The gentleman noticed three things in succession:

• Miss Urquart at the refreshments
  
• Miss Urquart noticing him
  
• Miss Urquart turning and colliding with another woman

Gideon Browne could no longer pretend that she was not avoiding him, but he was too close now—if he was marked witnessing the situation and all but fleeing the scene, he would be perceived as altogether ungallant. He did not believe Miss Urquart could, in this moment, be caused any additional discomfort, and so he reached into his pocket for a monogrammed handkerchief as he approached the scene, expression apprehensive but not impolite.

"Here you are," Gideon stepped in deftly, extending his handkerchief to the somewhat dampened woman. "I am sure Miss U—I am sure the young lady meant no harm at all." He had spent enough time with the eldest Miss Urquart to suspect the family liked as low a profile as possible these days, not that Gideon could blame them. Besides, he did not think Miss Ruby Urquart wanted her name to adorn wagging tongues for the rest of the evening—best to keep her identity out of the matter.