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Her heart fell a bit because it was clear to her why she was so easy for him to talk to. She was nobody. There was no chance that he would be expected to woo her, let alone marry her.

She was easy because she was safe. Little more than a servant.

Once upon a time she might have been someone he looked to with thoughts of marriage. If only she had not lost her standing in society, if she still had wealth and a good name. If only he were not the new earl and expected to honor his brother’s engagement.

If only, if only, if only.

She let out a sigh of impatience with herself. She’d grown up a long time ago, and when her father took his life and left them with nothing? The last of her childish daydreams had gone with him. Now was not the time to be looking for fairytales and knights in shining armor. Now was the time to be practical. There were worse fates than to be friends with an earl. “Shall we practice for tomorrow?”

He nodded. “Practice,” he repeated. “Excellent.”

“Now for our next lesson,” she said, prim and proper once again. “When it comes to speaking to members of the ton, there are only two things you must remember.”

His gaze narrowed as his attention fixed on her.

She ticked them off on her fingers. “Ask questions and listen.”

He frowned. “That sounds too simple.”

“It is simple. But most people still haven’t mastered it, particularly not the second part.”

He arched his brows as he nodded, as though acknowledging the truth of that.

“Everyone wants to feel important,” she continued. “Everyone would like to believe they are the center of the universe.” She shrugged. “Make them feel that way.”

He blinked a couple of times as though processing the words. “I can do that.”

She nodded, smiling brightly. “Start with me.” She dipped into a curtsy and rose with a simpering smile that made his lips twitch in turn.

Her heart stuttered at the sight but she ignored it. “What would you ask me?” she murmured softly.

He opened his mouth, then closed it, then his brow drew down in a frown. “I have no idea.”

She laughed. “You could ask after my family—well, not my family, but if I were another lady you could ask after family. You could ask my hobbies…” She continued to rattle off a list of topics as he stared at her.

“Is this Lady Amelia one of the ladies my aunt has in mind should Lady Olivia decide to marry another?”

The question brought her back to the moment with a jolt. “Of course not,” she said. “Everyone knows her family has an agreement with the Duke of Harlow.”

“I did not know,” he said.

“Yes, well. I believe we’ve already established that you have not been staying abreast of society gossip these last few years.”

He hitched his lips to the side in a rare show of rueful amusement.

“But that is precisely why she will be such good practice for you tomorrow,” she continued.

“Practice?”

“Indeed. There is no pressure to win her over since she is practically married to another as it is. Besides which, she is lovely and delightful, and will do all in her power to put you at ease.”

He let out a long exhale. “Yes, I see. She will be good practice because there will be little pressure to impress.”

“Exactly,” she said with a smile. “She has as little chance of being your bride as I do.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Now why on earth had she said that?

Now it was awkward. His gaze met hers and she thought she saw a question there. She refused to acknowledge it, her smile firmly in place. “Shall we continue?”