Adeline nodded. “She is, but she won’t be joining me for tea. Apparently, she’s accepted an offer to go for a ride in the park this afternoon.”
“Oh, her mother will be thrilled,” Elizabeth commented, unaware of both Ertugrul’s and Adeline’s pointed glances in David’s direction. “I think the duchess was beginning to think her daughter would end up a spinster.”
“Nonsense,” George murmured, although he was reminded of the Duke of Ariley’s comments on the matter of his grown children’s lack of spouses when they had last met at White’s. “She’s on a list that’s rather short,” he added.
Elizabeth gave a start. “What list might that be?”
“The list of all the young ladies who were born between eighteen-seventeen and eighteen-twenty-three who are not yet courting anyone,” George replied, ignoring Adeline’s slight gasp. “And who live here in the capital.”
Considering the conditions for a moment, his viscountess furrowed a brow. “That’s terribly specific,” she commented. Her gaze fell on her daughter before she suddenly turned to her husband. “Is Addy on that list?”
George grimaced. “Of course she is.”
Ertugrul leaned closer to Adeline and whispered, “It’s not me.” At her look of confusion, he added, “I’m not the one taking Lady Rose for a ride in the park.”
Adeline managed a slight shrug. Although she was sure Rose would be riding with David, she found it surprising he would even try to court the daughter of a duke. Still, the assurance that it wasn’t Ertugrul who was to ride with Rose had a sense of relief settling over her. “Do you ride, though?” she asked, a combination of annoyance and embarrassment at hearing she was on a list making it hard for her to keep her voice light.
“I do,” he replied. “Do you?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Perhaps we can go some afternoon. When you’re not hosting your friends.”
Before Adeline could respond, George set aside the newspaper and said, “We’ll take a drive in the park this afternoon for the parade in Rotten Row at five o’clock,” he announced. “Go in the barouche and get some air before we have a quick dinner and then head to Worthington House for tonight’ssoirée.”
“Cook is making a cold collation for us this evening, so we won’t be starving when we get there,” Elizabeth said.
Murmurs of agreement circled the table, but David said, “Since it will be a tight fit with five of us in the barouche, I’ll probably ride a horse this afternoon, if it’s all the same.”
His father shrugged. “We have several mounts who could use the exercise,” he said by way of agreement. “In the meantime, I’m off to Westminster.”
He kissed Elizabeth on the cheek and took his leave of the breakfast parlor. Once he was gone, she leaned forward and said, “I cannot believe he didn’t ask you, but I will. What happened at the ball last night? I want to hear everything,” she said as she splayed her fingers in anticipation.
David, Adeline and Ertugrul all exchanged quick glances. “We were hoping you would tell us,” Adeline said.
Scoffing, Elizabeth pretended disappointment. “Oh, if I must.” She proceeded to describe what she had seen and learned the night before.
Although it might have been of more interest to those who actually knew any of the people she mentioned, Ertugrul thought the gossip was still entertaining to hear. He found her delivery amusing, and despite the seriousness of some of what was said, she showed restraint in her descriptions. Nothing mean-spirited was said unless it was about a known rake.
David and Adeline obviously knew everyone she mentioned for they laughed when appropriate and appeared worried at hearing of someone’s troubles. He was reliving his waltz with Adeline in his head when his name was mentioned.
Ertugrul glanced over at Adeline. “Who was this?” he asked.
“Lady Lucy. She was quite happy to dance with you,” Elizabeth repeated. “She’s rather shy, so your attempt to dance with all the wallflowers was noted by many and was well appreciated.”
Ertugrul shrugged. “It... it was my pleasure, my lady,” he replied. “I should be happy to do it again at the next ball.”
Even as he said the words, he had the impression a certain young lady didn’t appreciate hearing them.
