by Rebecca King
While he listened to the door being unlocked, he glanced up and down the road. Immediately his gaze landed on a solitary figure standing beneath one of the street lamps at the end of the road. He didn’t need to venture too close to know exactly who it was. Unfortunately, he also knew that if he made his way toward Sinnerton, the man would most probably vanish before he could get anywhere near him.
Trenton sighed and ran his gaze over the area carefully for any sign of Mrs Sinnerton, or her daughter. Although he didn’t see the nondescript black carriage, or Alfred’s relatives, he suspected they were in the area somewhere.
In that moment, Isaac opened the door. Disgusted at the lack of opportunity speak to Alfred. Trenton scowled as he stepped inside.
Ursula hurried down the stairs and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Trenton step into the hallway. She had been growing concerned that he had forgotten all about their outing. Now that he was here though, her disquiet eased. That is, until she noticed the somewhat fierce expression on his face and the deep scowl on his brow.
“Good morning,” she murmured and watched him bow almost too formally given the intimacies they had shared yesterday.
“Good morning, Ursula. Are you ready to go?”
She nodded and waited for him to open the door. Once she was out in the curricle, she was more convinced than ever that something was definitely amiss.
“I hope our outing isn’t putting you out too much,” she said quietly.
“It isn’t. I have just been a little busy this morning.” His answer was vague mainly because his attention was focused on the spot further down the street where Sinnerton had been standing.
She watched him study the road on either side of them as he climbed into the curricle beside her.
“Did you see Sinnerton on your way home this morning?” she asked quietly.
Trenton studied her thoughtfully. He didn’t want the thought of Sinnerton watching the house to steal her enjoyment of the day. While he didn’t want to lie to her, he didn’t see much point in worrying her unduly either. When he realised she was still waiting for him to speak, he shook his head.
“No, not this morning.” Guilt immediately assailed him. It felt as though some indefinable distance between them had started to open up and he hated it.
“How are your bruises this morning?” she asked as she studied the slightly darker patches on his handsome cheek. Now that she was closer to him she could see the slight bruises along the edge of his jaw. They weren’t too bad, but noticeable if you looked for them.
“They are fine. He didn’t hit me hard enough to do any damage,” he assured her.
He turned his attention to guiding the curricle into the traffic and allowed the silence to settle over them for a moment. Immediately, his thoughts turned toward Sinnerton. While the man hadn’t approached him or the house, or challenged him in any way since last night, he had made it clear that he was watching. Why though? If he was after Trenton, or wanted something from him, why wasn’t he watching Trenton’s house instead? Was he threatening Ursula in the hope of pressuring Trenton for something? If he wanted Ursula for some reason, why hit her over the head on the towpath? None of it made any sense whatsoever and he rather suspected he wasn’t going to get to the bottom of things until he spoke with Sinnerton personally.
Ursula suspected there was something he wasn’t telling her. However, without pressing for details she had no idea what to ask him.
“It’s a wonderful morning, isn’t it?” she sighed, and called greetings to a few of Adelaide’s acquaintances.
“I hope the weather remains fine,” he replied crisply. He frowned at the road to the right, certain that for a moment he had seen the familiar figure in black following them.
“Have I upset you in some way?” she asked when he didn’t seem inclined to make conversation.
He jerked and studied her with a frown. “No. Why would you ask that?”
“You don’t seem yourself this morning.” Indeed, he was a completely different man to the one whom she had kissed on the doorstep only a few hours ago.
“I am just a little tired, that’s all.” He sighed and turned his attention back to the traffic for several moments. When he got the chance to look at her, he immediately saw the hurt she couldn’t hide and cursed himself for being several kinds of fool. “I am sorry, darling,” he murmured. “Please excuse my absent mindedness. I am just thinking about which acquaintances I should ask about Sinnerton. I don’t want to let on to Sinnerton that I am investigating him, but need to ask questions about him. I just don’t want to attract the interest of the gossips and scare Sinnerton off.”
Ursula nodded but sensed that he hadn’t told her the whole reason why he was so vague.
“I have sent the letter off to your father, so he should leave you alone for a while once he receives it.”
“I don’t mind forgetting about the picnic if you have business matters to attend do,” she offered.
“There is nothing waiting on my desk that can’t wait,” he replied matter-of-factly.
“What is it that you do, exactly?” she asked.
It galled her to realise that they had been neighbours for the majority of their lives but she actually knew very little about him; the man. She knew plenty of gossip, and a lot about his childhood, his home and the like, but nothing about the man he had become. It went some small way to reminding her how reckless she had been sharing as much of herself with him as she had, especially her body yesterday.
“I own an estate in Yorkshire; about twenty miles away from Agglethorpe. I also help my father run Hoghampton Hall. I need to sort out several contracts with other estate owners who are in London at the moment.”
“Where are we going?” She asked eyeing the unfamiliar streets around them.
Trenton took a moment to glance around the streets on either side of them, but couldn’t see any sign of their quarry. Once they were clear of the traffic, he turned toward her.
“I have a nice corner of Regent’s Park in mind. Have you been to the park yet?”
“No, not yet,” she replied but didn’t think that he had heard her because he continued to scour the area around them as though he was looking for someone. “What are you looking for?”
“Nothing,” he lied blandly. “I am just thinking that there are a lot of people about today.”
Once at the park they made their way toward the bandstand and settled down beside the lake. The morning sunshine glinted off the smooth surface of the water and seemed to make the day even brighter, but it did little to lighten her melancholy thoughts. She watched Trenton shake the blanket out and accepted the seat he offered her with a gracious nod. Waiting until he took a seat on the opposite side of the blanket, she helped him open the picnic baskets and unwrap the food.
What a difference a day makes, she mused with a rather despondent sigh as she thought about the way she had spent most of yesterday cuddled up with him.
“Are you going to the Humphrey’s ball tomorrow night?” she asked once they had eaten.
“No, I have business to attend to today and tomorrow,” he replied realising then just how brisk that had sounded.
The worried look in her eye warned him that he was neglecting her. He had been so busy looking for Sinnerton that he had forgotten his duties as a host. Tucking all thoughts of Sinnerton and Brampton aside for now, he turned his attention toward the woman who had turned his world upside down.
“I am sorry. I am rather distracted today,” he mused wryly. “Please, forgive me?”
She did. In that moment she would have forgiven him anything, and felt her troubles ease when he began to regale her with funny memories of his childhood that had them both in fits of laughter. As they talked they discussed village gossip, news and events, as well as families, and all strictures, formalities and awkwardness vanished completely.
By the time they had packed the remains of their picnic back into the baskets several hours later, Ursula wonde
red why she had been worrying at all. Whatever had happened this morning to put him in such a bad mood had clearly been forgotten because Trenton had been the delightfully charming man she had come to know and love, and that was good enough for her.
She thought about that as they ambled back toward the curricle. He had come to mean so much to her in such a short space of time that she felt as though she had known him all of her life. This new closeness between them was simply delightful, and eased so many of her doubts and worries about the future, and whether they would have one together, that she couldn’t withhold her smile of delight. She almost resented the formal social strictures of society that prevented them walking with their arms linked or, even better, with his arm wrapped around her as he had last night. Instead, they were forced to keep a decorous distance between them in respect of prying eyes as they walked back to his curricle. However that didn’t stop them gazing lovingly at each other as they walked along,
Suddenly, a voice made them both stop and sigh in disgust.
“Well, don’t you two look the cosy couple? You must be careful or you will end up the talk of the town,” a rather robust voice piped up from several feet behind them.
Ursula felt Trenton stiffen beside her. The fierce anger on his face warned her that something had happened he hadn’t told her about yet, and it had something to do with the Sinnertons. He was positively glaring at Mrs Sinnerton as though he hated her, and speared the woman with a stare that conveyed every ounce of his displeasure.
“Afternoon,” he growled discouragingly as he nudged Ursula into a walk.
“Where is your maid?” Mrs Sinnerton demanded loudly, determined not to be ignored. She glanced meaningfully around them to make a point to the numerous people within ear-shot that Ursula was unchaperoned.
Trenton’s temper surged. “If I didn’t know better, Mrs Sinnerton, I would say that you are following us.” He knew he had hit the nail on the head when Mrs Sinnerton’s head jerked toward him, and her eyes flashed in outrage. “First Hyde Park and now here. What are the chances of us choosing to visit the same park at the same time for several days running?”
“It’s a wonderful day for a stroll,” Mrs Sinnerton declared flatly, staring pointedly at Ursula’s hand resting on Trenton’s arm.
Ursula was about to snatch it away when Trenton placed his hand upon Ursula’s, effectively keeping it still. “Please don’t let us keep you then. Enjoy your stroll. Good day.”
“People will talk you know,” Mrs Sinnerton warned when they began to walk away. “It is already the talk of the ton that you are always together. It is quite a scandal.”
“I don’t know why,” Trenton snorted disparagingly. “Both of us are free, and able to socialise as we please. Besides, I have been moving amongst the ton long enough to know that those with the smallest minds will actively encourage the most scurrilous gossip.”
He watched the woman’s face turn positively venomous and realised that there was far more to Mrs Sinnerton than a social climbing, somewhat avaricious mother. He rather suspected that whatever she was hiding wasn’t pleasant, and wondered whether she was the driving force behind Alfred’s ruthless behaviour.
“Given that you haven’t been in London all that long, I don’t suppose you would be aware of that though,” he mused thoughtfully. “Where was it you come from?”
“Somerset,” Mrs Sinnerton snapped with a frown.
“Where in Somerset? I have a few well-connected friends in the county. I am sure they will be pleased to make your acquaintance while you are here, and can regale us with many anecdotes of your activities there.”
Ursula watched the woman’s face turn furtive. The look vanished so swiftly that if she hadn’t been studying the woman closely she would have missed it.
“I heard that it was Todmarsh,” Ursula mused knowing it to be true because she had overheard Mrs Sinnerton say so.
“A nice rural backwater,” he mused, making pointed reference to Mrs Sinnerton’s lack of social status. He glanced around pointedly. “Is Alfred not with you today?”
“I am afraid not. He has business matters to deal with.”
“Oh, that’s odd,” Trenton countered. “I could have sworn I saw him outside Ursula’s house earlier.” His voice dropped to a silken drawl at the same time that his hardened gaze met and held Mrs Sinnerton’s. “Maybe I was mistaken.”
They were about to walk away when Mrs Sinnerton stepped toward them. “I meant to ask you, Miss Proctor, if you intend to go to the Humphrey’s ball tomorrow night?”
Ursula opened her mouth to speak only for Trenton to put himself between her and Mrs Sinnerton. “Yes, we are. I didn’t realise you knew the Humphrey family.”
“Oh, well, we don’t really,” Mrs Sinnerton replied. “I just wondered if you were going to go. I should so like to make your acquaintance there. Alfred has talked about you so much since the dinner the other week that I am sure he will be most pleased to see you there.” It was clear from the somewhat conciliatory tone that she was trying to curry favour, but it held little ground with Ursula.
“Yes, we shall be there. Good day to you.” This time Trenton didn’t wait for the woman to delay them again and wasted no time escorting Ursula to his curricle.
“What was that all about?” she asked when he had handed her aboard and climbed onto the seat beside her.
“I think she is following us. Her and that son of hers,” Trenton growled. He sighed when he realised that he would have to tell her, if only to keep her safe. “I saw Alfred watching the house this morning. He was right at the end of the road and made no attempt to approach, but didn’t try to hide his face either.”
“Well, there is no point trying to hide it given you already saw him last night,” she countered. “Why was he watching Adelaide’s house?”
“He was waiting for you to go for your walk, probably.”
“Do you think he was driving the carriage that nearly knocked me down the other day?” she demanded suddenly feeling chilled at the thought.
“I think it is most likely. It was definitely him who attacked us last night,” Trenton replied rubbing his jaw. “I could do with getting a closer look at him because I landed a few punches last night that are certain to leave bruises.”
Ursula considered that for a moment while Trenton turned the curricle into the traffic.
“If he is badly bruised, he wouldn’t want to be seen up close, would he?” Ursula mused.
Trenton shook his head. She had a point, but he still wanted to get within arm’s reach of the little man, if only so he could place a few choice words in his ear.
“He has a sister,” Ursula gasped and shared a look with Trenton.
Trenton thought about that and nodded. “It would explain why you were able to throw your attacker off. The sister isn’t much different in build to you.” He looked at Ursula. “She is definitely a bit taller than her brother.”
“It was her who accosted me in my bedroom, wasn’t it?” she asked, turning to scour the park for her only to find both Sinnerton women had vanished completely.
“I think it may have been. They are certainly an odd family,” Trenton replied.
“Why do you think they followed us here?” She shivered at the thought of being so close to the woman who meant to physically hurt her.
“Heaven only knows. She made a point of mentioning that we were breaking with convention by being out alone without a chaperone. I can’t help but ask why she would mention it. Why risk ruining your reputation if she wants to be friends?” Trenton lapsed into silence as he thought about that. He felt as though he was missing something only couldn’t decide what it was.
“She was certainly interested in whether we intend to go to the Humphrey’s ball or not, wasn’t she?” Ursula asked with a frown. “How could she intend to follow us there if she doesn’t know the Humphrey’s? She wouldn’t get an invitation, would she?”
“That woman turns up anywhere she wants to go. I ha
ve no doubt that she will turn up at the Humphrey’s ball too, even without an invitation,” Trenton replied dourly.
“I am not going though. I thought you said you weren’t?”
Trenton looked at her knowingly. “We aren’t, but it will give her something to do.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you had seen him?” she asked quietly.
She suspected that was the cause for his earlier concern and was a little hurt that he hadn’t felt the need to take her into his confidence until forced to. She wondered if he would have mentioned it at all if they hadn’t run into Mrs Sinnerton, and somehow doubted it. “This does involve me, you know.”
“I just don’t want you to worry,” he sighed. “You have enough to contend with given what has happened of late. I don’t want you to feel scared to step outside of the front door. He didn’t approach me, or the house. He was just - there.”
“You should have told me,” she chided. “He poses a risk to me. If he is waiting outside of my house, I deserve to know about it. I won’t be cossetted like some addle-brained female, Trenton.”
“I am not cossetting you. I just don’t want you worrying unnecessarily. He posed no risk; he didn’t approach or speak to me. Whenever you go out, you always go to public places and have Adelaide with you. Sinnerton is hardly likely to accost you in the middle of the street, now is he?”
“One of them did on the towpath the other week, and you were with me,” she replied pointedly.
Trenton looked at her and had to agree.
“Don’t keep secrets from me, Trenton. If you want me to trust you then you need to confide in me too. Trust is a two-way street.”
She knew from the way he looked at her then looked away that there was more he wasn’t telling her, but when he didn’t speak she realised he wasn’t going to take her into his confidence.
“This is why I won’t consider marriage,” she said quietly when the silence had lengthened between them a little too much.
Trenton’s head jerked around. “Why?”
She could feel him studying her but didn’t look at him. “I am sick and tired of having everyone making decisions for me. I thought coming here might give me some freedom, but I have just exchanged my father’s orders for Adelaide’s. It turns out that I have even less freedom here than I did back in Yorkshire. Even Adelaide decides where we go and what we do. I am a grown woman, perfectly capable of making decision about where I want to go by myself, yet I cannot even choose to spend an evening in front of the fire if I want to. I absolutely refuse to marry and have a husband make decisions for me for the rest of my life. It’s not a marriage; it’s an ownership.” She turned a look on him that was almost harsh. “I won’t be traded like a piece of meat.”