I hope this missive finds you and your family in good health. I trust that you have received a letter from Turley advising you that I would be writing, and that you are able to provide me the information I seek on Lord Anglesey, the heir to Lord Normanby. Turley said that he met him at an embassy event when he was last in Paris. As no one here seems to know anything about Anglesey, I am hoping you can tell me something about his character and trustworthiness. No one here seems to have even met the gentleman before.
Yr. servant,
Littleton
He sanded and sealed the letter, then called for his butler.
“My lord?”
“Please have this sent by the most expeditious manner to the British Embassy in Paris.” Frits handed Creswell the letter.
“At once, my lord.” He bowed.
“I shall want my curricle at ten minutes to five. Tell Lees I want the grays.” Their color almost matched Lady Adeline’s eyes.
“Yes, my lord.”
Frits glanced at the clock. He still had over an hour before departing. Time enough to go through the correspondence his secretary had left for him. The first of which would be the estate reports. He was concerned about the effect the gales last month had had on the fruit trees.
By the time he was done reading and answering the letters, it was time to fetch Lady Adeline. Frits sent a prayer to whichever deity was listening that he wouldn’t have to search for another lady.
Shortly before the appointed hour, he pulled up in front of Watford House in St James’s Square and plied the knocker. The door was opened by a footman. Frits handed the man his card. “I have an appointment with Lady Adeline.”
“I shall notify her you have arrived, my lord.” After bowing, the footman sent a younger footman running for her ladyship. “Would you like refreshment while you wait?”
He hoped she wouldn’t be that long. “Yes, please. Tea would be nice.”
He was led into a front parlor that was decorated in soothing blues and greens. The door closed behind the footman, and Frits looked out the window with a view to the square. It wasn’t long before tea arrived, and before he could take more than a sip or two—just enough to recognize the blend from earlier today—the door opened, and he could see Lady Adeline in the hall.
“I trust I did not keep you waiting too long, my lord.” She had a polite smile, but was obviously not delighted to see him. Well, that was no more than he’d expected.
“Not at all. I was able to enjoy another taste of your excellent tea while I waited.” He held out his arm, and stifled a smile at the adorable confusion on her face.
“You had tea?” She placed her hand on his arm and allowed him to lead her out to his carriage. “I thought gentlemen only drank tea when they had to.”
“Er. I suppose some do.” He assisted her into the curricle and put up the steps. “I am not a hydropot, but I rarely drink wine to excess, and I find few good reasons to drink strong spirits during the day. Occasionally, a glass of wine will not go amiss.”
Her nicely shaped brows drew together, and he gave the horses their office. It surprised him that she had not mentioned either the beauty of his matched pair or his handsome curricle. Most ladies admired both.
“As I said earlier, I agree with my mother; your tea is wonderful.” He looked forward to having her blend tea for him.
“Thank you. I had a package sent to her.”
“I knew you would not forget.” He smiled at her, and was pleased to see her gaze raised to his. But he could see her mind was still jumbled. Was she wondering what sort of gentleman she had met? “Do you use the same blend in the morning?”
“Oh, no. I always do what I say I will.” Her words came out slowly, then she gave her head an imperceptible shake. “No, my morning blend is much stronger.”
“I would enjoy trying it sometime.” Perhaps for the rest of his life. He bit his cheek. Slow down!
“Your horses are lovely. I adore grays.” She had apparently decided to ignore his last remarks.
Ah, now they were getting somewhere. Or were they? “Thank you. My mother helped me select them. She is an excellent judge of good horseflesh.”
“Your mother?” Lord Littleton must be making a May-game of her. “I have never heard of a gentleman taking his mother to help him look at horses.”
“I didn’t. She found them and suggested I take a look.” He cast a fond eye at the grays. “One of our neighbors was going to take them to Tattersalls, but she saw them first.”
Adeline only knew of one lady who had an absolute talent for selecting horses. It seemed Lady Littleton was another. What was interesting was that his lordship listened to his mother. And liked tea more than coffee. “I must commend you for taking her advice.”
