“I am not,” she countered.
“Then why object to it so vehemently?”
“Would you want to marry someone of your father’s choosing?” Ursula snapped.
She wanted to smack him for his callous disregard of her feelings. Did he usually dally with ladies and then wave them off so they could marry someone else? Was he that much of a rogue? How could he be so heartless?
“Of course not, but I am not a female. I can marry whom I choose,” he declared somewhat pompously.
“Well, that’s good for you,” she declared with a sniff. “Meanwhile, I am to be ferried off to Yorkshire to be married to some odious country fellow so I can live in the middle of nowhere and count sheep for the rest of my life.”
In spite of her upset, Trenton battled to withhold his smile. “I am sure your father would never settle for a man like that in your life.”
“Oh, you know that for a fact, do you?” she snapped.
“Well, I do have it on good authority that the man your father has accepted is most suitable for you. He is strong, dependable, and extremely loyal,” he mused thoughtfully, thoroughly enjoying witnessing this new, rather spiky side to her.
“So are most dogs,” she countered crisply. “But I am not expected to marry them!”
“I am sure it won’t be as bad as all that,” he murmured soothingly. He knew immediately he had said the wrong thing when she threw a glare at him that could have frozen him on the spot.
“Am I to understand that my father has taken you into his confidence about who my prospective husband is too?” She stared at him when he hesitated. “You know who it is, don’t you? You knew all along that this was what my father would do?”
Trenton slowly nodded. There was something secretive in his eyes that she didn’t like but couldn’t quite focus on because of the crippling sense of betrayal that swept through her.
She looked at him in disbelief. “You knew all along that my father was signing my future away to someone else. That’s why you got mad with me for going to the conservatory the other night. Tell me, is that why you hinted at the dinner the other evening that I was to marry a Yorkshireman? You were telling me that you knew I was to marry; that my husband had already been selected for me?”
He didn’t move or make any attempt to deny the accusation, but sighed as though he was digging deep for his patience. Now, she was in no mood to listen to what he had to say though. She had never been so disgusted with anyone in her life, and had certainly never felt this betrayed.
To think he had encouraged her affection while knowing all along that she was marrying someone else left her feeling slightly sick.
“Tell me, did my father pay you to shower me with affection and take liberties so you could deliver me to my future husband unscathed?”
“Ursula,” he growled darkly. All trace of mirth vanished from his face and was replaced by something that was infinitely dark and dangerous but she didn’t care what he thought. Her broken heart wouldn’t allow her to stop.
“Ursula, listen to me,” Trenton demanded.
“I think we should now consider our association at an end,” she whispered in a voice that was fuelled with hurt.
Before he could say anything else, she whirled around and strode down the path.
Trenton swore as she disappeared and threw a glare at the maid. “Go back to the house. I will escort her home once she has calmed down. Tell Adelaide that I will bring her home in time for dinner.”
Ursula swiped at the tears on her face and tried to calm down. This was London, a place where ladies were expected to glide and look serene no matter what they did, or where they went. But it was difficult given the anger that was so strong she physically shook. Knowing she would draw censure if she carried on like this, she forced herself to slow her pace to a steady walk.
Suddenly, the steady thud of hoof beats behind her grew louder.
“Stop right there,” Trenton demanded as he pulled his horse to a stop. He quickly dismounted and tugged her unceremoniously toward the sheltered protection of the trees beside them.
He was glad that she had taken a walk so early in the morning because they practically had the park to themselves, but he still needed to preserve their privacy. Once they were away from prying eyes, he moved around to stand in front of her, and forced her to look up at him.
“I am sorry if I upset you.”
“You are in league with my father,” she whispered. “How could you do that to me?”
Trenton sighed and knew that he had to explain. Unfortunately, the arrival of a nursemaid and her young charges warned him this was neither the time nor the place. He sighed and looked down at the woman he so desperately needed to hold. She looked so damned miserable and alluring at the same time that it was all he could do not to haul her into his arms right there and then.
“Well, well, anyone who sees you two standing together like that would think you are in collusion about something,” a rather smug voice drawled suddenly.