her side.

“Lenora,” Amelia said, “your godmother looks as if she is about to faint.”

“Godmama has the constitution of an ox.”

But Lady Asquith had a hand to her head and was leaning perilously close to Mr. Daughtry, who had returned to Godmama’s side after Millie and Willard had gone off to dance.

“An ox,” Preston added, “that’s about to— "

Lady Asquith’s knees failed. Lenora jerked forward, but Daughtry caught the older woman before she completely lost her footing.

At once, the dowager’s closest friends and kin gravitated toward her, as if she were the pulsing center of an unseen web.

Millie and Lady Sarah were already quite near, while Asquith and Neville quickly crossed the floor. Harbury and Cassie approached from the right; Adrian and Eliza from the left.

Meanwhile, a few of Godmama’s fellow widows cooled the dowager with their colorful, fluttering fans. Lady Asquith’s eyes closed, and her face grew slack.

Harbury headed out of the room, presumably to call his carriage and Lady Asquith’s.

Possibly, Lady Asquith was orchestrating a diversion. But if Harbury and Cassie were preparing to leave, perhaps Lady Asquith was truly ill?

“You may go, dear,” Lady Jersey said almost kindly. “I know how much Lady Asquith means to your family.”

Preston offered his escort. She gladly accepted his arm.

“Are you well?” he asked under his breath.

She sent him a grateful glance. “I will be.”

Lady Asquith righted herself. Perhaps she’d just been overheated?

Asquith conferred with his mother as Adrian escorted Millie, and Sarah and Eliza followed Harbury. Then Asquith took his mother’s arm and gently guided her in their wake, Daughtry on one side, himself on the other.

“Preston,” Asquith greeted as he passed.

His concerned gaze fell to Lenora, but he did not greet her.

A surge of conflicting emotions erupted within. All night, at least until Willard approached Millie, Asquith had been oblivious to herself and to his mother.

What justified his current solicitous gaze?

“See Miss Lenora to the duke’s carriage, would you?” he asked Preston.

Lenora couldn’t quite hide her involuntary sound of frustration. As soon as they reached the top of the stairs, she released Preston’s arm.

“That’s all right, Preston,” she said. “You can go back inside. Lady Asquith appears to have recovered, and my family's party is just at the bottom of the stairs.”

Preston caught the eye of someone just out of her view. He lifted his chin in acknowledgement. Then he set a dark look toward Asquith.

“Willard has just signaled for me to join him,” he said. “I won’t though, if you’d like my company.”

Willard again. She was sick of Willard. She was sick of everything.

“You go on,” she urged.