“Did he accept the sultan’s offer?” she asked lightly.
Ertugrul shook his head. “He has never said, and I have not asked.”
Adeline did her best not to let out a ‘huff’ at hearing Ertugrul’s lack of curiosity on the matter. Men were supposed to be worse gossips than women. “I wonder if he fell in love with her?” Adeline whispered before her eyes widened. “Do you suppose—?”
“No,” Ertugrul said firmly. “He has always wished to marry an English girl. In fact...” He replayed part of the conversation that had occurred during billiards the night before. “Your father had a list of available young ladies—”
“My father?” she interrupted, almost at once realizing he must have assembled it after their discussion in the study.
“Yes, and I am quite sure David has one of them in mind to court.”
Adeline waited with baited breath, hoping he would divulge a name. “And?” she prompted.
“Well, David has always known he must do his duty. He knows he must remain in England, even though my father has assured him there would be a position for him in Constantinople if he returned with me.”
Disappointed he didn’t share a name, Adeline decided she would learn soon enough who might one day be her sister-in-law. “And what about you?” she asked.
Ertugrul shrugged. “I, too, must do my duty. It is different for me because I do nothaveto take a wife, although I would prefer to, but I must return to my father’s palace. I am in charge of the government buildings in the empire, and I cannot see to those from outside of the empire.”
“Of course not,” Adeline agreed. They sat in companionable silence for a moment before she noticed his brow furrowing. “What has you bothered?”
Leaning forward, Ertugrul said, “I could not help but hear you mention to Lady Rose that you would be meeting her in your usual place this evening. Might I learn where that is so I can claim you for the second waltz?”
Adeline blinked. “The second waltz?” she repeated. From what he had told Rose, Adeline had a thought her mother and Ertugrul would be paired for the second waltz, which, after she thought about it another moment, was ridiculous since her father always danced the supper dance with her mother.
Ertugrul nodded. “I meant to ask you earlier, and then Lady Rose...” He allowed the sentence to trail off.
“I would be honored,” Adeline replied. She straightened on the bench. “I can usually be found standing with the wallflowers.”
He stared at her a moment. “Wallflowers?” His eyes darting to one side, as if he was struggling to sort the appropriate translation, Ertugrul finally gave his head a shake. “There is a papered wall featuring flowers in the ballroom?” he guessed.
Adeline giggled. “Wallflowers are the young ladies—and some not so young—who do not have many dance partners. We line up near the wall where Lord Weatherstone is sure to have his prized potted palms on display.” A reminder she would be standing a good deal later that evening had her considering what slippers she might wear. Although her feet hadn’t bothered her too much while they stood before the myriad exhibits, she knew her usual dance slippers would not be comfortable.
“I cannot imagine you not having dance partners,” Ertugrul murmured.
The oddest sensation coursed through Adeline at that moment, and she almost said, “Bless you,” but thought better of it. “As Lady Rose mentioned, there are never enough men willing to dance at these entertainments, and so those who have any sort of...” She paused and winced. “Infirmity or who aren’t blessed with pleasing countenances are left to stand and watch.”
“Infirmity?” Ertugrul repeated, his brows furrowed as if he didn’t recognize the word.
“Oh, uh. A withered arm, or a club foot, for example.”
Ertugrul considered this information for a moment. “You seem especially concerned for those who are less fortunate than you.”
Adeline angled her head to one side. “I am. I suppose because my mother has been so with her charities for wounded men.”
“Do you meet these wounded men?”
Not sure of his reason for asking, Adeline shrugged. “But of course. I work in the office with Mother a few days every week. I search newspapers for positions that might suit them and help them complete their applications if they are unable to write.” She paused and allowed a grin. “I sometimes even go with Mother when she meets an employer. Some will not take a man with an infirmity unless they can be assured he can do the work, so Mother bribes them.”
Ertugrul blinked. “Bribes them? You mean—?”
“She pays them to hire our clients, as an insurance of sorts.”
He blinked again. “From where does she get the funds?”
Adeline’s grin widened. “We are a charity, so we have benefactors. When Mother started, she used her own pin money. But then Father—before he had even met her—learned she had helped his best friend—”
“Baron Streater,” Ertugrul guessed, remembering the conversation in the billiards room.
