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“The chaos has already begun,” she mused with a wry smile.
“Oh, shush now. You know this is the best way to make the acquaintance of people I don’t wish to take tea with,” Adelaide chided her. “Just enjoy yourself and leave everything to me.”
Ursula sighed. She had little choice because that is all she seemed to have done since her arrival in London several weeks ago. At the time, she had considered visiting her aunt as an answer to her problems. In reality, little in her life had changed. At Adelaide’s house she had even less freedom in London’s strict society than she did at home. At least in Yorkshire she could step outside and walk for miles without having to remember to keep her back and shoulders straight, nod to people she knew, and smile serenely at all times. It was hard work trying to remember all of the rules and regulations. She was glad to leave everything to her aunt, if only so she could observe those around her to make sure she didn’t put a foot out of place.
Unfortunately, after several days of the same routine, it was all getting a rather tedious. Even taking some fresh air had turned out to be a chore. She wasn’t sure how Adelaide coped with it.
“I suspect that your admirer will make his presence felt before we reach home today,” Adelaide mused with a sly smile.
It troubled Ursula more than she cared to admit to realise that she was scouring the area for Trenton. Determined to forget about him once and for all, she turned her attention the flora and fauna of the park instead. That did take her mind off him for a while, but only for a short while because her thoughts turned toward the flowers. Immediately that set her to wonder if Trenton had sent her the numerous bouquets of posies now sitting in her bedroom. She tried to decide what she would say to whoever told her that
he had sent them. Should she thank him for them and move on? Was there something else she should say that wouldn’t encourage any future generous displays of interest?
“Oh, there is Agatha. I must speak with her,” Adelaide cried, as she nodded toward a rather matronly lady who stopped her carriage to chat.
While the ladies exchanged small talk, Ursula was temporarily free to turn her attention back to the park. Just on the other side of the iron railings, the vast lawns accommodated nannies pushing grand carriages while young children laughed and played nearby. Gentleman escorted ladies who glided regally around the pathways that wound through the autumnal splendour of their surroundings. It was by far the most wondrous place in all of London, and seemed a world away from the carriage filled streets and crowded pavements she was in the middle of.
She glanced at her aunt and wished she could go for a brisker walk along the Ladies’ Mile. Adelaide always refused to walk all that way because she said there was nothing along the Mile worth experiencing except trees, but Ursula refused to give up her dreams.
One day, she promised herself. One day, I will walk that mile.
“There is nobody to talk to,” Adelaide declared with a huff when her friend’s carriage pulled away and the street was temporarily empty of acquaintances she wanted to converse with.
“Me?” Ursula quipped.
“Nonsense child, I talk to you all the time.”
Ursula sighed. She suspected she knew the answer already but felt driven to ask anyway. “Shall we walk the Ladies’ Mile today?” She mentally crossed her fingers and waited.
“Oh no, not the Mile,” Adelaide gasped. “I can talk to you whenever I want to. I need not walk a mile to do it. I know people do, but it is far more interesting to walk amongst the crowded pavements here and speak to people in the carriages. No, we shall endeavour to take our usual stroll so we can avoid the chosen few, and then we shall take tea at home in front of the fire as usual. Ah, there is Lady Andover,” Adelaide declared as though Ursula cared. “I do so need to speak with her about her forthcoming ball next Friday.”
Hopes dashed, Ursula groaned at the prospect of having to attend yet another ball. She had been in London a few weeks now and her head was already whirling from the endless rounds of engagements that filled the diary to almost bursting. She had to wonder how at one and eighty, Adelaide kept up with it all.
Sensing Ursula’s disquiet, Adelaide threw her a rueful look. “I must speak to Lady Andover, then we can go for a walk in the park if you would like, dear?” Adelaide suggested.
She knew that Ursula was impatient to get moving, but felt driven to ensure that her niece fulfilled her father’s wish and socialised whenever possible. Taking a stroll was more than enough to ease her into the constant round of social engagements without making her feel trapped, threatened, or ill-at ease. Adelaide studied the area and smiled as she thought of the flowers that had arrived that morning. So far, everything was going more than well; they were going splendidly in fact. If everything went according to plan, Jeremiah would have his wish, and Ursula would be wed before she turned five and twenty. Whether she would return to Yorkshire though had yet to be seen. If her husband turned out to be from London, Jeremiah’s wish could quite literally backfire on him. However, that was another problem for another day.
“Oh, Good Lord,” she murmured when her attention was captured by a rather ebullient lady who was charging toward them with all the enthusiasm of an excited cocker spaniel.
“Hello there, Adelaide. How are you today?” the woman gushed before either Ursula or Adelaide could move to avoid her. She rudely shouldered her way between Ursula and her aunt, and fell into step beside Adelaide as though she had every right to do so. “I was hoping to meet with you.”
“Oh?” Adelaide’s face remained a façade of politeness but her tone was less than inviting. The coolness of her response would have warned anyone familiar with social strictures not to be so forthright in their manner. Unfortunately, Eunice Sinnerton didn’t have the wisdom to heed the warning, and continued in her overly familiar way that made even Ursula cringe.
“I was so sorry to have missed you at the recital yesterday. It was such a wonderful evening, do you not think? I assured Mildred that her skills are second to none. I told her that I should be obliged if she would grace my music room at the first available opportunity.” She smiled as though she had achieved a major coup. “I shall endeavour to ensure you receive an invitation.”
“My diary is quite full for the foreseeable future, thank you,” Adelaide replied with a sniff.
“Nonsense, I shall not take no for an answer. I am sure you can find room for a recital in your busy schedule,” Eunice persisted. “You too, Miss Proctor. I am sure you would delight in an evening of refinement.”
Ursula gasped and felt Adelaide jerk at the slight. The shocked look on her face would have warned even the most stalwart matriarch within the ton that their words were offensive, but Eunice still appeared oblivious. She had turned her attention to two people sauntering behind them, and yanked the young man around until he was blocking Adelaide’s path.
“I don’t believe you have met my son, Alfred,” Eunice declared proudly. Her smile suddenly vanished, and she nodded curtly to the young woman still behind Ursula. “That’s Hyacinth. She is a product of my husband’s first marriage, but we do what we can. Don’t mind her.”
Ursula gasped in horror and looked at Hyacinth in dismay.
“Come along, Ursula,” Adelaide declared with a curt nod at Eunice.
Ursula nodded politely to Hyacinth, and couldn’t help but feel sorry for her being related to such an awful woman as Eunice Sinnerton. Thankfully she was spared having to reply by Adelaide, who tugged on her arm and drew her away from the group, ignoring the fact that Mrs Sinnerton was still detailing Alfred’s many attributes.
