“What an unlikeable sort,” Adelaide said after Dudley disappeared. “And if you ask me, there’s something shifty about him because Finnegan rarely takes an immediate dislike to anyone.”
“Perhaps Finnegan senses something about him that’s troubling, which suggests I should make immediate plans to have the firm look into his background, especially since Dudley seems overly interested in spending time in your company.”
Adelaide’s cheeks, curiously enough, began blooming with color even as her lips began to curve, which caused her dimple to pop out, but before he could truly appreciate a dimple that was becoming more fascinating to him with each passing day, she ducked her head, muttered something about needing to change, and bolted out of the room.
Unable to help but wonder what had been responsible for her abrupt departure, Gideon decided to seek out Charles to discuss the matter, extracting him from Phyllis and Petunia, who were in the process of discussing how well calling hours were going for Adelaide.
After taking a moment to fetch Moe and Harvey, both of whom had been snoozing in front of the fireplace, he got Harveysettled in the saddlebag before he and Charles quit the room and moved down the hallway.
Before he had an opportunity to broach Adelaide’s odd behavior, though, Charles, who’d been pressed into service once again as Adelaide’s chaperone for the afternoon, nodded to a window that flanked the front door.
“Not sure this is going to be the most opportune day for strolling around Central Park,” Charles said. “If you’ve neglected to notice, snow’s coming down in earnest.”
“A circumstance Adelaide’s probably thrilled about because she told me she adores the snow.”
Charles rolled his eyes. “And I adore staying indoors by a roaring fireplace, but since I doubt you’re going to be as solicitous to my longing for creature comforts as you are to Adelaide’s desire to see all of us freeze to death, know that I’ll only agree to walk around Central Park for an hour—no longer, and that’s nonnegotiable.”
“At least the inclement weather should deter anyone from trying to accost Adelaide, which means you’ll only have to assume the role of chaperone this afternoon instead of bodyguard.”
“As if my cousin needs extra protection when you’re accompanying her.”
“Adelaide can’t have enough protection, even if I’m perfectly capable of watching out for her.”
Charles regarded him for a long moment, a small smile playing around the corners of his lips, but before he had an opportunity to say anything else, Adelaide hurried down the staircase, bundled up as if she were expecting a blizzard.
“I believe she may have her heart set on spending more than an hour at the park,” Gideon said, earning a grunt from Charles. After giving Charles a commiserating clap on the back, Gideon shrugged into his overcoat the butler handed him before he strode to meet Adelaide at the bottom of the stairs. He thenoffered her his arm, which she immediately took with a smile, a circumstance that had him losing his train of thought when her dimple showed up again.
Thankfully, Adelaide didn’t seem to expect anything in the way of logical conversation as she tugged him through the front door, Charles following a step behind. They made it down slightly icy steps and to the sidewalk before Gideon caught sight of a carriage parked in front of Adelaide’s house. He slowed to a stop, resisting a groan when he realized the carriage belonged to none other than Sophia Campanini, which, unfortunately, meant trouble had come to call.
Twenty-Four
Gideon blew out a breath, the cold creating little puffs of fog in front of his face, something he ignored because he had more important matters to concern himself with, such as why Sophia was lying in wait for him. Whatever the reason, though, given Sophia’s demanding nature and belief her every whim needed to be appeased, he had a feeling his trip to the park was about to be delayed.
“Gideon, darling,” Sophia called, leaning out of the carriage door that the groomsman had opened. “I hope you don’t mind, but Roland Kelly told me where to find you.”
“Is that Sophia Campanini?” Adelaide asked, squinting against the snow that was swirling around them.
“I’m afraid so.”
“She’s wearing her platinum wig.”
“That does appear to be the case.”
“Mother believes I would look very fetching as a blond.”
Gideon swallowed a laugh. “Is that your way of suggesting I get Sophia on her way before your mother has an opportunity to catch sight of Sophia in all her blond glory?”
“If it wouldn’t be too much of a bother.”
“No bother at all,” Gideon said, handing Moe’s leash to Charles. “I’ll be right back, and before you ask, it’s not that I don’t care to introduce the two of you to Sophia, but she’s notorious for turning into the biggest flirt when gentlemen are in her vicinity, especially gentlemen involved with the Four Hundred.”
Before Charles could do more than blink, Adelaide crossed her arms over her chest. “Does that mean we should be prepared to watch her flirt with you?”
A distinct trace of something that almost felt like satisfaction flowed through him, no doubt a direct result of Adelaide’s tone, which could certainly be described as annoyed, which suggested...
“Gideon! I’m waiting,” Sophia yelled, interrupting his train of thought.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, striding into motion and reaching Sophia’s carriage a few seconds later.
