“I am glad to see you as well,” one of the ladies said. The other smiled and nodded.
“Ladies, have you met Chandos?”
The older of the two raised a quizzing glass. “Not since he was in short coats. Your mother seemed to be in good spirits. I trust she is?”
“Better, I think. Now that she’s in Town.”
“So, Lady Cowper was telling me she appeared well. I understand you have vouchers for Almack’s. I expect to see you there.”
So, this was the ferocious Lady Bellamny. “I am happy to have renewed our acquaintance, my lady.” The other one, the one who appeared to be inspecting him, could only be Lady Cowper. “Lady Cowper, my pleasure.”
“I am pleased to meet you as well, your grace.” She glanced at Theo. “My dear, should you really call him by only his title?”
“He is a friend of my brother Stanwood, and I have come to know him over the past years. However, if you believe I should call him your grace, or his grace of Chandos, I shall.”
“Chandos is fine with me, my lady.”
Lady Cowper gave him a put-upon look. “Of course, it is. However, Lady Theo is a lady just out. Not one of your chums. People do not need to get the wrong idea. Address him more formally when in company, my dear.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Run along now,” Lady Bellamny said. “You will be holding up traffic if you do not.”
Leo did as he was told. Although the conversation had given him an insight as to how the Grand Dames of Polite Society thought of Theo. They treated her like one of their own. As to impressions, he wanted thetonto know that Theo was his.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Well, that was embarrassing.” Theo had thought, or she had wanted to think, that she would be able to treat Chandos differently than other gentlemen. She supposed she should have known better.
“What was?” He appeared confused.
“Being told that I cannot address you by your title in public.”
“Oh, that. Well, if I’d actually given it any thought, I might have suggested you address me with more formality.” He shook his head. “But probably not. I’ve become used to it. It’s as if we have to pretend we don’t know each other.”
“That is it exactly. I might have known if I had been raised in places where there were boys my age or slightly older and was instructed on the matter. I shall have to ask Grace.” She wondered, “Were you never told to change how you address a young lady?”
His dark brows furrowed. “I really didn’t know any. Other than my sisters that is.”
“We are a pair.” How could they have both been so ignorant? “Well, we know now.”
“You called me the Duke of Chandos when you asked if Miss Pettigrew remembered me.”
“Yes, but that was only because I was not certain how familiar she is withDebrett’s. I am well aware that Ladies Bellamny and Cowper know everyone.” Theo might have to have more than one talk with Grace. “I have been being introduced to thetonsince I was a child. It never occurred to me I would make a mistake.”
“Ah. Now I understand the problem.” He sounded as if he’d made a discovery. “You know everyone and have for a long time. However, you have moved into a different category and must behave slightly differently.”
He really was astute at times. “Exactly. I must be more careful.”
“We will both be more cautious.” Chandos grinned at her.
They really were getting on quite well. Theo glanced around to see who else she knew was there and noticed a matron staring at them. “Do you know who that lady in the red landau is?”
He glanced quickly to the side. “No. I don’t recognize her.”
“I wonder who she is and why she is staring at us.”
“I have been on the Town for years, but I rarely attend many events.” He frowned. “I should say, events that ladies attend.”
