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“Yes, are lots of odious creatures around here, Brampton,” Adelaide commented pointedly.
Brampton laughed, completely unperturbed by the rather direct insult. “Do I get the pleasure of learning who your companion is, or should I ask around?”
“You shall do no such thing, Roger Brampton,” Adelaide gasped in horror. “This is my niece.”
Brampton bowed and smiled at Ursula. His teasing light blue eyes twinkled mischievously at her and elicited a smile in return.
“Does your niece have a name?” he asked Adelaide without taking his eyes of Ursula.
Aware that he would not be thwarted, Adelaide threw him a dark look. “Her name is Ursula. She is my charge and under my protection while she is here, so I would ask you to mind your manners around her. She isn’t of your kind, Brampton.”
“I am sure that someone as beautiful as - Ursula - will need a lot of - protection while she is here,” he murmured smoothly, eliciting a blush from Ursula that made his smile widen.
Adelaide sighed in disgust.
Ursula blushed. She had never met anyone as charming as the rather ruggedly handsome rogue. Although he wasn’t actually good looking per se, there was something about him that was interesting. Charming almost, and attracted her rather than repulsed her. There was an air of danger about him too that was somewhat thrilling, but she had no idea why.
“Someone as rare and beautiful as this delicate bloom must be protected at all costs,” Brampton declared in a voice that had dipped to a husky whisper.
“We must move on, Brampton,” Adelaide declared crisply, and ushered him to one side so she could continue to walk along the path.
Brampton fell into step beside them. “Are you planning to walk the whole Ladies’ Mile?”
“I should hope to while I am here,” Ursula replied before Adelaide could speak for her.
While for the large part she was glad that Adelaide did the talking, she sometimes felt invisible. Now that the somewhat vague introductions had been made, she was at least able to answer for herself and took advantage of the opportunity to do so.
Adelaide threw him a warning look. “Excuse us, Brampton. We have people to meet. Come along, Ursula, best foot forward.”
Before Brampton could reply, Ursula was tugged toward a group of ladies who were deep in conversation several feet ahead of them. Unperturbed by Adelaide’s dour behaviour, Ursula glanced back and smiled when Brampton bowed and winked cheekily at her before he ambled off in the opposite direction. Aware that her aunt was less than pleased, Ursula turned to face forward. Although she would never confide as much to Adelaide, her day had just grown considerably brighter, and she rather suspected it had nothing to do with a walk in the park.
“Do you think the flowers came from him?” she asked in a wistful voice.
“Don’t go getting any ideas about that one,” Adelaide warned her. “He is a rogue through and through. The gossip about him is about as dire as I have ever heard about anyone. His name has been linked to three questionable ladies this year alone, and the season has only just started.” She looked at Ursula. “Two of those ladies are married.”
Ursula didn’t want to believe it. Someone as charming as Brampton must be popular with the ladies agreed, but she couldn’t see why someone like him would need to indulge with married ladies when so many single ones were about.
The thought of him sending her the flowers filled her with a lot more enthusiasm than the thought of Alfred Sinnerton being her admirer. Not least because Brampton wasn’t related to Eunice Sinnerton like Alfred was. She shivered and glanced behind them again, but couldn’t see any sign of the timid little man, or his effusive mother.
“I think they have gone,” she murmured with no small measure of relief.
“Good morning, Adelaide. Miss Proctor,” Trenton murmured.
Ursula’s head snapped round. Something lurched deep inside her chest, and all thought of Roger Brampton, and the Sinnertons vanished in an instant. She tried to assure herself it couldn’t possibly be her heart that had lurched alarmingly at the sight of him, but she rather suspected that it was. Although she kept her face impassive as she dipped into a curtsey, her heart hammered wildly.
In that moment, the rest of the street, and the people in it, faded into insignificance. There was only him and her. Nothing else mattered. He looked so handsome atop the huge bay horse that she struggled not to stare at him like a love-struck teenager.
“It’s a wonderful day, is it not?” He kept his eyes locked firmly on Ursula.
“It is,” Ursula replied with a regal nod.
“Are you walking the Ladies’ Mile?” he asked and nodded to the path that disappeared into the trees beside them.
“Oh, no. Not today. We are about to head back,” she replied with a disappointed sigh.
“Have you not completed it yet?” he asked with a frown as he studied the wistful expression on her face.
“Not yet,” she replied and threw him a rueful look. “In deference to Aunt Adelaide, we don’t venture too far on our morning walks. There are always so many people to talk to.”
