It occurred to Adeline that no one had actually asked if she wanted to come out this year. She had turned eighteen last autumn, and none of the gentlemen in her home county had interested her. Ergo, she had to make her come out at some point, so this Season was as good as any. “Coming to Town is fine. London seems interesting. The problem is that I have no idea how to go about looking for a husband.”
Her friend laughed lightly. “I do not think any of us do. From what I have gathered, even Dorie does not know. My sister, Meg, took over three years to decide on a husband. She had a couple of bad experiences. If one thinks about it for too long, it’s enough to put one off the whole thing.”
That made Adeline feel somewhat better. Not that she wanted another lady to have had a hard time, but at least she was not the only one who felt at a loss. “We practice all sorts of things: manners, dancing, musical instruments, languages, and a host of other subjects. Then we arrive here and are told that gentlemen do not wish a lady to be intelligent. But my elder brother and my father married rational ladies. It is very confusing.”
Georgie’s brows came together as she frowned. “Did your family tell you that? Mine told me that if a gentleman did not want an intelligent female, he could look somewhere else for a wife.”
Adeline had to think about that. “No. Not my family, so much as other ladies with whom I have spoken. My mother is so busy with her political events, she has not paid much attention to my come out at all.”
“I do not know if that is good or bad,” Georgie mused. “Sometimes I feel as if I would like everyone in my family to spend less time thinking about me.” She grinned. “Fortunately, I only have my mother and grandmother. My older sister has been busy setting her husband’s family to rights.”
Adeline wondered what that meant, but decided she would find out at some point. “My sister-in-law has promised help, but she was raised in the Danish West Indies and has not spent much time in Town.”
“That must have been interesting. Do not be concerned. It will work out.” Georgie linked her arm with Adeline’s. “We all have one another now. That will help.”
“Yes. You are correct. I should not worry so much.” Instead, Adeline would enjoy the company of new friends and take in the beauty of the Park as the leaves began to unfurl. Crocuses were popping up, making bright patterns against the green of the grass. She looked forward to the other spring flowers making a showing. “I shall focus on enjoying my time here. And if I am not married this Season, there is always the next one.”
“That is it exactly and how it should be. I feel deeply for the ladies who are being pressured to wed in their first Season.” Georgie stopped and peered at the carriageway. “Who is that?”
A gentleman with curling guinea-gold hair riding a bay gelding had stopped and was talking to a lady in a high-perched phaeton. He too was extremely good-looking. Did all the handsome men in England come to Town for the Season? “I have no idea.” Although Adeline would like to be introduced. “Perhaps Dorie knows him.”
“Dorie?” Georgie raised her voice just enough for their friend, who was walking directly in front of them, to hear and inclined her head in the direction of the newcomer. “Do you know that gentleman?”
“No.” Dorie shook her head. “I’ve not seen him before. He must be new in Town. He is speaking with Lady Riverton. She is my sister-in-law’s dead brother’s widow. Perhaps he has recently returned from his Grand Tour. She was in Paris until recently, and he does not appear to be in more than his middle twenties.”
“I agree,” Henrietta commented. “No more than six and twenty, I would say. Well, we can only trust we shall see him at one of the events.”
“If he is looking for a wife.” Georgie sounded dubious.
Adeline glanced at the man. He was bowing over her ladyship’s hand, but there was really nothing in that.
“If he’s not, then I do not care to meet him.” A line formed between Dorie’s brows. She was probably thinking about Lord Littleton. And truly, there was no point in meeting men who were not interested in marriage.
Adeline was still looking at the blond-haired gentleman when he raised his eyes and stared straight at her. She turned her head, but not before she saw his lips tilt slightly. Was it possible she had interested him? That would make two gentlemen—though she could not count the first—in one day who showed an interest in her. Goodness, the Season might not be as bad as she thought it would be. Of course, she must meet more eligible gentlemen. She glanced at the blond man next to Lady Riverton.
As much as Adeline wanted to marry and set up her own household, she had to be certain the gentleman she married met all of her qualifications—such as they were—and that it was a love match.
* * *
Crispin, Earl of Anglesey, eldest son of the Marquis of Normanby, held the light gray gaze of one of a bevy of young ladies strolling along the verge. He wondered how long he could keep her looking at him, but the lady next to her caught her attention and the gray-eyed lady turned away.
“I see you are already affecting the just-out-of-the-schoolroom set.” The tone of Sarah, the widowed Countess of Riverton was irritable, and he wasn’t in the mood for it. Still, for the time being, he needed her.
“I do not know why you are put out.” He allowed his eyes to drop to hers. “You will not marry me, and my father has demanded I wed this Season or lose my allowance.”
“You know very well I shall not wed again.” She gave a dramatic shudder. “Once was more than enough. I did my duty, and thanks to my very generous settlements am able to pursue my own pleasures.”
Except that she was not thinking of those pleasures at the moment. One of which included him. Crispin decided to change the subject. He always knew when Sarah thought too much about her sons. She became maudlin. She was allowed to see them as much as she wished, but they resided with their grandparents, the Marquis and Marchioness of Broadhurst, and were never brought to Town. Meaning Sarah had to go to the country to visit her children. Not that Crispin blamed her husband for leaving guardianship with his parents. That was the proper thing to do. It just made her less than companionable at times.
He knew one way to cheer her, and him. “Would you like me to stop by this evening?”
“If you wish.” As she spoke, she lifted one shoulder in an uncaring shrug. “However, you may not stay the night. I must be more careful here than in Paris.”
“Naturally.” She wasn’t the only one who had to watch herself. He did as well. Any number of people could report his activities to his father. Taking her hand, he kissed the air above the fine kid glove, but as he did, he softly stroked her wrist, and she gave him a seductive look. “Dinner, then dessert?”
“Definitely dessert.” He was already picturing her naked and in bed.
Her lips parted in a smile. “I shall see you at eight.”
