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with her record. It just seemed foolish that the lessons took a couple weeks.
    With a sigh, she left her bedchamber. She told herself this was just another gentleman her mother wished to snare on her behalf. Each of these encounters required a great deal of her, and after yesterday, she was already tired. Though, she had enjoyed Lord Davenport’s visit. He had a way of handling her mother that impressed her. None of the other gentlemen had known how to respond to her. Indeed, most of them humored her and played along. She wondered if Lord Pennella would be the same or if he’d be able to take a kind, but firm, stand against her mother’s desire to gossip. If nothing else, Regina was looking forward to finding out.
    She arrived in the drawing room before Lord Pennella noticed her. He was handsome enough, she supposed. A bit more on the muscular side than she preferred, though she liked the broad shoulders. Hair a bit lighter than Lord Davenport ’s but still brown. At the moment, he was examining his reflection in the window. Her eyebrows rose in interest. None of the gentlemen who’d come by had done something like that before.
    He smoothed his hair then winked at himself. And it was at that point she knew he was not the kind of person she wanted to spend the afternoon with, much less the rest of her life. Thank goodness he wasn’t the only gentleman who had a title in London or else she’d have to run off before her mother could chain her to him.
    Clearing her throat to get his attention, she curtsied. “Lord Pennella, forgive me for taking so long to come down.”
    Though it was to her benefit she did. She’d do well to do that in the future with the others who came by. Watching a gentleman who didn’t know he was being watched was surprisingly enlightening.
    He approached her and bowed. “It was well worth the wait, Miss Giles. You’re even lovelier than the first time I met you.”
    Resisting the urge to gag, she managed to smile. Did he really believe she wouldn’t see through the lie? “Thank you, my lord.”
    The butler brought in the tray with tea, and she invited Lord Pennella to sit and have a drink with her. It was the same old familiar routine, one that Lady Seyton insisted would establish a rapport with the gentleman in question. That was why her mother demanded Regina spend a few minutes in the drawing room alone with each potential suitor.
    Regina sat in her usual spot and poured tea in both of their cups, but on this day, she decided she’d rather not allow the gentleman a generous view of her cleavage. Instead, she chose an angle that offered him a better view of her shoulder. She saw no reason to encourage him.
    “Do you come to London often?” she asked.
    “From time to time when I’ve tired of my many travels to other countries,” he replied.
    Her eyebrows rose . “Oh?”
    “Yes. I find it expands my world and gives me a better perspective on life. I meet fascinating new people and explore the different cultures the world has to offer.”
    She couldn’t fault him for that. A good dose o f curiosity was a healthy thing. If she hadn’t caught him winking at himself, she might be intrigued to learn more about him.
    “How about you?” he asked as he accepted the cup she offered. “Do you travel?”
    “I’m afraid with all the social engagements my mother requires me to attend, I’m not allowed the luxury of travel,” she replied then sipped her tea.
    “Well, there’s nothing wrong wi th social engagements. I go to many of them myself.”
    “I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it. I’m just explaining why we don’t travel often.”
    “But you have traveled?”
    “A few times in the past. France, Italy, Greece.”
    “Those are good countries.”
    She nodded. “I enjoyed them.”
    “So you have been outside of England and tasted a piece of the world.” He smiled at her in a way that made her feel like a young child who was to be patted on the head for such a good