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bumped into Lord St. Austell, apparently. It put him in a mood.” She smiled widely when Georgie assumed the spot on the settee. “But I don’t care about any of that, Georgie. Lord Colebrooke was here. He sat right where you’re sitting now and he…”
    “ He…?” Georgie prodded.
    … touched Pippa’s hand and her arm and made butterflies dance about her stomach… “He’s wonderful,” she sighed.
    Georgie’s lips quirked in a know-it-all grin. “Apparently.”
    “ But...” Pippa shot a look in Aunt Eunice’s direction, happy to see the old woman was starting to drift off to sleep once more. “But,” she pitched her voice lower for only Georgie to hear, “I know practically nothing about him.”
    “ And you want me to help?”
    “ Aunt Eunice asked about his family and he lost a bit of his color. “ Pippa retrieved the vellum calling card Lord Colebrooke had left. “Do you now anything of his family. Something scandalous that perhaps he’s ashamed of?”
    “ He wouldn’t be alone in that,” Georgie mumbled under her breath, then she turned the card over in her hand. “Newly printed, it looks like.” A frown marred her pretty features. “Pippa, I have not scoured Debrett’s recently, but I don’t recall the name Colebrooke as being a peer.”
    “ A courtesy title?” Pippa said.
    “ Indeed. But who is his father?”
    “ Or grandfather?”
    “ That is the question. What is his family name? If there is some scandal or something unsavory or noteworthy about them, I’d probably remember in conjunction with his family name.”
    But he hadn’t said. And it certainly wasn’t on his card. “I think asking him would only make him suspicious. And the last thing I want to do is run him off.” Pippa heaved a sigh. “Would you mind loaning me your copy of Debrett’s? Perhaps I can find some answers that way. Or at least a starting point.”
    “ It might take you days just to go through the first volume,” Georgie warned, “but you are welcome to my collection.”
    “ I knew you would help me.” Pippa squeezed her friend’s hand. “He said he would be at Vauxhall tonight. Did I tell you?”
    “ Lord Colebrooke twice in one day?”
    “ Isn’t it wonderful?”
    “ Wonderful,” Georgie agreed with a smile.

    Vauxhall Gardens. Jason could barely believe his luck. If Pippa would just arrive, it shouldn’t be difficult at all to get her into his arms along one of the darkened walkways. And once she was in his arms—
    “ Jason!” Heath’s voice somehow carried over the din of revelers at Vauxhall.
    Jason’s head snapped up to find his old friend gesturing for him to join Heath in his supper box. Hard to be incognito when someone was waving his arms and calling one’s name. Jason quickly scanned the other supper boxes, again, for any sign of Pippa or her brothers. They hadn’t been there moments ago, but one could never be too careful, especially with Heath bellowing his name.
    Luckily, Jason didn’t spot his lady or either of her overprotective brothers in the crowd. So he made his way through the throng towards his friend’s box. As luck would have it, Heath wasn’t alone. But then he never was these days. Lady Heathfield, her sister Lady Isabel, and the lady’s husband Damien Lockwell were also in attendance. Lockwell’s lips twitched when he spotted Jason.
    “ Heard your Season has been far from dull,” Lockwell murmured in way of greeting.
    Jason shrugged. “I heard the same about your Christmas.” In fact both Lockwell and Heath had somehow managed to get themselves leg-shackled on the very same trip to Yorkshire. Who knew traveling north was just a dangerous activity? They ought to post signs outside the county warning bachelors away.
    “ Care to join us this evening?” Heath asked, gesturing to one of two open seats in their box.
    And forgo an evening entertaining Pippa Casemore? Jason snorted. “Do I want to endure two couples, newly wed? I’d rather enjoy my