“I do hope she was not in pain whilst she was with us,” Ertugrul said with worry.
Adeline jerked at hearing his comment, but when she turned to answer him, he was back to studying the vase. “She is much better these days. She didn’t even appear to limp, so I think she must be fully recovered.”
When Ertugrul didn’t respond, Adeline moved to a caryatid of a woman holding out a hand, palm up. The card explained how the sculpture had been one of many found at a Roman villa and was dressed to take part in some sort of religious rite.
“Whatever you do, don’t give her any money.” The male voice had Adeline gasping. She whirled around to discover Gabriel Wellingham standing next to her, his hands clasped behind his back.
“Mr. Wellingham! We were about to come find you,” Adeline said as she rose up on tiptoe and kissed the man on his cheek at the very moment Ertugrul turned from examining the vase.
Gabe grinned and lifted her hand to his lips. “So glad to learn I haven’t been forgotten,” he said, his gaze going to Ertugrul. “How do, sir?”
Adeline was quick with the introduction. “Emir Ertugrul Effendi, may I have the honor of presenting my good friend, Gabe Wellingham? He is the curator I told you about.”
At learning the identity of the young man who looked as if he could have been Cupid in his younger years—Gabe still had curly blond hair and, although his cheeks were no longer rounded by youth, his blue eyes hinted at mischief—Ertugrul seemed to visibly relax. “It’s good to meet you, sir,” he said as he held out his right hand.
Gabe’s eyes rounded. “Emir Ertugrul, it is an honor,” he said in awe as he shook the hand. “I recall your arrival in Cambridge about the time I was completing my studies. I think you must have been the youngest student at the time.” He turned his attention on Adeline. “How is ityouare in the company of a sehzade?”
Giggling, Adeline said, “Because Ertugrul is our guest at Bostwick House. He and David are friends, you see.”
“Ah, I had heard rumors that Bennett-Jones was back on English soil. Good to know he made it... in one piece, I take it?”
“Indeed,” Ertugrul replied. “I understand you are in charge of cataloguing Greek artifacts here at the museum?”
Gabe chuckled. “I am, when I’m not looking for missing appendages.” He pointed to the caryatid’s extended hand. Several fingers were broken off where the last knuckle should have been. “I’ve managed to locate one,” he added. “It’s not the first time she’s lost them.”
“Oh, dear,” Adeline said. “Can Mrs. Wellingham reattach it?” She knew Gabe’s wife worked at the museum repairing and restoring ancient pottery.
“We have a marble restorer for such repairs,” he replied. His brow arched. “You said you were about to come find me. Pray tell, what have I done?”
“Oh! Yes. We were hoping you might allow us into the East Wing. To see the King’s Collection,” Adeline said with a hint of pleading in her voice. “Ertugrul is most interested, and it’s been an age since I was in there.”
“I’d be honored,” Gabe replied. “Come. We’ll bribe the guard,” he said as he grinned, which had a dimple appearing in his cheek.
“How much should we give him?” Ertugrul asked as he pulled his purse from his waistcoat pocket.
Gabe paused. “Oh, I was merely joking, Your Eminence. He’ll let you in on my recommendation.”
Ertugrul seemed confused for a moment but joined Adeline and Gabe as they made their way out of the Townley Hall toward the East Wing.
“Will you be at the Weatherstone’s ball this evening?” Adeline asked, rather enjoying the fact that she was on the arm of one man whilst conversing with another.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Gabe replied. “But we won’t stay too late. We must come to work tomorrow, and Frances is...” He waggled his brows as his hands waved in a half circle over the front of his body.
“With child?” Adeline guessed, her excitement apparent.
“Indeed,” Gabe said proudly.
“Congratulations,” Ertugrul said. “Do you already have any children?”
Gabe grinned. “This will make three is all. And you? You must have a few by now.”
Adeline’s gaze darted to Ertugrul, curious as to how he would react. She hadn’t thought to ask him, but perhaps he did have some children with the concubines her brother claimed he didn’t have.
The thought had her momentarily annoyed.
His father had probably fathered more than a few babes by the time he was twenty-three.
“I am not yet a father,” Ertugrul stated. “A situation that I hope to change this year or next.”
