“As soon as we finalize the arrangements.” Adeline gazed lovingly at Frits, and he wanted to take her into his arms again. “All the instructions were sent to the staff at Littlewood, so it might be as quickly as two days.”
It would be in no more than two days if Frits had anything to say about it. “I have the special license, and your sister has already sent messages to her friends, asking them to arrive tomorrow.”
“Definitely no detours, then.” Wivenly rubbed his chin. “Eugénie, we had better ride with him.”
“As you wish.”
It was going on two o’clock, and Frits was ready to go home. “While you are organizing that, the rest of us must depart.”
A flurry of hugging ensued, but fifteen minutes later, they were headed west, out of London. His senior staff had departed for Littlewood with most of the baggage earlier that day, leaving the staff that usually remained in London to look after the town house. Once they arrived at Littlewood, his butler, Creswell, would set a watch and, upon Frits and Adeline’s arrival, have the servants lined up to greet their new mistress-to-be. Frits was excited about introducing them to her.
The knowledge that once they stepped into the coach, he would never be without Adeline again warmed his heart like nothing had before. She was exactly the wife and helpmate he had been looking for.
“Adeline, dear,” his mother said as they crossed the Thames. “I want you to know that even though I will not be living at Littlewood, I shall be nearby and will be available if you have any questions.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at his mother. “I am positive I will rely on you a great deal.”
Frits couldn’t believe what he had heard. “You are going to live with Grandmamma at the Dower House?”
His mother looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. His mother and grandmother only got on well if they were not sharing a household. “Before his death, your father and I agreed it would be better if I resided at the Lilacs if your grandmother was still living at the time of your marriage.”
Frits mentally reviewed the properties the barony owned. “I don’t recall that we had a property by that name.”
“You do not,” she said archly. “I do.” She turned to Adeline. “It is a lovely little house between the village of Littleton and the house just beyond the Littlewood boundary.”
If it was the house he was thinking of, it had at least ten bedrooms. Then again, it was much smaller than Littlewood.
The next two and a half hours passed quickly, and before he knew it, they were entering the gate to Littlewood. “We’re here.”
“Already?” Adeline asked, surprised. “That was a quick journey.” She looked out the window. “The view is very pretty.”
Frits thought so too. Lime trees lined the drive that curved gracefully up to the house. “The trees are over two hundred years old. After dinner I’ll show you the gardens and lake.”
Excitement lit up her eyes, making them shine like polished silver. “I cannot wait to see everything.”
On the opposite bench, their mothers exchanged pleased, conspiratorial looks. His mother had told him what she had done. He wondered if he should tell Adeline about the part their mothers had played in trying to make this match and decided that if he did tell her, it would be much later. When their children asked how they met and married.
The coach swung around the curve and stopped. Before the footman had the stairs down, his household servants and employees had finished lining up. To him, it was an impressive sight. He hoped Adeline thought so as well. It was important that she love the land and people as much as he did.
Frits surveyed the front of the house as he waited for a footman to let down the coach steps. Normally, he would have jumped down, but this was a formal occasion for his staff, and he knew better than to behave casually about it. The wide, stone steps leading to the front door glistened under the sun. Even the casements had been scrubbed.
He handed down his mother and Lady Watford before Adeline stood in the open door. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” She beamed at him. “Never more so.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Joy bubbled over as Adeline stared at the house. As Frits had said, the old hall was the first thing one saw. Tall, circular towers built of light gray stone flanked the wide front door, and battlements connected the towers. As they had rounded the drive, she had been able to see the more modern part of the house, which was built from the same stone. Rather than looking like a jumble of different periods, as some houses did, it appeared as if the later additions had been the plan all along. “It’s beautiful.”
He had a wide smile as he handed her down and escorted her to the servants, who had lined up to greet her.
The butler bowed. “My lady, welcome home.”
Tears of joy pricked the back of Adeline’s eyes. “Thank you, Creswell.”
“Allow me to present the staff.”
Frits remained by her side as she met the servants and asked questions of each one, so she would remember them and their names more easily. When she had met everyone, including the boot boy, the housekeeper, Mrs. Hubbold, showed Adeline to her rooms.
