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nature.”
    Georgina giggled.
    Alex frowned. “What an old harridan that Lady Collins is.”
    “Nonsense!” Georgina replied. “I plan to be just like her when I am seventy; I will say what I please, and care for none. Is that champagne I see over there? Shall we force our way through the masses and get a glass?”
    “What a grand idea, Mrs. Beaumont. I was just thinking the exact same thing myself.”
    As they ventured into the crowd, Alex looked about for Hildebrand and Freddie. He intended to ask them to call off that silly wager as soon as possible; he did not care two straws if it was “ungentlemanly” to cancel a wager once it was made. He wanted to become friends with Georgina, and he did not want such nonsense hanging over them like a dark cloud.
    Yet they were nowhere to be found, and he soon found himself in the midst of a large circle of Georgina’s acquaintances, all of them eager to be introduced to him. In the middle of their conversation and laughter, he quite forgot about Hildebrand and Freddie and any wagers at all.
     
    “What a handsome fellow your duke is, Georgina!” whispered Lady Lonsdale, a very stylish lady whose portrait Georgina had once painted, and who had become a friend. “I am quite envious.”
    Georgina laughed, and looked to the dance floor, where Alex was engaged in a country-dance with Elizabeth. “There is no need to be envious, Harriet! He is not ‘my’ duke. Lord Wayland and I only met this afternoon, and he kindly offered to escort Elizabeth and myself this evening, since Nicholas is from Town.”
    “Hm. Only out of the kindness of his heart, I am sure.” Lady Lonsdale fluttered her feathered fan. “Tell me, how did you and the duke meet?”
    “He jumped into the river after my dog.”
    “Ha!” Lady Lonsdale laughed most heartily. “Are you telling me a corker, Georgina?”
    “I assure you I am not! Lady Kate escaped from her lead and went for a swim. Lord Wayland very gallantly rescued her from being carried off, and Elizabeth invited him to take tea with us at her house in thanks.”
    “Oh, my dear! Such an on dit. One of the great heroes of the Peninsula ruining his attire rescuing the dog of a famous artist! It will be in all the papers tomorrow, you know.”
    “I only hope that the scandalmongers do not imply that I am on the hunt for a new husband.”
    “Your appearing here with him tonight will be sure to cause talk.”
    “There is always talk. I am quite accustomed to it.”
    “And you do nothing to discourage it!” Lady Lonsdale’s tone was gleeful.
    Georgina shrugged blithely. “It is good for my career to be noticed! As long as there is no true scandal. That would be quite disastrous.”
    The dance had ended, and Alex was leading Elizabeth toward them, the two of them happily laughing and chatting.
    “He is very handsome,” said Lady Lonsdale. “And he does seem to like you a great deal.”
    “His lordship has been very kind...”
    “No doubt.” Lady Lonsdale lowered her fan, and smiled as Elizabeth and Alex reached them. “Lady Elizabeth! How very radiant you are this evening. Marriage must certainly agree with you.”
    “It does indeed!” Elizabeth replied merrily.
    “When shall we have the pleasure of seeing your scamp of a husband again?”
    “Very soon, I am sure, Lady Lonsdale. There was a bit of an emergency at our country estate, which he went to look in on. But may I present his worthy substitute this evening, His Grace the Duke of Wayland? Lord Wayland, this is our friend, the Countess of Lonsdale. Georgina painted her portrait last year, and she is a great patron of art!”
    “So you must be certain to be nice to her!” Georgina laughed.
    Alex grinned, and bowed to Lady Lonsdale. “I shall endeavor to do my best, Mrs. Beaumont. How do you do, Lady Lonsdale.”
    “You must not listen to their fustian, Lord Wayland! They will have you believing I am an ogre who does naught but sit for portraits all day, and lord it over