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“Stay with me, Ursula,” he pleaded. He knew he had a lot of issues he needed to clear up with her, and should really do so before matters went any further between them. However, this was probably the only time he would get to be alone with her, and he didn’t want to waste a precious minute of it.
“For a while,” she murmured, lifting her head to look into his eyes.
They stared at each other for several long moments and a wealth of new understanding swept between them. She knew things would never be the same after today, but couldn’t deny the passion that made the air crackle. This wonderful, new sensation that coursed through her was highly addictive. Like a moth to a flame, she danced around temptation. She knew she would get burnt, but didn’t really care.
When his lips claimed hers they were more purposeful than ever before. The possession was raw, heightened by the depth of desire that neither of them could deny. A gasp escaped her when he swung her high into his arms but all she could do was cling to his shoulders while he carried her up the stairs.
Ursula rested against his chest and listened to the rhythmic pounding of his heart as she stared out of the window. Her life had changed completely, but there wasn’t a single moment she wanted to change. Her senses were still reeling by what she had just experienced; by what they had shared. She now felt closer to him than she had ever felt toward anyone ever before, and it was a little disquieting. Mainly because she had no idea what was supposed to happen next.
“Are you alright?” He murmured, aware that she had been too quiet for too long. He tipped his head so he could look down at her. She looked positively radiant, thoroughly ravaged and sublimely happy. He smiled and kissed her temple before he settled back down amongst the plush pillows.
“I am fine,” she whispered, relishing the feel of his arms pulling her closer.
“I shall endeavour to write that letter to your father later so that he will leave you alone for a while. Meantime, I would ask you to stay well away from Brampton. I don’t want that man anywhere near you,” he grumbled possessively. He hated the thought that people had even seen Ursula talking to Brampton in the park.
“I won’t, I promise,” she replied happily. In that moment she would have agreed to anything he suggested. She thought about her conversation with Brampton. “I have to wonder why he has focused on me though.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, of all the ladies in London, why has he chosen to focus his attentions on me? There are women who have far better connections and considerably more wealth than me. Why has Brampton tried to interfere with our friendship?”
Trenton snorted. “It’s a little more than friendship between us now, darling,” he murmured but could understand her sentiments.
Barbarella was considerably wealthier and single, so what did Brampton want with Ursula?
“Is there any kind of discord between Adelaide and Brampton, do you know?” he mused after several minutes of quiet contemplation.
“Well, Adelaide doesn’t like him much. However, we did get invited to their afternoon tea the other week. Adelaide accepted the invitation because she hadn’t seen his mother for a while. So, no, not really,” she mused.
“He focused on ruining my reputation when you spoke with him,” Trenton mused.
“Well, yes. He seemed quite forceful, if a little calculating when he did so. He seemed adamant that you were connected intimately with Barbarella.” She couldn’t help the small flurry of hurt that blossomed within her heart, in spite of what they had just shared.
He heard that hurt and rolled over so he could look deeply into her eyes. “I promise you that there is nothing going on between Barbarella and me. Brampton and Barbarella maybe, but I have no interest in the woman.”
She frowned up at him and told him about the carriage she had se
en Brampton climb into outside the posting office.
“That sounds like the carriage that nearly ran you down in the park,” he sighed.
“You saw it?”
He looked down at her. “I was just coming out of the trees and saw it race past. As soon as I realised you were all right, I went after the coachman because he looked familiar.”
“In that way? How? Where?” She tried to sit up so she could see him better, then realised she was completely naked and quickly lay back down again.
He smiled and tucked the covers over her before he settled her down against him and told her about the man he had seen the day she had been hit over the head on the embankment.
“Do you think it is the same man?” she gasped. “Why? It can’t be Brampton because he was with me?”
“No, I don’t think it is him at all. I understand that he is in financial difficulty though, and is looking to borrow money. Unfortunately, the creditors all seem to be avoiding him.”
“So, he isn’t the sender of the flowers,” she added thoughtfully. “What about Sinnerton?”
Trenton looked at her and sighed. “Well, I haven’t really thought about him much. He just doesn’t seem the kind of man who would be so frivolous with his money. Nor does he seem bold enough to show any interest in a woman without his mother’s prompting.”
She grinned at him. “He does appear to be a rather weak character, doesn’t he?”
