A wicked grin dawned on Eugénie face. “Because there is. Much more.”
“Is that the reason he is now involved in the work you do to free the slaves in St. Thomas?”
“Oui. In part.” Her smile told her Adeline would learn nothing new.
Not that she was in danger of falling in love with a rake. But more information was always helpful, and she decided to acquire as much knowledge as she could. “He ran away from eligible young ladies for years. Why did he wish to wed you?”
“That is part of a much longer story.” Eugénie raised a brow. “One I shall not tell you. But when he decided he wanted to marry me, he was very determined. I can only tell you that if a rake falls in love with you, you will know it. He will be impossible to avoid.”
That was not much help. “But I do not wish to wed a gentleman like my brother. He is too difficult.”
“Yes, Will can be a bit troublesome at times. Especially when he decides I should not do a thing I wish to do. But me, I like a challenge. Toutefois, they are not all the same. Huntley was a rake before he married, and you know how different he is from Will.”
“I suppose you are correct.” Even though he and her brother had been friends for years, they were like night and day. Adeline had not even thought about him being a rake. Yet her sister-in-law had given her an idea. Perhaps she should become more involved in Will and Eugénie’s cause. It would give Adeline something to do other than worry about marriage.
Eugénie reached out and placed her hand over Adeline’s. “Do not worry yet. Moi, I will keep a watch and send your brother after any man of whom I do not approve.”
The only problem was that even her mother had no objection to Lord Littleton. Would Mama even care that he had hurt her friend? Whatever had occurred, no one was talking about it. In fact, his name was only mentioned as being the most eligible gentleman in Town. It would be up to her to discourage him. “Thank you.”
“C’est mon plaisir.” Her sister-in-law rose. “I must go home. I will see you this evening.”
“Until later.” The conversation had not been as informative as she had wished. Yet she couldn’t fault her sister-in-law for not having much information about gentlemen. Poor Eugénie had not even had a come out. By the time she had reached England, she was married and pregnant.
Adeline walked slowly to her bedchamber, trying to decide what to wear for her carriage ride. She had a very pretty new carriage gown. Not that she wanted to encourage Lord Littleton, but she might see Lord Anglesey. The next time she spoke with him, she would attempt to discover how much he actually liked the country. She wished he had visited today as well. Then she wondered if he had been invited to the Duchess of Rothwell’s ball, but decided he probably had not. The invitations had been sent out before the Season officially began, and Augusta’s sister had no reason to know him or that he would be in England. Still, he was certain to be invited to other balls, and Adeline would see him at Almack’s. Yet, just in case he was in the Park, she would wear her new gown.
Chapter Five
“So.” They had just arrived home, and Frits’s mother had turned for him to remove her mantle. “You are interested in Lady Adeline?”
Considering the spectacle he’d made of himself, he couldn’t very well deny it. “I think I am. Or rather I am, but I must discover more about her.” He took his mother’s mantle and handed it to his butler, Creswell. “The problem is that she is a friend of Lady Dorie’s.”
“Ah. She is the one you mentioned.” Mama frowned. “That is a difficulty.”
“I am fortunate that I’m still received.” Frits handed his hat and cane to Creswell as well.
“Oh, my dear boy.” She lifted her skirts to climb the stairs. “Fortune had nothing to do with it. I received a letter mentioning you had left Town without notice. I immediately wrote back that there was an emergency at one or more of your estates in the north and you would be unlikely to return before the Season was finished.” They reached the first floor. “I even wrote Lady Dorie’s mother, and received a very nice missive in return, stating that she was glad to see you were such a diligent landlord. I must trust you will be more careful this Season. Decide what you want in a wife before you are swayed by a pretty face.”
That was something he’d already discovered. Not that he wasn’t being swayed by Adeline’s lovely face. But he couldn’t blame his mother for mentioning it. “I have been thinking. Whichever lady I settle on, would you be willing to plan a ball or some other entertainments, such as a theater party, or an outing to Vauxhall?”
“Naturally.” Mama grinned. “I shall do all within my power to help you to the altar.”
Frits wasn’t fond of the way she had put it, but he did have to marry, and he was ready. And he needed help. “Thank you.”
“That is what a mother is for.” She reached up and patted his cheek. “Now, you must start dressing for your carriage ride, and I must rest.”
He didn’t know what she thought he should wear other than what he was already wearing. Instead of going to his bedchamber, he made his way to his study. He had a letter to write to Elizabeth Harrington concerning Lord Anglesey. Frits didn’t know what he hoped to discover, but he didn’t like the man sniffing around Lady Adeline. At first he thought it was that his lordship was such a puppy, much like Lord Lancelot. But now he believed it was more. There was an air of debauchery about Anglesey that bothered Frits. He wished there was something he could point to that would keep Wivenly from allowing the man near his sister.
Damn.
Frits groaned. There he went again. He had to make himself slow down until he knew that he and she wanted the same things out of life and marriage. Yet, when he’d looked into her eyes that day, he could have sworn he had finally found the right lady for him.
He gave himself a shake. With any luck at all, he’d know by the end of the day how she felt about several issues. In fact, he should discover as much as he could about her before he began finding ways around her barriers.
Frits took a piece of pressed paper from the stack on the corner of his desk, leaned back, and tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair, trying to decide if he should tell Elizabeth why he wanted to know about Anglesey, or if she would deduce the reason for his questions. Frits’s father always told him never to put in writing anything that you did not want to be made public, and he certainly didn’t want anyone else to know about his reasons for asking for the information.
Naturally, Elizabeth Harrington was discreet. She made a perfect diplomat’s wife. But he’d always had the impression that her husband was not as restrained as she was, and he had no doubt she would show his letter to Harrington.
My dear Lady Harrington,
