Uncle Edgar’s voice was suddenly bright and sharp. “Shall we see you tomorrow at Dorset Square?”
Adella’s heart was now beating with uncomfortable urgency.
She almost wished that she might never have to see Lord Ranulph again, for she knew that when she did, the difficult conversation they had just had must be resumed and it would, if anything, become much more difficult.
How would she ever be able to keep on saying ‘no’ to him?
CHAPTER SEVEN
The morning after the ball, Adella stepped through the iron gate that led into the garden in the middle of Dorset Square.
Her head ached from all the champagne she had drunk the night before and her mind was full of confusion after the conversation she had just had with Uncle Edgar.
She had come down late to breakfast and, much to her surprise, she found her uncle still sitting at the table.
She wished him a ‘good morning’ and he did not reply, but stared at her as she helped herself to coffee and a slice of toast, which was all she felt like eating.
“Well?” he asked, after a lengthy pause. “Is there something you wish to tell me?”
“What do you mean, Uncle Edgar?”
“Oh, come now, there is no need to be coy. You were on the terrace last night with his Lordship.”
Adella felt her face grow hot and she knew that she must be blushing deep red.
“We were just talking. It was very close and hot in the ballroom, and – ”
“Yes? And what? What did his Lordship have to say to you?”
Adella gave a little shiver, she could not help it, at the memory of Lord Ranulph’s proposal.
“And did he ask you to marry him?” he enquired, watching her closely. “I surmise that indeed he did from the colour of your cheeks. Well, well. I did not think I should get you off my hands quite so quickly and that the man responsible should be both titled and wealthy.”
Adella struggled to control the panic that surged up in her throat.
“I haven’t – I didn’t accept – ”
Uncle Edgar shrugged his narrow shoulders.
“No matter,” he said. “All the better to appear a little reluctant. It will whet the young man’s appetite.”
He stood up, ready to leave and go to his study.
“But Uncle Edgar – I could not – I do not want to marry him – ”
“Oh, but you will,” her uncle interrupted. “This is your first proposal, a little reluctance is only what people will expect from you. Lord Ranulph will understand this. I have no doubt that he will call upon me very soon to gain my permission. I shall have no hesitation in giving it.”
Adella felt a tightness in her throat and the dining room seemed to swim in front of her eyes.
Uncle Edgar did not notice anything untoward as a little smile played on his thin lips.
“You may string his Lordship along if you wish, Adella, but be in no doubt, you will marry him before the year is out. I look forward to visiting you at Manningham, when you are Lady Ranulph Fowles. It is one of the finest houses in the country.”
“Please, Uncle Edgar. I have only been to one ball. I am not sure that Lord Ranulph will be the right husband for me. I have hardly met any other young men.”
“No need for that. You have caught the best of the bunch without even trying.” His smile grew wider. “They say he’s the most eligible bachelor in London this Season.”
He then left the dining room and Adella heard him muttering to himself,
“Perhaps I might take Manningham as the subject for my next model, when the Red Fort is completed – ”
Now she stood under the trees in the garden, feeling the dappled sunlight on her face.
Something about this quiet peaceful place reminded her of the Botanical Gardens on that magical afternoon a few weeks before.
If only she had not known that moment of blissful joy, that golden dream when Digby had kissed her, she might now have been able to think of Lord Ranulph as a husband.
But, when her uncle had spoken of her as ‘Lady Ranulph Fowles’, a bleak emptiness had
Adella’s heart was now beating with uncomfortable urgency.
She almost wished that she might never have to see Lord Ranulph again, for she knew that when she did, the difficult conversation they had just had must be resumed and it would, if anything, become much more difficult.
How would she ever be able to keep on saying ‘no’ to him?
CHAPTER SEVEN
The morning after the ball, Adella stepped through the iron gate that led into the garden in the middle of Dorset Square.
Her head ached from all the champagne she had drunk the night before and her mind was full of confusion after the conversation she had just had with Uncle Edgar.
She had come down late to breakfast and, much to her surprise, she found her uncle still sitting at the table.
She wished him a ‘good morning’ and he did not reply, but stared at her as she helped herself to coffee and a slice of toast, which was all she felt like eating.
“Well?” he asked, after a lengthy pause. “Is there something you wish to tell me?”
“What do you mean, Uncle Edgar?”
“Oh, come now, there is no need to be coy. You were on the terrace last night with his Lordship.”
Adella felt her face grow hot and she knew that she must be blushing deep red.
“We were just talking. It was very close and hot in the ballroom, and – ”
“Yes? And what? What did his Lordship have to say to you?”
Adella gave a little shiver, she could not help it, at the memory of Lord Ranulph’s proposal.
“And did he ask you to marry him?” he enquired, watching her closely. “I surmise that indeed he did from the colour of your cheeks. Well, well. I did not think I should get you off my hands quite so quickly and that the man responsible should be both titled and wealthy.”
Adella struggled to control the panic that surged up in her throat.
“I haven’t – I didn’t accept – ”
Uncle Edgar shrugged his narrow shoulders.
“No matter,” he said. “All the better to appear a little reluctant. It will whet the young man’s appetite.”
He stood up, ready to leave and go to his study.
“But Uncle Edgar – I could not – I do not want to marry him – ”
“Oh, but you will,” her uncle interrupted. “This is your first proposal, a little reluctance is only what people will expect from you. Lord Ranulph will understand this. I have no doubt that he will call upon me very soon to gain my permission. I shall have no hesitation in giving it.”
Adella felt a tightness in her throat and the dining room seemed to swim in front of her eyes.
Uncle Edgar did not notice anything untoward as a little smile played on his thin lips.
“You may string his Lordship along if you wish, Adella, but be in no doubt, you will marry him before the year is out. I look forward to visiting you at Manningham, when you are Lady Ranulph Fowles. It is one of the finest houses in the country.”
“Please, Uncle Edgar. I have only been to one ball. I am not sure that Lord Ranulph will be the right husband for me. I have hardly met any other young men.”
“No need for that. You have caught the best of the bunch without even trying.” His smile grew wider. “They say he’s the most eligible bachelor in London this Season.”
He then left the dining room and Adella heard him muttering to himself,
“Perhaps I might take Manningham as the subject for my next model, when the Red Fort is completed – ”
Now she stood under the trees in the garden, feeling the dappled sunlight on her face.
Something about this quiet peaceful place reminded her of the Botanical Gardens on that magical afternoon a few weeks before.
If only she had not known that moment of blissful joy, that golden dream when Digby had kissed her, she might now have been able to think of Lord Ranulph as a husband.
But, when her uncle had spoken of her as ‘Lady Ranulph Fowles’, a bleak emptiness had
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