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‘Are you in London for the season too?’ It was the best she could come up with. She hoped that her conversational skills would improve as the season wore on.

He nodded. ‘Edward’s idea.’

‘I’m hoping it will be easier to look for a husband if I am presented.’

His eyebrows lifted. ‘You are seeking a husband?’

Eliza nodded. ‘Me and every other young woman in London for the season, I suspect.’

‘I am very much not looking for a wife. My brother may have a different view,’ he said.

Eliza felt a momentary pang but smiled brightly. ‘In that case, I shall not put you on my list.’

‘You have a list?’ he said, faintly.

‘I do. I intend taking my search for a husband very seriously and have bought a notebook expressly for that purpose.’ She patted her reticule where the notebook lay.

He opened his mouth, closed it, then laughed. ‘Then I wish you every success.’

Eliza stared. He was a handsome man, but when he laughed, he was extraordinarily handsome.

‘Thank you. Perhaps we shall be friends,’ she said, looking at Hannah and his brother. He had said something that made her laugh and he was watching her with a good deal of admiration. Hannah’s cheeks were flushed, and she looked awfully happy. ‘Or relatives? Our siblings appear to be getting along famously.’

He followed her gaze and nodded. ‘I think you might be correct.’

‘Do you enjoy galleries and museums?’ she asked. ‘I’ve been trying to persuade Hannah or Charles to accompany me to the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly without success.’

‘I do enjoy them. I must admit, the Egyptian Hall is on my list.’

Eliza smiled up at him. ‘You have a list?’

He started to speak, looked at her, and laughed. ‘Touche,’ he murmured. ‘Yes, I have a list of galleries and museums that I hope to visit whilst in London.’

Eliza laughed with him. ‘There is something terribly reassuring about a good list, is there not?’

Chapter 24

ELIZA

London

Eliza was paying a morning call with Mary and her mother the day before going for her final fitting for the court dress, when, to her delight, she came upon Haryo.

‘Miss Eliza!’ Haryo exclaimed, as she forged a path across Lady Wilmington’s powder-blue drawing room to take her by both hands. ‘How lovely to see you again.’

‘And you, too,’ she said. ‘I trust you have been well?’

‘I most certainly have,’ she said, eyes sparkling. ‘Come. Let me introduce you about. Lady Bessborough, you know, and Lady Caroline too.’

Eliza smiled and bowed politely.

Lady Bessborough gave her a small but searching smile. Lady Caroline looked like she wanted to run away and didn’t acknowledge her at all, but she had seen Lady Caroline’s whimsical moods when they were at Chiswick. She hoped the young lady wasn’t about to have one of her episodes. She looked awfully pale.

‘How lovely to see you again and looking so well,’ Eliza said to her.

Lady Caroline looked at her and gave a small nod of acknowledgement.

Haryo steered her further. ‘And this darling man is the Honourable Frederick Byng.’