The Convenient Arrangement: A Regency Romance (The Wolfe Family Book 5) by Ferguson Jo Ann

Author:Ferguson, Jo Ann [Ferguson, Jo Ann]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781504009065
Publisher: Open Road Distribution
Published: 2015-03-17T04:00:00+00:00

Nine

Valeria strode across the meadow and almost into a wall before she brought herself to a stop. She slapped her hand against the stones, scowling. The day had begun so well. The sun had been shining, David had been chattering about his plans to spend the day with Gil down by the beach, and even Lorenzo had put aside his newspaper.

Then Miss Urquhart had invited her to share some tea on the terrace near the overgrown water garden. Valeria told herself she should have known the old woman was looking for more than company when Miss Urquhart had poured half of the tea into another cup and reached for a small bottle at the far corner of the tray.

“Was the tea too strong?” Valeria had asked.

The old woman laughed. “My dear, you are so sweet, but the truth is the tea isn’t strong enough.” Tilting the bottle over her cup, she smiled. “A bit of brandy always adds just the right flavor to a cup of scan-mag.” Without a pause, she added, “And I hear the poker-talk is going to be about you.”

“Don’t assume that rumors have any basis in truth.”

“I don’t.” She smiled. “That’s why I asked you to join me for a cup of tea. I wanted to hear from your lips the truth. Are you quite taken with Sir Tilden Oates?”

“I have met the man only once.”

“Love at first sight happens. I know. It happened for me.”

“With the late lord?”

Miss Urquhart added another dash of brandy to her cup. “We are talking about the gossip about you, my dear, not me. I have heard—”

“Whatever it is, it is not true,” she had argued. “I have met the baronet but once.”

But once.

Valeria slowed her pace. She could not out-walk her vexation. By the heavens, she had spoken with the man on a single occasion and already the shire was ready to listen to the banns announced in the church in Winlock-on-Sea. She strode up the hill, following the contortions of the stone wall that was as tall as her shoulder. Behind it, hedgerows blocked any view. That was no problem, because she did not want to see anything—or especially anyone—now.

Her problems kept pace with her. The problem of Miss Urquhart was easily dismissed. The old woman simply loved to enjoy some gossip. Sir Tilden was no more bothersome, although she would have to make it obvious to him, as she had to the late earl’s mistress, that she had no intention of considering marriage to him on such short acquaintance.

“Or at any time,” she said to the rich pink flowers pointing tall and straight out of the brush.

How easily she could expel those concerns from her mind! What was not simple was banishing thoughts of Lorenzo. She found her thoughts in that direction so uncomfortable that she wanted to be done with them, but it had been to no avail. Could she be developing a tendre for this aggravating man? Impossible! She was simply grateful for his kindness in giving her and David a home.

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