He is a rake.
Yet she could not say that, and that might be what the lady was looking for. “He is an excellent dancer.”
“I imagine he must be. Most superior horsemen are also exceptional dancers.” When had her ladyship seen Lord Littleton on horseback? “But come, Lady Adeline, I have seen you riding in his carriage. Surely you must know more about him.”
Adeline did not like to be pumped for information about his lordship. And she was certainly not going to tell her ladyship about his love of his dog or the pigs. “We discuss the most commonplace of things.” She struggled for something else to add. “His mother is delightful.”
Lady Holloway raised her perfectly arched brows, as if she was incredulous at this piece of information. “His mother?”
Yes, most people have them.
Adeline did not understand why it was so difficult to understand that he would have a lovely mother. She struggled to keep her polite countenance. “She is here this Season and living at Littleton House.”
“Indeed.” Her ladyship’s lips formed a moue, as if her plans had been ruined.
Thankfully, she turned to Lady Jersey and began to talk about people Adeline did not know or know well. She was glad when her mother stood and they bade Lady Jersey adieu.
“Good heavens,” Mama said as soon as they had settled themselves in her coach. “What did that woman say to you?”
“Lady Holloway?” Mama nodded. “She asked about Lord Littleton. I told her there was not much to tell her except that his mother was in Town.”
Smiling, she leaned back against the velvet swabs. “Very wise.”
Adeline did not understand that remark either. Sometimes she felt much greener than she wanted to be. As if there was a whole part of life that was being hidden from her because she was an unmarried lady. It was not fair, and it made her feel ignorant and, more importantly, vulnerable. She might want to have a few discussions with Henrietta or Georgie. They were much more up to snuff.
As her mother’s coach made its slow way to the next morning visit, Eugénie turned to her favorite subject after her husband and child. Before Will had married her and brought her to England, she had been part of a group helping to rescue slaves in the Danish West Indies, where she had lived. She and Will were still funding the project—Adeline gave a portion of her pin money to the cause as well—but her sister-in-law was no longer personally involved in rescues, as she had been before. Eugénie was influential in trying to get more legislation passed concerning the current slaves. “When will Papa-in-law introduce the bill ending the slave trade in the British West Indies?”
“Soon, I believe,” Mama replied. “It has a good deal of support, but unfortunately, there have been vociferous objections by those who still own slaves in the West Indies and other places. They wish to be compensated for what they perceive as loss of property.”
“It is a shame that we cannot chain them in a ship and take them to work in the sugarcane and indigo fields.” Eugénie’s normally lyrical voice was colder than ice. “I wonder how long it would take for them to change their minds.”
Adeline thought that was an excellent idea, even if it would be impossible to actually do. “Not long at all, I suspect.”
“Hmmm.” Her sister-in-law leaned back against the swabs.
Mama sighed. “I feel that I must point out that abductions, especially of peers, are against the law.”
One of Eugénie’s brows rose, but she said nothing, leaving Adeline to wonder if the seed would actually sprout, and if it did, how to stop it from bearing fruit. Neither her mother nor father would appreciate the scandal.
The carriage stopped, and they were ushered into Lady Bellamny’s house, where Adeline found Georgie and Augusta as well as Miss Hanson, a young lady with a wealth of rich chestnut hair but a perpetually pinched look on her face, and her friend, Miss Archibald, who agreed with Miss Hanson in all things. They were neighbors in the country and had grown up together.
Georgie and Augusta made room for Adeline on one of the small chaises.
“How long have you been here?” she asked her friends.
“Just a few minutes.” Georgie cut her eyes to Miss Hanson, and lowered her voice. “She has been asking about Lords Turley and Littleton.”
“Lord Littleton is quite the topic of conversation.” Adeline could not help keep the sarcasm from her tone.
“Despite how Dorie feels about him,” Georgie said, “you must admit he is the most handsome gentleman in Town this Season and, my mother tells me, the most eligible.”
“He is.” Adeline did not like to admit the fact, but it was true. Exeter might have a superior rank, but he was being hampered by his mother’s behavior. Gentlemen like Lord Anglesey had the promise of inheriting wealth and greater titles, but they were still under their fathers’ thumbs and dependent upon them for their allowances.
The talk turned to fashions, Paris, and the news that the new Duchess of Wharton, a duchess in her own right, had been located and had recently arrived in Town.
“Where was she?” Georgie asked.
“In Tortola.” Lady Bellamny fastened her eyes on Eugénie. “Lady Wivenly, you might know of her family, the Calders.”
