Adeline noted the way in which he made the comment, as if he was glad of Charlotte’s arrival and subsequent position within the empire. “You were not bothered that an English woman apparently upended his entire life?” she asked. She had been curious as to what others might have thought of Charlotte’s presence. What they might have thought when Sultan Ziyaeddin I made the dowager duchess his wife. The two hadn’t known one another very long, and yet they seemed incandescently happy together.
“Not at all,” Ertugrul said. “Especially when she...advocated, I believe the word is, on my behalf. Even though I did not expect nor ask for such consideration from her.”
Adeline chuckled softly. “She is amother, much like my own. Fiercely protective. Determined that fairness overrule might.”
“But she was notmymother,” Ertugrul commented. At seeing Adeline’s arched brow, he added, “Well, not at the time, at least.”
“She is your stepmother, which for her is the same.” They moved into the next hall. “So... I am still curious. Why did you really decide to come to London? Are you truly here to find a wife?”
He shrugged. “I was considering it,” he admitted.
“You think taking an English wife will change you as it did your father?”
He dipped his head. “I don’t want to be changed as much as I don’t wish to be what my father had become before Charlotte arrived.” He winced, as if he had struggled with the English words. “Did that make any sort of sense?”
Adeline angled her head to one side. “I think I understand,” she replied. “Much like a king, responsibility must weigh heavily upon him. Sharing that with a capable queen—a sultana—can only help.”
“Indeed,” he said. He was about to say more, but a young woman was rushing in their direction. Or rather, the footman pushing her wheeled chair was doing so, apparently at her insistence.
“Rose,” Adeline whispered in surprise. Not having received a response to the note she had sent to Ariley Place the night before, Adeline had forgotten her friend might join them.
“There you are,” Rose said as she waved for the footman to slow down. When the chair halted, she gripped the servant’s arm and stood as if she was doing so from a parlor settee. “Addy,” she said as she approached. “I feel as if I’ve been rolling through the annals of time searching for you.”
“You no doubt have,” Adeline said as she embraced her friend. “I’m so glad you could join us so that I could be the first to introduce you to our guest.” She turned to face Ertugrul. “Emir Ertugrul Effendi, may I have the honor of presenting my very good friend, Lady Rose Burroughs?”
Ertugrul immediately bowed. Reaching for her hand, he brushed his lips over the back of Rose’s white gloved knuckles. “Your ladyship. It is an honor to meet you,” he said as he straightened.
Rose regarded the sultan’s son a moment before she said, “And you, Your Eminence. I take it you are the reason Mr. Bennett-Jones has been away for so long? Three years, two months and ten days, wasn’t it?” she asked with a pleasant expression.
Hesitating a moment, as if he was having trouble translating her words, Ertugrul said, “I fear I cannot take the blame for his first year away from London,” he replied. “But he was invaluable to the empire for the last two. I apologize if his absence was troubling for you.”
Her eyes rounding, Rose quickly shook her head. “Oh, you misunderstand, sir. I was merely teasing you,” she said as she displayed a brilliant smile and waved a hand that came to rest on his arm.
Adeline watched the interplay, shocked that her friend would even attempt to tease a visiting dignitary. Whatever could she be thinking? Or was she flirting? “Ertugrul has come for the Season and, of course, will be attending the Weatherstone’s ball this evening,” Adeline commented lightly, hoping Ertugrul wasn’t offended.
Impressed by this bit of news, Rose said, “So good of you to accept their invitation, as I hope you’ll accept the invitation to attend my ball next week. Sometimes there are never enough unattached men at these entertainments, but I hear tonight’s will be well attended.”
Recognizing the hint that he should secure a dance in advance, Ertugrul asked, “If your ladyship’s dance card is not yet full, might I request the first waltz of the evening?” He held out his arm as if to indicate they should continue their tour of the museum.
Rose blinked, her gaze darting to Adeline for a moment. “Why, yes. Yes, of course, sir. I would be honored. Might I introduce you to my father, the Duke of Ariley, this evening?” She placed her arm on his and allowed him to lead her to the first statue.
Ertugrul shrugged. “Indeed. Am I to understand you also have a brother? And a mother?” His gaze was no longer on the duke’s daughter, but rather on the marble,Discobolus.
Adeline struggled to keep a straight face as Rose continued her study of the sultan’s son, apparently in an attempt to avoid looking at the statue of a nude man in the process of throwing a discus. “Why, yes. William is this very day joining Parliament as the Earl of Waverley,” she said, feigning pride as she arched a brow in Adeline’s direction. “And my mother will be there, of course.”
“Then I shall ask her to dance as well,” Ertugrul said as he moved them to the statue ofTownley’s Venus.
Rose beamed in delight. “Shall I tell her when I return home? Or would you prefer she be surprised?” From her anxious manner, it seemed she would have trouble keeping the news a secret from the duchess.
Ertugrul turned to regard her with an expression of worry. “I do not wish to vex her, so... whatever you think is best.”
“Oh!” Rose answered happily. She suddenly sobered. “And what of the supper dance? You’ll want to be sure to secure a partner for the second waltz.”
Adeline inhaled softly, shocked her friend would be so bold. Did Rose expect the sultan’s son would ask her forbothwaltzes? She had to suppress the streak of annoyance she suddenly felt.
When Ertugrul turned to her, she expected him to ask what would be appropriate. Instead he said, “I already have a partner for the supper dance, but... I am aware of someone who will wish to fill that line onyourcard,” he added as he turned his gaze back on Rose.
“You are?” she asked, her blue eyes rounding with curiosity.
