Adelaide’s gaze flew to Trenton’s before she pushed out of her chair. “Let him in.”
Trenton stood and watched as Jeremiah Proctor stomped into the room. It was evident from the dark look on his face that he was less than pleased. He bowed over Adelaide’s hand and shook hands with Trenton before he slumped into the chair opposite without invitation, and glared at his sister.
“Jeremiah, I didn’t realise you were heading to town,” Adelaide declared somewhat affronted at not being informed of his intention to visit.
“I shouldn’t have to if anyone bothered to reply to my blasted letters,” Jeremiah groused. “So, where is she then?” Jeremiah demanded, glancing around the room as though he expected Ursula to pop up from behind the chaise.
“She has gone for a walk in the park.”
“I am sure she has. Hiding upstairs, is she?” Jeremiah growled with a glance at the ceiling.
Adelaide sighed. “I have no reason to lie in my own house, Jeremiah,” she snapped. “Now stop posturing, you great buffoon, you are giving me a headache. Trenton is here to see her too, but she has gone for a walk down the Ladies’ Mile. She will be back soon, I don’t doubt. Meantime, have a brandy to settle yourself. I shall have none of your bombastic ways in my house, I can assure you.”
“Why haven’t you replied to my letters?” He demanded as he accepted a brandy off Isaac, and rested it on his knee rather than drink any. “I sent about half a dozen letters to you, and even more to that daughter of mine. Neither of your have seen fit to send a brass farthing in return.”
“I sent you a letter.”
“Oh yes, you did, didn’t you? To tell me that she was going to stay for a while longer. In spite of the fact that she is my daughter, and shouldn’t be here beyond the month, you decree between the two of you that she should stay. I knew it was a bad idea to let her come here. You are a bad influence on her, Adelaide; a bad influence, I say.”
“Oh, shut up, you fool. I am no such thing and you know it. Why, it’s damned near medieval, you forcing her to choose a husband within a month. How could any woman know who she wants to spend the rest of her life with in such a short space of time? Of course she should baulk at the idea. Any sane person would. Get a hold of yourself, and look what you have done,” Adelaide snapped.
Trenton sat back in the chair and rather wished he had left his visit for another time. As it was, he was trying not to let his head to swivel from one side to the other as the siblings bickered. Unfortunately, he was sitting in the middle of them so there was little he could do.
“Now, we have bigger issues than you and your draconian ways to worry about. Ursula has been fine with me, and has rather enjoyed herself. She has engaged in lots of social activities and been a credit to the family name. I have thoroughly enjoyed having her. I have recently had an accident myself and been recuperating with Ursula’s assistance. She has kept me company, so I don’t sit here and rot all by myself. You -” she pointed one long finger at her brother “- need to learn that if you persist in attempting to force her into this matrimonial lark then she will not return to Yorkshire. Indeed, she may never return unless you allow her to make some choices for herself.”
“It’s all very well for you to say that,” Jeremiah declared with a huff, “but she is four and twenty. It is an age where most young women are considered to be on the shelf. She should be married by now, not hiding away in the country and taking walks across the moors every day. However, it seems I was mistaken in sending her here and expecting matters to take a natural course. I didn’t anticipate your meddling though. It’s ridiculous for you to encourage her into your kind of life. Just because you have never seen fit to marry doesn’t mean she should follow in your footsteps. Why, you should know better.”
“I should know better?” Adelaide scoffed, clearly outraged. “You are the one who sent her here with her belongings; a young woman who has no previous experience of the ton. Talk about throwing her to the wolves. She is used to the country, not the social whirl of London. Yet you simply sent her on her way with those ridiculous demands and expected her to just accept your dictates with no questions asked.”
Jeremiah flicked a look at Trenton. “I asked Trenton here to keep an eye on her.”
“Yes, but he is an eligible bachelor,” Adelaide challenged. “He has done as you asked, but he has his own life. Because of his attentions, the gossips have put them together. There are already rumours afoot that he might offer for her before the season is out. So what do you have to say to that then?”
Trenton flinched and struggled to keep his face bland when both Adelaide and Jeremiah turned to look expectantly at him. He mentally shook his head and sighed in dismay, hoping upon hope that Ursula wouldn’t walk in right now.
“I would say that they would be right to suppose such an event might occur. However, given the issues that have arisen with the Sinnertons, there are issues that need to be addressed first.” He threw Adelaide a pointed look and accepted her nod of acknowledgement.
“Sinnerton?” Jeremiah muttered, completely ignoring the fact that Trenton had just, well, sort of asked for his daughter’s hand. “Now where have I heard that name before?”
This time Adelaide and Trenton turned to stare at Jeremiah.
“You have heard of them before?” Adelaide demanded with a scowl. “Where? Was it in the ton?”
Jeremiah shook his head. “No, it wasn’t that.”
Trenton sat forward in his seat. “Rather robust lady with no manners, and a rather thin young man with her.”
“A ghost of a daughter in tow more often than not too,” Adelaide repeated eagerly.
“Now, where have I heard that name before?” Jeremiah repeated as he stared thoughtfully at the carpet. He suddenly clicked his fingers and looked at them triumphantly. “That was it. They dealt with Grandpapa’s estate.”
“Who did? The Sinnertons?” Trenton frowned. Immediately he thought of the disreputable looking house he had found in one of the poorest parts of London. Were they talking about the same people?
“Yes, the son did. Oh, what’s his name now?” Jeremiah stared at his brandy while he thought.
“Alfred?” Trenton asked hopefully.
“Yes, that was it,” Jeremiah nodded but then paused. “Or was it Abraham?”