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“We are all to blame.” Adelaide handed her a sherry and took a seat opposite her in front of the fire. “Now, what do you want to do about it? I don’t think we should say anything to your father. I know this changes any offer he might accept for you, but it must remain a secret for now. I have to tell you, Ursula, I don’t agree with your father’s behaviour of late. I mean, ordering you to find a husband is downright archaic behaviour, and not something I would expect from Jeremiah. However, he has pushed you to at least get out and about, and that is what you have done. Given that you have already been ruined, I think that you cannot actively seek a husband while you are here. Your lack of purity would raise a few eyebrows on your wedding night.”
“I have no intention of marrying anyone,” Ursula interrupted. “I was opposed to marriage even before I met Trenton. Most of my life has been dictated by others. Where I go, whom I see, who I talk to is all directed for me. Here is not much better because I cannot even walk down the street without having to remember at least ten different set of rules and restrictions. It is quite claustrophobic at times, which is ridiculous really, but there it is. The last thing I will ever agree to do is exchange the dictates of my father for the dictates of a husband.”
“Quite,” Adelaide murmured. “I quite agree.”
Ursula lifted her brows and stared at her aunt who nodded.
“My sentiments exactly. You take after my side of the family. I have already said that you can remain here for as long a
s you want to. Meantime, I think that we should wait and see what Jeremiah does. If he pushes you to go along with a wedding to a man of his choosing then I think he has to be told, although I shall leave it to you as to how much you wish to tell him.”
“You won’t mention it to him otherwise?”
“I think that it has to remain between us. If you do meet anyone you wish to have a future with then we will discuss this matter further. Meantime, you must tell me what you intend to do with regards to Trenton. He is aware now that you have seen him tonight. I think it is safe to assume that he will call by here as soon as possible to offer his excuses.”
Ursula looked at her aunt defiantly but was unable to do anything about the hurt lingering in her eyes. “I don’t care what the man does. I have no intention of listening to him.”
“Very well,” Adelaide replied with a nod, and sat back in her chair to study the fire thoughtfully. “Then we shall endeavour to thwart his plans too.”
The following morning Ursula turned the broadsheet over and settled back against her pillows to finish her toast. It was rare for her not to be up and about this late in the morning, but Adelaide had assured her that their morning walk was cancelled and she could remain in bed. As a result, Ursula was able to spend some precious time to herself so she could decide what to do about Trenton.
The deep rumble of a voice downstairs brought a frown to her face. She didn’t need to go to the top of the stairs to know exactly who it was: Trenton. Aunt Adelaide was right; he had called by to try to explain to her why he had not told her about taking Serena to the theatre. As far as she was concerned though, he could go to Hades with his explanations. She wasn’t interested in anything he had to say. She had seen more than enough with her own eyes; the whys and wherefores were really insignificant. Betrayal was betrayal; it was as simple as that. Determined to ignore him, she picked up her toast and broadsheet and resumed her breakfast.
Downstairs, Adelaide entered the morning room and sighed when she saw Trenton pacing backward and forward in front of the fire. She had dealt with many over-amorous suitors over the course of time and had given them their marching orders in exactly the same way as she had planned to do with Trenton. Now that he was here though, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was being a little too hasty in her judgement of him.
“Good morning,” she said as she swept into the room and settled into her favourite chair. Once seated, she waved Trenton toward a seat and settled back to wait to hear what he had to say.
Trenton looked toward the door and mentally cursed. “I was wondering if Ursula would like to come for a drive this morning.”
Adelaide studied him carefully. She had seen the flicker of impatience in his eyes and wondered if he would actually march upstairs and demand to see the woman in question. She glanced at the clock and smiled at the ungodly hour he had chosen to call. It was barely mid-morning, yet he had clearly been up for hours, and had slept poorly if the dark circles beneath his eyes were any indication.
“I am afraid that Ursula isn’t here. She left this morning to go out for a stroll and won’t be back for a while yet.”
Trenton pierced Adelaide with a look that warned her that his patience was waning rapidly. “It’s early for a walk. Which park did she go to? Maybe I could catch up with her.”
“I am afraid she didn’t tell me. She said she was going for a walk. We have so many engagements to attend that I think she wanted some fresh air before we left for the day.” She looked at him somewhat apologetically, wondering if she would get struck by lightning for lying. “Now tell me, what did you think of the play last night?”
“I cannot profess to thinking much of it to be frank with you. I endured as much as I could but I have to agree with the reviews. I noticed you didn’t stay very long yourself. Did you not enjoy it either?”
“I am afraid that what Ursula saw rather upset her,” Adelaide warned obliquely.
“It’s not what was expected,” he admitted.
He knew he had told her he had planned to deal with some business. He had, but had been waylaid by Hugo. Deciding to kill two birds with one stone, he had agreed to attend the theatre in the hopes of meeting several acquaintances who might know something about the Sinnertons. If not, then he could at least find out what Brampton and Barbarella were up to these days.
As it was, the entire evening had been a waste of time, and he had ended up doing more harm than good by escorting Hugo’s sister to the blasted farcical play.
“I am sure it isn’t. However, we have resolved never to go there again,” Adelaide informed him, unsure if he would get the gist of her warning.
He nodded and felt the sharp sting of impatience sweep through him. “I should like to speak to her as soon as possible so I can correct a few misunderstandings,” he confided.
“I have no doubt she will make herself available in her own good time,” Adelaide replied.
“I will call by later,” Trenton muttered before he took his leave.
As he walked out of the house, he suspected that Ursula was upstairs. Unfortunately, without going up there himself there was nothing he could do except wait for her upset to subside, and hope to cross paths with her at one of the forthcoming social engagements.
It was only when the door had closed behind him that he realised he should have asked Adelaide which social engagements they were meant to go to. With a disgusted shake of his head, he set off for White’s.
