Freddie bowed to me and kissed my hand as the guests began to come forth and wish me well. I was thankful when Lady Edgehill made her way to my side to save me from the onslaught of strangers. "Come, Margaret, there are some people that I need you to meet," she spoke deliberately and the crowd gave way a bit allowing us to walk through.

            "Thank you," I breathed with relief, "the space was filling in too much for my liking." I looked about as we walked, trying to locate Thomas again, but I did not find him.

            "Miss Margaret Woodbridge, I would like you to meet dear friends of ours," Lady Edgehill said as we stopped before an older couple, "This is Lord and Lady Winchester." I recognized the name immediately and curtsied.

            "Pleased to meet you," I smiled and wished that Faith would have been here for this.

            "Lord Winchester a viscount," Lady Edgehill whispered to me as her friends made pleasantries, "it is important to make connections." She leaned towards Lady Winchester, "Is your son not here?"

            "Oh no, Philip is here," Lady Winchester held up a gloved hand, "he is either getting refreshments or seeking a comrade to keep the young ladies at bay."

            "What is with these sons of ours," Lady Edgehill laughed, "Why do they have such aversion to the companionship of a lovely young lady?" As she said that she gave a slight tug to my sleeve as if to fix the puff at the shoulder, "When Gideon was Thomas' age he had set about to woo me most definitely."

            "Truth be told, Lady Edgehill, I think Philip has lost his heart," my own heart skipped a beat as Lady Winchester spoke, could it be that Faith's Mr. Winchester has been holding his hope for her as well?

            "Oh really?" Lady Edgehill asked moving closer to her friend so they could talk in lower voices, "Has he said anything?"

            "No, Philip has never been one to talk much," she said as she began to fan herself, "but after the Viscount's accident last Season, he returned home and had been forlorn ever since. I tried to introduce him to some very pretty and well received young ladies but he has shown no interest. It wasn't until we decided to return to London this Season that he has brightened at all." Listening intently as I attempted to appear to be listening to the Viscount's detailed description of his latest hunting trip, I tried to take everything in. I would want to share all of this with Faith.

            "Perhaps he will encounter this unknown lady here," Lady Edgehill said as she scanned the guests, "Now Margaret, you will want to meet Philip, he is a school friend of . . . well now." Both Lady Winchester and I followed her gaze. There in a corner with easy access to the hallway stood Thomas and Philip talking with heads bowed as if in conspiracy, "Will wonders never cease," she asked turning to me when Thomas raised a glass towards us.

            "Excuse me, ladies," Freddie interrupted, "It appears that the dancing is soon to begin and I do have the pleasure of the first dance," he bowed and extended his hand, "Margaret, will you do me the honor?" I quickly took his hand and joined him, eager to step out from under the dissecting eye of Lady Edgehill.

            "Your timing is undeniably perfect, Freddie," I whispered as we took our places in the lines.

            "Are all things not favorable under the roof of Edgehill?" he asked quietly.

            "The Lady has just realized her son is in attendance when she believed him to abhor even the thought of the ball," I said glancing towards our hostess.

            "And what does that have to do with you?"

            "He came for me," I bit my lip as I fought to hide the smile that would not stop.

            "You do realize that keeping track of his disposition has been mindboggling," Freddie said looking towards Thomas, "Although he does seem in good spirits tonight . . . do you know the bloke he's with?"

            "That is Philip Winchester," I stopped talking until I was with Freddie again after a few turns, "the young man that Faith is smitten with."

            "Oh that is fortuitous, well it would be if Faith were here."

            "I know," I sighed, "I thought that she would have returned by now, or at least sent word." Freddie gave me a tender little smile, he knew how I felt that Faith ran off. We continued the dance with little words although seeing him enjoying himself made me appreciate it even more, "You do dance very well, brother," I curtsied as the music ended.

            "I have always thought so too," he bowed, "it is a shame that Patience would rather mingle than spin." He gave me a quick wink and a nod, "It looks as if you shall have a new partner."

            I turned to find Thomas, as I had hoped. He looked almost regal in a new waistcoat and breeches, he even wore a very fine cravat. Part of me wished that we were standing in front of that mirror now poised in my bedroom to see how we looked together, but that would not be possible. He bowed and I curtsied, "Miss Woodbridge, I would like to introduce you to a very good friend of mine, Mr. Philip Winchester." He stepped aside and I was face to face with the man that held my dear friend's heart. He was quite handsome with a fair complexion and a sort of strawberry blond hair that seemed to bring out his green eyes. He stood even with Thomas although Philip was a tad more broad.

            "I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Winchester," I curtsied to him.

            "As I am you, Miss Woodbridge," he smirked, "May I have the next dance?" he asked.

            I turned towards Thomas and instead of looking at me, he lowered his eyes, his smiled faded just a tad, "Yes . . . yes, you may," I said taking the arm Mr. Winchester offered as we returned to the dancing area. I tried not to look back obviously, but when I did Thomas had faded into the crowd. The music began anew and I tried my best to be an agreeable and attentive partner.

            "I dare say that you were expecting Mr. Edgehill to ask for this dance," he said as we encountered each other in the middle.

            I tried to keep my face straight and not show so much of what I was feeling, "I did not expect Mr. Edgehill at all."

            "It is a rarity that he attends social gatherings such as these," he mused, "even ones thrown in his own home."

            "Is that so?" I asked as we took our turn again.

            "Precisely why I was so surprised to see him here and in such form," he said looking towards the guests that lined the ballroom, "Why do you think that is?"

            "Perhaps to put on a good show for his mother since she is hosting tonight," I offered.

            "No, I think you and I both know that is not the reason," he whispered and I felt my face flush a bit. "He did tell me that you arrived with a companion . . . "

            "I did indeed."

            "Is she not here?"

            "Unfortunately she is not," I felt a smile rising as he inquired about Faith, "Miss Stanhope left to see her brother weeks ago . . . " I noticed how is face took on an air of disappointment, " but I do expect her to return, I just do not know when."

            "Perhaps when she does, you or Mr. Edgehill will be good enough to let me know," he suggested, "I believe we met but were not given the chance to get well acquainted." As the dance ended and he bowed he gave me a small smile.

            "That was the travesty that I heard as well," I curtsied, "Once she returns we will have to remedy the situation."

            He neared me and took my hand, "Every bit of lovely as I heard," he smiled as he kissed the top of my hand.

            "What is?" I asked not following his train of thought.

            "You are," he smiled as he seemed to look behind me, "Thomas is very lucky," he whispered before walking away. I turned around to see what he was looking at but found nothing except guests standing and chatting. I moved to the side and took out my fan in an effort to cool down from all the dancing and glad that no one was trying to approach me for the moment.