“I thought mine was as well.” Adeline’s fine brows drew together. “I wonder what they are doing here.”
His mother and Lady Watford began talking with Lord and Lady Wivenly, while Lady Watford joined her son, his wife, Lady Dorie, and Fotheringale. Shortly thereafter, they headed toward the supper room.
It was only once they were well away that Mama said, “We should go down now.”
Something was going on. But as long as it kept Frits with Adeline, he didn’t care what the ladies were up to.
His mother gave him a knowing look and indicated that they should take a table across the room from where Lady Dorie was sitting.
He quickly complied. “Will this one do?”
“Yes, indeed, my dear. An excellent choice.” Mama turned to Adeline. “I hear you have taken to Maximus, and he to you.”
“Yes. He is a handsome boy.” Frits pulled out a chair, and she gracefully lowered herself onto it. “I very much enjoyed walking him this morning.”
Wivenly came up to Frits. “Shall we? I wish to make sure we have our choice of the ices. My wife is fond of them.”
He wanted to say Adeline was as well, but as far as he knew, their visits to Gunter’s were between them.
As they strolled to the long table where the delicacies where laid out, he caught more than one lady looking at him in a calculating way. Perhaps he’d found the answer to his problem. Adeline didn’t have to be the only one who overheard plans to compromise him.
Chapter Twenty
The next afternoon, Cristabel poured tea for Annis Watford and Sally Huntingdon. The three of them were in Cristabel’s parlor, and she had left instructions that unless the house was burning down or someone was seriously injured, they were not to be disturbed.
She handed her friends their cups. “We must take a hand in our children’s affairs.”
“I have a plan to turn Dorie from Fotheringale.” Sally’s satisfied expression made Cristabel focus her attention. “I have arranged it so that Naomi Fotheringale had to invite us to dinner.”
Annis’s eyes widened slightly. “I am impressed. Not that I would want to dine with her.”
“Well, who does?” Sally said. “The whole point is to make my daughter realize how unsuitable a match her son would be.”
“Speaking of matches for Dorie”—Cristabel decided to approach the problem directly—“I understand she is still angry with Frederick.”
“That would have been a disastrous match.” Sally pressed her lips together. “But you have to admit he did not handle it well. And I do not blame her for being furious about his behavior, and for being hurt.”
“I agree. He should have at least told her he was leaving Town. I do not fault her at all. The onus is completely on him.” As Cristabel had told him in no uncertain terms. “However, Frederick must marry. Both Annis and I believe Adeline is the perfect wife for him. We are doing everything we can to promote the match. The problem is that Dorie has warned Adeline against him, and that is presenting a problem.”
Annis nodded. “The girls have become such good friends that Adeline feels guilty for enjoying his company. And she will not come to know him better until she feels as if she is not betraying her friend.” She glanced at the ceiling and sighed. “Although first he must convince her that he is not a rake.”
“Frederick is not a rake!” Two pairs of eyes under raised brows stared at Cristabel. “Well, not any more than Wivenly or Huntley were.”
“But they are now married,” Sally pointed out.
“Only after they left England.” Really, that term was thrown about too frequently these days. When Cristabel was young, a gentleman was meant to gain experience. “Before that, they did the same things Frederick has done.”
“But he has the reputation because he only associated with widows and women of questionable virtue,” Annis objected.
“As did Wivenly.” Cristabel sniffed. “One cannot blame a gentleman if he takes advantage of invitations by widows and unhappy wives.” She speared the other ladies with a hard look. “I did not hear you complaining about your sons’ behavior.”
“I suppose you are correct.” Annis grimaced. “Wivenly was most likely worse. I have a feeling from things that have been said that he did not initially act as he should have with Eugénie.” She smiled happily. “But all is well now. I must feel differently because I have Adeline to worry about this Season.”
“I hate to say it, my dear, but Frederick is too handsome,” Sally said. “He looks like what every lady imagines her prince will.” She gazed down at her tea. “I firmly believe that is the reason Dorie thought she was in love with him.” Shaking her head disgustedly, she continued, “That, and everyone said what a beautiful couple they made. Enough of those types of comments and even someone like Dorie can have her head turned.”
“Well,” Cristabel used her driest tone, “there is nothing I can do about that. He looks just like his grandfather Littleton.”
Annis held out her cup for more tea. “The question is, what will it take for Dorie to relent?”
