Rose fiddled with her blank dance card. “Perhaps not. But it’s not exactly something I can prove without a marriage. And it’s obviously not something many ‘gentlemen’ are willing to look beyond.”
“And you’re sure they all know?”
“Enough of them, so my spies tell me. And I’m sure anyone willing to overlook my other flaws—”
“Rose—”
“—To consider the possibility would be informed immediately by those who do. As we know, the men of our Society do tend to watch out for each other when it comes to scheming females.”
“Rose—”
“Have you spotted anyone on our list of gentlemen to watch?” Rose pushed her shoulders back and faced the dance floor again. “There has been rather a dearth of them tonight.”
Ann hesitated, then drew a long, resigned breath. “Our servants were buzzing about you and Northey at Higginbotham’s. Not to mention what happened during the dance with Broxley. Lord Newbury’s rather forceful presence in both instances, along with your antics, may mean some will wait till later in the season.”
“Hmph. Not unless they want to lose out on the better dowries.”
“That’s rather mercenary of you.”
Rose patted Ann’s arm and turned back toward the dance floor. “As are they. We have to think like them. So... if not the balls, where else would a rake scheme to cross paths with an heiress?”
“Well, there’s the Vauxhall Gardens masquerade—”
“Not exactly a wallflower type of event.”
“—And the Billingham musicale—”
“Not sure my ears will survive the sisters’ pretense at musical ability, but I’m sure Cecily will receive an invitation.”
“—Soirees—”
“Hothouses of gossip. Not many men.”
“—Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre—”
“Oh I don’t think we are quite that desperate.”
“—Public lectures at the Royal Institution—” Ann stopped when Rose did not interrupt her, waiting.
A smile slowly spread over Rose’s face. “Now that is a possibility. The lectures are usually free and you don’t need an invitation for the public ones.”
“Not many women attend. And the ones who do are usually already connected or married. Or bluestockings.”
Rose faced Ann again. “Yes, but as we know, when they are not attempting to impress a gaggle of females, noblemen are the worst gossips. There may be more opportunities to eavesdrop.”
Ann smiled, her eyes gleaming as she glanced over Rose’s shoulder. “And we might even learn something.”
Rose chuckled. “God forbid women engage in anything educational.”
“Are you attempting to foment revolution again, Lady Rose?”
Rose stilled, Thomas Ashton’s low baritone washing over her. She glowered at Ann. “Traitor,” she whispered.
Ann responded by nodding at the man behind Rose. “Good evening, Lord Newbury.”
“Miss Blackburn. I hope your evening has gone well.”
Ann held up her hand, and Thomas bowed low over it, his lips barely brushing her knuckles. “Pleasantly so, my lord. We here on Spinster’s Row have been enjoying the skills of you and your brother on the dance floor. Most splendid.”
