“My wife and I will make sure she arrives home safely,” Wivenly stated.
“You may join us for dinner if you like.” Taking Adeline home was something Will had insisted upon after Frits had gone. Her brother did not want them seen together before they could get Peter and his mother to safety. Frits being invited to dinner was the price Will had to pay.
Frits’s smile warmed her and sent the butterflies in her stomach flitting around. He had been a perfect hero today. Her perfect hero. “I am honored. Let me dash a note off to inform my mother.”
Her brother rang the bellpull. “I’ll send a groom with the note. There’s no reason for anyone to see my livery.”
“In that case, have him take it to the stables.” Frits glanced down and frowned. “I’ll have to return home to change before the ball.”
Will stared at Frits and shook his head. “I wish I could say we are of a size, but you’re larger than I. Ask to have your kit sent here. My valet will assist you.”
When they were notified that Frits’s clothing had arrived, they all went to dress. An hour later, they were back in the drawing room.
“What will happen when the mother is brought here?” Adeline was determined that she would not be pushed to the side when it came to the rest of the plan.
“That will depend upon the circumstances. There may be more family members than the boy and his mother.” Eugénie gave Adeline a long, speculative look. “You wish to help, do you not?”
“No!” Leaning forward, Will had barked the word.
Her sister-in-law raised one imperious brow. “Adeline has earned the right, and we will be present to see that she does not come to harm.”
He didn’t look satisfied, but inclined his head sharply.
“I want to assist as well.” Frits glanced back and forth from her sister-in-law to her brother. “I must see this through.”
Even though Adeline never doubted he would continue on the course on which they had begun earlier, she was glad he had made his wishes known.
“At least you can protect yourself,” Will grumbled.
That wasn’t at all fair. “Do you not remember teaching me to defend myself?”
“That was a long time ago, and you’ve never actually had to do it,” he said dismissively.
“Indeed.” She raised one brow in the same manner as her mother. Adeline knew because she had spent hours practicing the expression. “How do you think Lord Anglesey got his broken nose?”
Suddenly, her brother looked as if he meant to commit murder.
Frits groaned and covered the bottom half of his face with one hand. “You weren’t going to tell anyone about that.”
That turned her brother’s ire on him. “You were there?”
“I was.” Obviously, Frits was not going to say anything else.
Well, blast. She should have kept her mouth shut. “He stopped his lordship from compromising me. But I was the one who hit the scoundrel.”
“Who knows about this?” Eugénie poured wine for all of them.
“Lady Riverton, Lady Holloway, and us.” Adeline pointed to Frits. “They were just as shocked as I to hear that Anglesey was already married.”
“It’s a good thing he’s not here or I’d break more than his nose,” Will growled.
“I think we should congratulate Adeline on hitting him.” Eugénie smiled proudly at her and raised her glass. “To a job well done.”
“Thank you.” She grinned at her brother. “I had a thought that someone should plant him a facer, and I remembered that you had taught me how to do it, so I did.”
Will drank down half of his wine. “Did you remember to put your thumb on the outside?”
“Yes.” Frits’s lips were twitching, and she knew it was only a matter of time before he burst out laughing. “Although, I have to admit it did hurt, and my knuckles were bruised.” Her maid had put her hand in ice when she had returned home.
