AN AFTERNOON IN THE PARLOR
Meanwhile, back at Bostwick House
Well aware Ertugrul had paid witness to the arrival of her four guests for tea that afternoon—he had paused in his climb up the stairs as Elkins saw to their wraps—Adeline reminded him he was welcome to join them should he wish for a cup of tea and a biscuit. He deferred even as he seemed intrigued by the offer.
“Is it usual for a man to join a lady’s tea party?” he asked in a whisper.
Adeline tittered. “No, but you would be welcomed. You’ve met everyone,” she reminded him. “Danced with them. But I certainly understand if you’re not comfortable among so many young ladies.”
Ertugrul wasn’t sure if she was teasing him or not. Perhaps she didn’t know he had spent his early years in a harem. Although there had been another boy or two with him back then, he had been surrounded by concubines, servants, and female relatives of the sultan. “I might be more comfortable than you wish me to be,” he warned, waggling his brows. He resumed his climb up the stairs, Adeline’s expression of confusion bringing a grin to his lips.
Finally pulling her gaze from his retreating backside—did the young man have any idea how his thigh muscles moved beneath his doeskin breeches?—Adeline inhaled softly and turned her attention on the four women who Elkins was escorting to the front parlor.
The elegant salon was brightly lit, both from the front window as well as from the gas-lit chandelier that sparkled as if it was made of diamonds. The group of five young women sat in comfortable upholstered armchairs, sipping tea and nibbling on delicate biscuits. Dressed in their finest day gowns, adorned with bows, lace and frills, they were still basking in the glow of the prior night’s ball.
“Was that you I saw talking to Lord Waverley last night?” Lucy Turnbridge asked with a pointed glance at her hostess, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. “He seemed quite taken with you.”
Adeline scoffed. “I think you have me confused with someone else,” she replied, not remembering having even seen William Burroughs at the ball. “He’s truly a lord now, at least according to my father. He was offered a writ of acceleration, and now he’s in Parliament.”
“If Rose was here, I’m sure she’d tell us he’s grown too big for his breeches,” Patience Fulton muttered.
“I spoke with him,” Hope Batey announced. When all the others turned their eyes on the daughter of the Viscount Lancaster, she visibly blushed. Casting her eyes downward, she added, “Oh, it was nothing, really. I just asked him about his travels.”
Lucy turned to Faith Fulton, “And what about you, Faith? Mother said she was sure she saw you in the company of Lord Waverley. Said he appeared quite smitten with you,” she claimed.
Faith shook her head, her honey-brown curls bouncing around her reddening face. “Me? I’m a wallflower. He is handsome, but whatever would he see inme?”
“An earl’s daughter, perhaps?” her sister, Patience, asked rhetorically. “We could ask Rose if she were here. Where is she?” she added, helping herself to a biscuit when Adeline held out the salver to her.
“I received a note from her during breakfast. She was asked to go on a ride in the park.” Adeline explained as she waggled her brows.
A collective gasp had the young women giggling. “With whom?”
“I think I know,” Adeline admitted, “but I’m quite sure I’m not supposed to say anything.”
A collective groan resulted in another round of giggles. All at once, the room went silent.
With her back to the door, Adeline straightened in her chair and directed a questioning glance in Faith’s direction.
“Your Eminence,” Faith said, immediately coming to her feet.
The other young women followed suit, huge smiles on their faces.
Adeline turned to regard the sehzade with a grin. “How do, Your Eminence?” she asked as she waved him into the room. “I believe you’ve already met everyone,” she added as she poured him a cup of tea.
“Ertugrul, please,” he said as he bowed. The girls all curtsied in unison. “I trust you all had a pleasant evening last night?” he asked as he took the chair that had been meant for Rose.
“All because of you,” Lucy said happily.
For a moment, Ertugrul looked a bit befuddled. “I can hardly imagine how one dance would make for an entire evening’s enjoyment,” he replied.
Most of the women giggled. “Everyone saw you come to our end of the ballroom last night. By coming to sign our dance cards, you had all the young bucks rather jealous,” Patience explained. “As a result, I had partners for nearly every dance.”
“Me as well,” Faith said.
Hope straightened. “You managed to cause William… I mean Lord Waverley... to realize he had some competition,” she said, her eyes nervously darting about the room.
“Hope?” Adeline whispered hoarsely, curious as to why the viscount’s daughter—and daughter to the woman who was the matchmaker atFinding Wives for the Wounded—seemed so anxious.
