“I’m moving too quickly.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “Just allow me to court you. For now.”
Now her voice left her, and she couldn’t speak and had to nod. She had thought she’d known him, but did she truly?
His smile broadened. “I’d like you to call me Frits. That’s what my family calls me.”
She took a huge breath and let it out. “You may call me Adeline.”
“Thank you, Adeline.” For the first time since he . . . Frits had started to speak when she heard the music, and she glanced around him. “I thought I had a partner for this set.”
“Whoever he was probably did not wish to interrupt.” There was a definite smirk on his lips.
She really should not think about his lips if she was not certain she could marry him. She could not kiss him. It certainly didn’t help that he was staring at her lips as if they were akin to Gunter’s ices.
Adeline cleared her suddenly thick throat. “What does courting entail?”
“More of what we’ve been doing. You might consider allowing me to walk with you and Maximus in the mornings.” This last part was said so innocently that no one listening to it would think he was asking permission to walk his own dog.
“I believe that can be arranged.” She narrowed her eyes slightly. “If you can rise that early. Humphries told me you did not waken until later.”
“Apparently”—Frits’s tone was as dry as sand—“he doesn’t know that ever since you started walking Maximus, I have not been able to sleep to my usual time.”
She gave him an innocent look. “In that event, you will not have any difficulties.”
“Minx.” The word was harsh, but the funning light in his eyes gave it a different meaning.
Adeline had the feeling she was entering into a different form of communication that she did not understand. “Is that good or bad?”
“Good.” He trailed one finger lightly along her jaw, then dropped his hand as if he’d been burnt. “I want you to feel free to say whatever you wish to me, even if it is something I don’t want to hear. Not,” he added hurriedly, “that I think you were criticizing me. I recognize teasing when I hear it.”
Yes, this was an entirely new form of discourse. One Adeline thought she would like.
* * *
After Frits had returned home that evening, he poured a brandy and reviewed his conversation with Adeline. He’d desperately wanted to touch her. But even the feel of her soft skin under his finger had his senses raging to go further. Take possession of her lovely mouth and plunder. Hold her so tightly that nothing could come between them.
He stared into the glass before taking a drink. Unfortunately, it was clear she wasn’t prepared to be rushed. The look of alarm she had worn when he’d said he wanted her with him when he left Town made him realize he had to take this slowly. He, not she, had spent weeks waiting to be able to declare himself. In fact, for her it was entirely the opposite. Although friendly to him, she had been doing her best not to want him. He thanked the deities that she had actually agreed to allow him to court her, but unlike their friends, that was exactly what it would be. His chance to show her how much he loved her. Frits had no doubt that was what it was. He’d never reacted to any other woman the way his mind, heart, and body responded to her. If only there was a way to get Adeline to his main estate. She could meet the animals he’d told her about, and speak with his tenants, and see the life he had to offer her. But how to do that in the middle of the Season when they weren’t even betrothed yet was the difficulty. He doubted even his mother could come up with a plan that would succeed.
Still, she had agreed that he could walk Maximus with her in the mornings. He would take her for carriage rides and to Gunter’s in the afternoons, and now he could dance with her twice at every ball. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be too many of them before she agreed to marry him. Perhaps their families could dine and attend other entertainments together as well. His mother would be happy to arrange that. Frits took a long drink, barely feeling the burn of the fine French brandy.
Courting might be harder than what had come before it.
* * *
The next morning, he was in the hall with Maximus before Humphries arrived.
The groom’s eyes widened. “I don’t think her ladyship is going to like you comin’ along.”
Frits didn’t know what it said about him that he couldn’t resist a smug smile. “Last night, Lady Adeline agreed to let me court her, and specifically gave me permission to walk the dog with her.”
“All right, then. If she said so.” The groom still walked to Upper Brook Street, and when Adeline strolled out the door, Humphries immediately said, “I told his lordship that if ye didn’t want him, he couldn’t stay.”
Adeline laughed as Frits rolled his eyes. “He has my permission to remain, Humphries. Thank you for being concerned.”
The man handed her the lead. As he took Adeline’s other arm, Humphries muttered, “It’s about time.”
Adeline blushed a very pretty rose, but it could only be because she was embarrassed. “I do not suppose you could keep your opinions to yourself?”
“Never have afore,” the groom said as he took up his position behind them.
