Miss Winbolt and the Fortune Hunter by Sylvia Andrew Page B

do half as much for her. She was altogether very plainly dressed.’
    â€˜Ladylike,’ said Sir Reginald. ‘She looked a lady. More than the other one.’
    Lady Deardon ignored this comment. ‘She’s not as old as Mrs Gosworth led me to believe, and the story about her sister-in-law is obviously nonsense. Their affection for each other is plain. But she is definitely cool in her manner.’ Lady Deardon looked sharply at her godson. ‘William! Have you heard a word I’ve said? What do you think of Miss Winbolt?’
    â€˜I’m not at all sure,’ said William slowly. ‘But I intend to find out. Did I hear Mrs Winbolt issue you with an invitation to visit Shearings?’
    â€˜Yes, I asked her about its famous gardens and said how much I wanted to see them. We have arranged to go next week.’ Sir Reginald stirred restlessly. ‘You needn’t come, Reggie. William will escort me, won’t you, dear?’
    â€˜I certainly will,’ said her godson. ‘I would very much like to have a closer look at…the gardens.’

Chapter Four
    E mily was equally silent on her way home in the Winbolt carriage, though this was not noticed as quickly. Rosa was full of the ball and its guests. ‘Maria Fenton is as lovely as ever,’ she said. ‘But I was disappointed in our conversation. She didn’t seem to be very interested.’
    â€˜My lovely, sweetest Rosabelle,’ said her husband. ‘It was obvious to everyone but you that Mrs Fenton’s eye was on William Ashenden. The beautiful Maria wouldn’t waste much time on another woman, however old a friend she is.’
    â€˜Oh!’ said Rosa. She sounded disconcerted. ‘I thought…I thought Sir William seemed quite taken with Emily. He was certainly attentive enough later on.’
    â€˜No! He wasn’t! He can’t have been!’ Emily said this with such force that both Philip and Rosa regarded her with astonishment. ‘I mean…’ She faltered. ‘I mean we only danced once.’
    â€˜Well, you may not have noticed, but he hardly took his eyes off you after that one dance. Emily, what is wrong?Why do you find the idea that he was interested in you so distressing? I would have said he was exactly the sort of gentleman who would appeal to you. You haven’t taken a dislike to him, have you? I do hope not. We are to see quite a bit of Sir William and the Deardons in the near future.’
    â€˜We are?’ said Emily apprehensively. Her heart sank. How long could she avoid being recognised? She was very much afraid that William Ashenden was too intelligent a man to be deceived for ever. Sooner or later she would say or do something to remind him, and she didn’t like to think of what he might do then. Added to that was this strange power he seemed to have over her. Tonight, she had lost her balance in more ways than one. When she fell against him she had had to fight an over whelming urge to hold him even closer, to rest her head against him even longer, to hold her head up for his kiss. It had taken every ounce of determination she possessed to stand away. He must have wondered what had come over her. He had certainly been surprised and embarrassed. She sighed. She was just as strongly attracted to him as Rosa could wish. If only she had met him for the first time at Lady Langley’s ball, she might have found someone she could learn to love. But that was now out of the question. She could never relax with him, be herself. It would be too dangerous. When she caught herself sighing again, she told herself to be sensible. It wouldn’t have done much good anyway. Sir William Ashenden was interested in Maria Fenton, a far lovelier woman than she could ever be. Meanwhile she was living with a sword over her head. How long would it be before it fell?
    Â 
    Emily’s worst fears were in the process of being realised. William’s suspicions