“Dark,” she said, realizing they were having their own cup of gossip-water. It was a considerably amusing pastime, though she would never say anything ill of her brother. “A pretty woman, from what I could see.”
“Naturally,” Lord Burnley said as he spread his arms along the back of the seat. “Your brother is a good-looking young man and an earl. That aside, unless this mystery woman had something unusual about her, a horn growing out of her forehead, for instance, or a pair of elephant ears, there are certainly too many dark-haired females running around London to help provide an identification.”
She grinned at the images he invoked. “I suppose I shall simply ask him. We don’t normally keep secrets.”
She watched Lord Burnley’s face fall and knew he was thinking of his deceased sister.
“How are your parents?” she asked.
His gaze flickered up to catch hers. “Not good,” he confessed.
“I am very sorry. When my mother died, it was a blow to our family.”
“And your father’s passing, too, I imagine, made quite an impact since it left you and your brother alone.”
Blissfully alone,she thought. Nonetheless, she hated to contradict Lord Burnley or speak ill of the dead, so she nodded.
“Probably harder for a parent to lose a child,” he considered, losing himself in his private musings.
“Undoubtedly so,” she said, wishing their conversation had not turned so morose. “Only time will heal Lord and Lady Burnleys’ hearts.” How inadequate her words, but she didn’t know what else to say.
“Yes,” he agreed.
Oh dear. How could she bring him out of his gloom?
“Will you escort me somewhere else again soon?” The words were out of her mouth before she knew what she was saying.
Instantly, he glanced up at her again, looking as stunned as she felt.How forward of her!He had every right to be affronted at her assumption he would not only wish to see her once more but to do it soon. However, his attractive face relaxed, and he did appear less sad.
“I would like that,” Lord Burnley answered after only the slightest hesitation. “You know it will not take too many outings until thetondecides we are a couple,” he pointed out.
The very notion thrilled her. Not only that, he wanted to escort her again!
“Of course, they will jump to conclusions whether we go out again or not,” Lord Burnley surmised. “The very next time we are at a ball or party, if we so much as glance at one another, they will think they know the truth.”
Adelia wondered what that truth could be.
“Do you enjoy the ballet, perhaps, or a concert?” he asked.
“The ballet,” she said without hesitation, fearing she would miss too many notes of an orchestra. “I’ve always wished to see one.”
He sat forward. “Are you saying you have never been to the ballet?”
Oh dear!Yet another circumstance that would mark her as odd. But she saw no reason to lie.
“I have not.”
“How is it possible when you can hardly walk into a theatre without being assaulted by limber young women tossing themselves hither and yon across the stage in diaphanous costumes?”
She laughed at his characterization.
“It is possible because my father hated the ballet, and my brother is not any fonder of it. I could not go alone, and I have no…that is, I….” She gave up. Wallflowers didn’t go anywhere with anyone. He may as well learn that now.
“In that case, I am honored to be the first with whom you will attend the ballet.”
“That’s kind of you, but if you find them tedious,” she began, watching him shake his head to halt her.
“I don’t, and even if I did, I would not, were I to watch with you.”
