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mundane—that or Diana couldn’t pay attention to them because she kept watching Lord Tristan. Either way, she refused to stand and listen.
    She touched her mother’s elbow to get her attention. “I’m going into the other room to get a glass of lemonade.”
    “That’s fine, dear.” Her mother turned back to the other women.
    Diana weaved through the crowded room, hoping not to run into Lady Jane or her friends. They had been talking about Diana this evening, she was certain. She may have not heard their words this time, but she could tell by the way they looked at her and snickered that she was their point of interest. Women like that sickened Diana. Was it any wonder she abhorred the ton ? She preferred living in the country and not having to mingle with these haughty people.
    “Miss Baldwin. Please wait.”
    Diana spun toward the person calling her, and groaned. Could she be polite while talking with Lady Jane? Or would Diana say what was really on her mind? She faked a smile. “Good evening.”
    The other woman lifted her nose as she looked down on Diana. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
    Within seconds, Jane’s shadows caught up to her, each had a trace of malice in their eyes.
    Diana nodded. “Yes, I am. Are you?”
    “We are having a splendid time.” Lady Jane grinned haughtily. “The reason I stopped you is to inquire about your brother.”
    “Stephen?” Diana asked. “What is it that you’d like to know?”
    “Is he here with your family?” Lady Margaret Cummings asked quickly.
    Diana shook her head. “He could not make it. There were other things he had planned this weekend.”
    Both Lady Margaret and Miss Lilly frowned. Jane merely lifted a thin shoulder in a shrug. “How unfortunate. I was hoping to become better acquainted with him.”
    “I’m certain he would have enjoyed that,” Diana lied through clenched teeth. Vicious women like these three would have upset her brother so much he wouldn’t have acted in a gentlemanly manner around them.
    “Yes, indeed,” Lady Jane said. “Well, I thank you for taking a moment to speak with us. I must be going now.”
    Jane and the other vipers sashayed back into the ballroom. Diana thanked her lucky stars she hadn’t said anything rude, because heaven knows she wanted to.
    She turned and hurried to the refreshment table, hoping to get a cool drink soon because she needed something to calm her heated disposition. She fisted her hands at her side. Why couldn’t she have made it through the evening without talking to those rude girls? And why was she the one being punished for something her father had supposedly done? She still didn’t dare ask her mother. Diana didn’t think she could bear bad news right now when this weekend had already started out badly.
    When she reached the table, she hoped the footman would pour her a cup since she didn’t have a gentleman friend to get her a drink. But before she could ask the footman, a masculine voice came from behind her.
    “Here, allow me.”
    She jumped and looked over her shoulder. Lord Tristan stood entirely too close as he reached around her and took the cup from the footman. Tristan then presented it to her as if it were made of gold.
    Her anger for Lady what’s-her-name and her hen witted friends quickly left Diana as her heartbeat hammered with excitement. She took the drink. “Lord Tristan. What a surprise.”
    He smiled in that knee-melting, charming way of his. “I’m glad you think it is, because I have to admit, I was hoping for another chance to talk with you.”
    Excitement pumped through her faster. “You were? Why, I wonder?”
    A corner of his mouth lifted higher than the other. “I’m completely bored at this party—to tears, in fact—and I want someone to cheer me up.”
    She laughed, and he joined her. “That shocks me, Lord Tristan, especially when I know how popular you are with the guests tonight.”
    “Still, it was all I could do to not fall asleep during each