Adeline took a long swallow of her tepid punch. She was parched. Who knew dancing would require so much exertion? It looked so graceful from afar, and the first dance had been all right, but seven sets later, she was ready to sit down and take off her blasted shoes. She wiggled her toes inside her heeled slippers.
Lucy patted her husband’s chest. “Oh, nothing for you to worry about. So, having fun then, Addy?”
Adeline noticed the duke quirk an eyebrow. But he didn’t pursue the topic; instead, he slid an arm around his wife’s waist. The duke had intimidated Adeline when she first met him, but seeing how he doted on Lucy made Adeline realize that his harsh outward appearance, with scars marring one side of his face, was not at all an indication of the fine man he was on the inside.
“Umm, to be honest, I am a bit bored. All these gentlemen are so vapid. One can only handle so much talk of the weather and horses and, good Lord, the one who spoke endlessly of his coin collection.”
“What’s wrong with speaking about horses?” Violet asked.
“Nothing, dear, it’s just not a particular interest of mine. Perhaps you should dance with Lord Kendall; you share an affinity for horse racing.”
“No, thank you. I am acquainted with him. He is a blowhard; I will give you that.”
“Did you meet anyone interesting?” Lucy prodded.
Adeline bit down on her lower lip. “Well, I did meet Lord Kingsbury. Turns out he is old friends with my brother.”
“You did? What is he like?”
“He and his naval officer friend are both tall, handsome types. Despite being dressed formally, they gave me the impression that they are men who work with their hands. Both were tanned and…” Adeline gestured with her hands, hoping to give her friends a sense of the height and breadth of the two men. “Lord Kingsbury is particularly cheeky.”
“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.” A low, amused voice came from her left.
Adeline closed her eyes.Dear Lord. She turned slowly to face the man in question. “Lord Kingsbury, please pardon me.”
“No need. I have come to claim my long-awaited dance. Although now I cannot remember what we were arguing about.”
“Arguing?” Violet was looking back and forth between the two of them, her eyebrows raised high.
“Fate, we were discussing the concept of fate,” Adeline said. Now her friends were both staring. “Allow me to introduce Lord Kingsbury. Lord Kingsbury, these are my friends, the Duke and Duchess of Hartwick and Lady Violet Blakeley.”
“A pleasure to meet you, ladies.” Lord Kingsbury gave a short bow. “Your Grace, I believe your father and mine were good friends. Your father once did a great kindness to me when I lost my family at a young age.”
The duke nodded. “That sounds exactly like him.”
“The elder Lord Hartwick took me in when I lost my family at fourteen.” Lucy smiled. “He always looked out for those he considered friends.”
Adeline watched Kingsbury freeze as he studied her friend. His head tilted to one side. “Lucy Middleton?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
A wide smile broke out across Lord Kingsbury’s face. “Your father was the first captain I sailed under at fifteen. I was under his command until I was eighteen. He kept a miniature of your mother in his cabin. I used to stare at it while I polished his boots. You look very much like her.”
“How extraordinary!” Lucy returned his grin. “Hart, can you believe that?”
“Yes, dear. It sounds as though my father arranged it.”
“Yes,” Lord Kingsbury said. “I remember him saying that he would request me to be on Middleton’s ship. I am so pleased to meet you both. Without each of your father’s guidance, I would not be the man I am today.”
“We will be sure to invite you over for dinner. I want to hear all the stories you can tell me about being on board ship with my father,” Lucy said.
“I’d be delighted,” Kingsbury said. The first strain of a waltz began. He turned and held out a hand to Adeline. “Shall we?”
Adeline placed her hand in his. She was still embarrassed to have been caught gossiping about him. It certainly confirmed her status as a complete dolt when it came to social graces. His hand enveloped hers, warm and strong. She glanced sideways at him and found his attention focused back on her.
“Still don’t believe in fate?” he asked.
“No. The probability of you meeting the children of the men who helped you as an adolescent is high. There are not that many peers in London.”
