Ah, she couldn’t lie either. That was good information to know. “The supper dance again?”
Adeline swallowed hard. “Yes, if you wish.”
He wished for all her sets, but that was going to take time and finding a way around her concerns.
“Thank you.” Frits wanted to ask her to ride with him tomorrow. But two days in a row would cause the ton to take notice, and it was too soon for that. “Perhaps you are free to ride with me the day after tomorrow?”
For the first time since the dance, she gazed directly at him. Her gray eyes had turned silver, and her lips had formed a line. “You are fortunate, my lord. I am free to ride with you.”
“You honor me, my lady.” He infused his words with as much sincerity as he could. He was grateful that she had accepted even though she hadn’t wanted to. She was glancing around, as if looking for someone to save her from him. He needed to do something to entertain her. “I am thinking of having a new curricle made.”
Her gaze landed on him again. “Why? Your carriage is very nice and well-made.”
“I saw Merton riding with his cat. Maximus”—he decided to use the name she preferred—“has tried to climb into my curricle, but there’s not enough room for him. After seeing Merton I thought if I just made the carriage a little larger, I could make a place for Maximus behind me.”
Her eyes widened and she blinked, then she got that contemplative look in her eyes again. “That is an interesting idea. Are you truly considering doing it?”
“It started out as a fancy, but the Dane does like to go with me, so the answer is yes. I shall make time to visit my carriage maker within the next few days.” Frits wanted to ask her to go with him, but he was very sure that was not the kind of outing in which a young lady would be allowed to engage.
“I look forward to seeing it and your dog.” The last was said on a wistful note.
“I am sure he would like to meet you.” Frits grinned. Was his Great Dane the way to her heart? “He loves people who are disposed to like him.”
“Perhaps someday.” Adeline toyed with the last of the food on her plate.
He was losing her attention again. “What is your home county?”
Her short, straight nose wrinkled adorably. “My father’s main estate is in Herefordshire.”
“You don’t like it?” Frits had visited friends there. It was a beautiful county.
“It is not that as much as I do not like being left there all the time.” She pierced a piece of cheese with her fork, but left it on the plate. “My parents are gone much of the time. My other brothers are at school or away, and Wivenly and his wife have the baby. So my younger sister and I do not get to travel farther than our market town.”
That was completely opposite to how Frits had been raised. His parents had almost always been around. “When you put it that way, it does sound a bit dismal.” Yet there was no reason she could not see as much of London as she wanted. “Did you not tell me that you wished to visit the sights while you were here?”
Adeline tilted her head, as if trying to remember mentioning the subject. “I might have done so. I would like to visit the British Museum and the Tower of London. My brother mentioned taking his wife to Vauxhall.”
“Those are excellent choices.” And he would help bring them about.
“Lady Adeline?” Lady Worthington came up to them. “I am sorry to interrupt. Your family is leaving.”
Adeline placed her serviette on the table. “I shall come directly.” She turned to him. “I did have a pleasant time, my lord.”
He rose when she did and, bowing, took her hand. “I did as well. I wish you a good night.”
When Adeline curtseyed to Frits, he sensed her reaction to him as his hand engulfed her much smaller one. “Thank you, I shall.”
He watched her join her family and went to find his mother, who was also ready to leave. Once they had bid adieu to Lady Worthington and were in the coach, he mentioned his plans. “I wish to get up a theater party that includes Lady Adeline. I also need your advice on the best way to escort her to the museum and the Tower of London.”
“Let us take first things first. Tomorrow is my at-home. I am sure Lady Watford will bring her daughter and daughter-in-law with her when she comes. I will mention the theater to her, and we shall arrange a date.”
That sounded easy enough. The at-home gave him another idea. “Would you mind if Max makes an appearance? Lady Adeline expressed an interest in meeting him.” Even in the poor coach lighting, he could see his mother give him her surely-you-jest look. “It would be totally by accident, of course.”
Mama let out a resigned huff. “Very well, but make certain it appears to be a mishap. You know I love him, but I do not wish to gain a reputation for allowing guests to be subjected to an overly affectionate beast.”
An image popped into Frits’s mind of the Dane sitting with his hindquarters on one of the sofas leaning against a horrified lady. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Lady Adeline, on the other hand, would be thrilled.
