Adeline wanted to object, but she could not think of a good reason to do so. If anyone was bound to think of a bad idea, it was those two ladies. She nodded.
The whispers became louder, and one of the ladies said, “I am positive that Lord Littleton has an estate that marches along Lord Turner’s property. All you have to do is get his attention. Then we shall be able to live near each other.”
“But how?” the lady practically wailed. “The only lady he pays any attention to is Lady Adeline.”
Adeline glanced at Georgie, who cast her eyes to the ceiling. Surely this was not happening again!
“She is an earl’s daughter,” one of the ladies said. “I am certain her family will want her to look higher than a baron.”
“Not one as wealthy and well-connected as he is,” the other one said despairingly.
“Let me think.” The two were silent, and Adeline could hear muffled conversations filtering up from below. Finally, the lady said, “We will arrange for you to be found alone with him. Then he will have to marry you.”
Adeline dropped her head into her hands and muttered, “I had no idea that was such a popular idea.”
“It happened only once to my brother,” Georgie said. “But his reputation was so pristine, no one believed it.”
Sounds of Miss Tice and Miss Martindale leaving made Adeline and Georgie move silently toward the wall. The two ladies, however, were not paying any attention to anything but their conversation.
“We do not even know when or where it will occur, or which lady will attempt to ensnare him.” Adeline was disgusted by the whole thing.
“I am sure they will be at the ball this evening,” Georgie said. “We shall watch and see which one of them Lord Turner favors. Then you can warn Lord Littleton.”
“Bother.” Adeline was starting to feel as if she was going to spend her whole Season alternately trying to avoid him and protect him from scheming young ladies. Not that it was actually possible to elude the man. He knew Wivenly and his friends.
“I found it.” Georgie held up a book. “Are you ready to go?”
“More than ready.” He should go back to the country. Then Adeline could get on with her Season and possibly marry Lord Anglesey.
“My grandmother Featherton always says things work out the way they are meant to.”
“I wish I could have as much faith.” When they reached the counter, the others were paying for their purchases.
As they left Hatchards, Adeline strolled next to Dorie. “You and Lord Exeter looked as if you were having an interesting conversation last evening.”
She appeared taken aback. “We were, rather. He has much to do to learn his new position, but he is coming along. Whatever do you discuss with Lord Littleton? I confess I never found his conversation that interesting.”
Adeline did not know if that was true or said out of pique. Still, she might as well test it. “Pigs. He had a very sweet story about pigs.”
“Pigs?” Dorie’s brows rose. “What on earth could be interesting or sweet about swine?”
“It was the way he told it.” Adeline tried not to sound defensive. After all, she had enjoyed the tale.
Fortunately, they had reached the milliner’s, and the conversation ended as they walked into the shop. But at least she had found out what she had wished to know. Humphries was right: Dorie and Lord Littleton had not been at all suited. Not that the knowledge relieved Adeline of her loyalty to a friend. Still, it was something. Even if she wasn’t quite sure what.
As the day progressed, she bought a bonnet and several other items she did not need. In fact, she required very little other than more stockings. One or two evenings’ dancing and they must be replaced. She spent much of the time trying to discover alternate places to make a carriage drive. Yet by the time Littleton arrived, she still had no idea where they should go.
Chapter Sixteen
When Lord Littleton lifted Adeline into the curricle, she wished she could convince herself she was getting used to the feeling of his hands heating her even through her twill carriage gown, but she could not. Her breath caught and her heart raced, and she had to take a few gulps of air for her body to return to normal.
As she could not think of where they should go, she decided to place the burden on his much broader shoulders, and hope he did not mind finding somewhere new. “Must we go to the Park today?”
He glanced at her, his green eyes sharper than they had ever been before. “No. As a matter of fact, I hoped you might agree to accompany me to see how my new curricle is coming along.”
That sounded interesting. She’d never seen a carriage being built. “The one for Maximus?”
Littleton grinned and chuckled. “The very same.”
