Wishing for Rainbows

Trenton nodded. “I should be delighted if you would allow me the honour of accompanying you one day then.” He flicked a glance at Adelaide who nodded her approval. “With an appropriate chaperone of course.”

“That would be lovely,” Ursula replied, unsure whether she should accept or not. She made a mental note to ask her aunt if it was acceptable because he was engaged, but wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Just having the opportunity to walk the Mile was an indulgence she just couldn’t deprive herself of and she murmured her thanks.

“It is festooned with flowers at this time of year,” he drawled. “It is a truly wonderful spectacle. I am sure you will enjoy it.”

Ursula’s shocked gaze flew to Adelaide, who suddenly looked like the cat who had just received a bowl full of cream.

“Like flowers, do you Trenton?” Adelaide asked with a knowing smile.

Trenton frowned at Adelaide. Had he missed something?

“They are a beautiful gift from nature,” he replied.

“And secret admirers.”

His brows shot up. His gaze flew to Ursula. Had an admirer sent her flowers already? That thought made him shift uncomfortably in his saddle. He wanted to demand to know who sent them, when she met the scoundrel, and what his connections were. To his disgust, he noticed Brampton watching them from a few feet away. The rogue threw him a cocky salute before he turned his back and walked casually into the trees. Was he the one who had sent Ursula flowers?

The thought of one of London’s most notorious rakes ruining someone as delightful as Ursula made his blood boil. He wondered just what Adelaide thought she was doing by encouraging such attention, and glared at the elderly lady accusingly.

“He is a notorious scoundrel,” Trenton said pointedly, keeping his gaze locked on Adelaide.

“I have warned Ursula, haven’t I dear?”

“How are you finding London?” He desperately needed to find out where Adelaide and Ursula intended to visit over the next few days because he suspected that Brampton was likely to go there too.

“It’s busy,” Ursula replied. “I haven’t had a moment to think.”

“Are you going to the Finsbury’s ball tomorrow?”

Adelaide stepped forward. “We are not, I am afraid. We received an invitation to the Browning’s dinner, and I had accepted that by the time we received the invitation to the Finsbury’s.” She glanced at Ursula. “We shall have to go to the Finsbury’s ball next year.”

They both frowned at Ursula when some of the light faded from her eyes

, and she began to look a little subdued.

“I keep forgetting that she isn’t used to the social whirl of London.” She frowned and studied the other pedestrians on the pavements around then. “I don’t see anyone I wish to converse with today so I think we will call it a day, Ursula, and make our way home.”

“What about your friends? You so wanted to speak with them. I am sure if we wait a while and just amble along slowly, one of them might turn up,” Ursula half-heartedly protested as she studied the ladies walking steadily toward them. She had been so looking forward to taking in the air, but it had now all been rather spoiled. Not only by the determination of that Sinnerton woman, but it was disappointing that their walk, however crowded, would be over so soon. It felt as though they had only just left the house.

“They can call upon us if they wish to converse today,” Adelaide muttered as she glared at Mrs Sinnerton, who was still forging a path toward them. “It’s time for us to go home. Preferably before that woman catches up with us again and we end up taking her home with us.”

“Might I call upon you soon, Ursula?” Trenton asked, determined not to be dismissed so easily.

Ursula glanced up at him. “I should like that,” she replied, a little curious to know why someone like Trenton should want to speak with her. Now was not the time to ask though. Adelaide had that determined look in her eye that warned Ursula she had made a decision about something and wasn’t about to thwarted.

Aware that Mrs Sinnerton was fast approaching, both Ursula and Adelaide took their leave of Trenton and headed home.

Trenton watched them go for a few minutes then wheeled his horse around and left the park.

If either the ladies, or Trenton, had taken a moment to glance toward the trees close to where they had been standing, they would have seen a single, dark shadow separate from the trees. The watcher studied Trenton’s retreating back for a moment before they followed the ladies.

CHAPTER THREE

The following evening, Ursula sat in the carriage and watched the lights of London roll past. A ripple of unease swept down her spine as she studied the impenetrable fog that hauntingly smothered the sights and sounds of London. She glanced across the carriage, grateful that her aunt was with her. Although the small, single light within the carriage brought some small measure of comfort, it also added to the haunting glow that turned the atmosphere within almost sinister. She shivered and drew her shawl tighter around her shoulders.

“Where are we going again?” Ursula asked with a frown as she turned her thoughts toward the dreaded forthcoming ball. She wanted to hold her head in her hands in despair of the constant whirl of social engagements that had deluged them practically every day. Although she had never said as much to Adelaide, she rather suspected that she was invited to many of the activities so she could fill the seats. The hosts could then check out the competition the debutants faced before the season went into full swing. She was positive that if she had come to London at any other time of year, people wouldn’t be half so accommodating toward an untitled country girl from Yorkshire.

“The Andover’s ball,” Adelaide replied absently.