Free Wishing For Rainbows (Historical Romance) by Rebecca King Page A

like the disreputable rogue, he had to tread carefully. To threaten someone like Brampton would only make him worse and he would be likely to pursue Ursula just to spite Trenton.
    Setting that problem aside for now, he turned his attention back to the foliage around him. Although the feeling of being watched remained, he still couldn’t see anyone. Without crawling through the various shrubs and plants there was no way of knowing for definite if anyone was there or whether it was just his wayward imagination.
    With a sigh, he quietly let himself out and made his way into the main body of the house. He arrived in the main hall just in time to watch Adelaide’s carriage disappear into the darkness. Disgusted that he wouldn’t get the opportunity to put matters right tonight, he sent for his cloak and, with one eye on the rapidly approaching Barbarella, left for home.
     
    Deep inside the darkened conservatory, the shadows moved and parted. The silent figure stared at the door for several moments before stealthily moving to the French doors that overlooked the garden. Fingers tightened in agitation, but not a sound was made as the figure slipped out into the gardens.
    The only sign he had been there at all was the gentle swaying of the plants.
     

     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    “That’s a deep sigh, my dear,” Adelaide declared from the opposite end of the breakfast table.
    Ursula dropped the letter back onto the table and glared at it. She had been so busy reflecting on what had happened with Trenton the other day that she had completely forgotten about writing to her father.
    “It’s from Papa,” she replied. “I forgot to write to him. He has informed me that my month is nearly up and is pushing me to make a decision.”
    “Then you must endeavour to inform him that you have yet to make your choice, and shall do so in your own good time. Tell him that you have decided to remain in London for the time being at my request. He can hardly demand you return to Yorkshire so he can marry you off, now can he?”
    “I wouldn’t be surprised if he did,” Ursula retorted tartly. “I shall endeavour to write to him today.”
    “Oh, dear me,” Adelaide burst out. The rattle of her tea cup hitting her saucer was loud in the quiet of the breakfast room.
    Ursula looked up in surprise. “Whatever is it?” She studied her aunt’s scowl and wondered if she too had received a letter from her father.
    “It’s an invitation to take tea at The White Dove Tea Rooms.”
    Ursula’s brows rose. “Is that bad?”
    Adelaide looked up at her. “It’s from that Sinnerton woman.”
    “Ah,” she sighed with an understanding nod.
    “Did you see Alfred at the ball?”
    “No, I didn’t, although I was aware that the mother was there with her daughter. I am sure he must have been there somewhere.” She smiled somewhat naughtily at her aunt. “We just didn’t cross paths.”
    Adelaide nodded her approval. “Long may it continue, I say.”
    “I cannot help but feel a little sorry for him,” Ursula sighed after several moments of thoughtful silence.
    “Well, don’t get too soft. He is the type that would lure you into a darkened corner somewhere just to talk to you. You don’t want to be compromised by the likes of him.”
    Ursula choked as she was taking a sip of tea. Although she managed to keep her face bland, her hand trembled alarmingly as she placed her tea cup back into its saucer. “Why would I ever find myself in that kind of situation?”
    “I wouldn’t trust that mother of his. In all the years I have been attending these social occasions, I have never seen anyone as pushy with their son before. Just be careful, that’s all I am saying,” Adelaide replied darkly.
    “I cannot think of anything worse than being compromised by him,” Ursula confessed. “But I seriously doubt that they should consider me a catch worthy of such clandestine scheming.”
    Before Adelaide could respond, the arrival of Isaac drew their