“No, I’m sorry to say. I’m not available.”
“Very well,” Adelia said with a prickling of relief. “I shall take Penny along.”
After he questioned her on the particular theatre she and Lord Burnley were attending, Thomas added, “As it turns out, Dilly-girl, I’m busy tonight, too.”
“Are you?” Adelia asked him. “I don’t recall anything to which either of us was invited.”
“No, nothing with theton,” he said, shooting her his boyish grin. “I’m meeting up with a friend.”
“Who? Where?”
He raised a brow. “You do sound like a prying older sister.”
“Iamyour older sister. And I simply want to know where you will be. What if I need you? What if something happens?”
He blinked at her. “I won’t be available for a few hours. I shall see you in the morning, and I urge you not to wait up.”
With that, he took his leave.
How curious!It was unusual behavior for her brother. Nor had he asked how the boating had gone, and she had the feeling he wouldn’t have noticed if she hadn’t attended. That gave her food for thought indeed. If he remained distracted, she could probably get away with eschewing any number of frightful outings.
*
“Do hurry, Penny.Lord Burnley will be here any minute.”
Despite years of preparing for dinner parties and dances, that night, Adelia keenly felt butterflies in her stomach. Being picked up at her home was an entirely new experience, making her heartbeat gallop. Moreover, she had never dressed to please a man. One didn’t need to look alluring when one was trying to be invisible.
She didn’t know exactly what she wanted to be that night. She only knew she didnotwant to disappoint, neither Lord Burnley, nor herself. This might be her one night out before she retired from society—and with a man as handsome as Adonis! She couldn’t deny she was massively attracted to him.How many men had she danced with over the past four Seasons?Actually, not that many given her off-putting ways. In any case, not a one had struck her as memorable until now.
She remembered each of the dances she’d had with Lord Burnley, both times amazed he’d asked her. The first time was during her first Season. He had nearly tripped over her and, thus, wrote his name on her card out of politeness since they were standing five inches from one another.
The second time, at the beginning of her third Season, one of the matrons had sent him in her direction. She’d watched it happen, seen his face fall when directed toward her. But he had squared his shoulders and done his duty, and she’d escaped his presence quickly afterward, doing him a kindness by leaving him to chase the more desirable ladies.
As Penny chose the perfect floor-length, emerald-green mantle to match Adelia’s gown, she heard his carriage draw up and ran to the window.
The Burnley clarence was directly outside with two prancing horses tossing their heads. The coachman opened the carriage door, and out stepped the viscount. This was truly happening. Adelia had half-expected him not to come.
“I guess it’s time,” she said, mostly to herself. Penny nodded and opened the bedchamber door as they heard Mr. Lockley in the foyer downstairs greeting Lord Burnley.
“You look very smartly dressed,” Adelia told her maid, who wore a dove-gray gown, perfectly starched.
Nevertheless, when Adelia descended, Lord Burnley’s approving gaze was fixed on her alone, and she almost bolted back up the stairs.
He removed his hat and gloves and bowed to her, and as she came closer, he took her gloved hand while she curtsied to him.
“I am glad you agreed to go out tonight,” he said.
She nodded her agreement.Very glad indeed!
He popped his top hat back upon his head and snugged his black gloves onto his large hands, and then, she let him lead her outside. After helping her into his luxurious carriage, she saw him turn, possibly to assist Penny inside as well. However, with a cloak clasped around her, the maid scampered up onto the spare seat next to the viscount’s driver.
After a pause, Lord Burnley climbed in and sat facing her.
“You are a most unusual female,” he said into the silence.
Adelia didn’t know to what he referred, so she said nothing.
“I would think you would want your maidinthe carriage with us,” Lord Burnley added, taking her measure.
