Wishing For Rainbows (Historical Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

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.
    Ursula fervently hoped Mrs Sinnerton would take the hint and pester somebody else. Unfortunately, she didn’t. She followed them, and continued to regale them with effusive comments about her wonderful son while completely ignoring Hyacinth. 
    “Alfred had something to say, didn’t you Alfred?” Eunice suddenly declared loudly, pushing her son around until he was blocking Ursula’s path, forcing her to stop.
    “What? Oh, yes,” Alfred stammered, looking somewhat confused for a moment.
    “Yes?” Ursula asked in her most unwelcoming manner.
    “I-I take it you are enjoying London, Miss Proctor?” he stuttered awkwardly.
    Ursula saw nervousness in the smaller man’s eyes and immediately felt sorry for him. He shouldn’t have approached her without a formal introduction, but she couldn’t bring herself to slight him. Although he tried to hide it, she knew that he would prefer to be anywhere else. Given his mother’s rather uncouth behaviour, she could understand why. She gave him a sympathetic smile but, to her consternation it seemed to make him even more uncomfortable.
    “Very much so, thank you,” she replied coolly. She realised then that his mother had not given him a title. She looked at Mrs Sinnerton, and sighed with dismay at the proud smile on the woman’s avaricious face.
    “Are you going to the Browning’s dinner tomorrow night?” Alfred asked suddenly.
    “Yes, I believe we have accepted the invitation.” Ursula looked at her aunt who nodded once. The last thing