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like to meet this – Wallis Trent,” Adelina murmured.
    â€œYou’ll meet him tomorrow night,” Emily was saying softly.
    Adelina turned to look at her. Emily’s face wore a dreamy expression and two bright pink spots of colour burned in her cheeks.
    â€œWill I indeed? How?”
    â€œHe’ll be dining with us tomorrow evening.” Emily spoke reverently. Adelina raised her left eyebrow in surprise, but asked no more questions.
    The following evening Adelina viewed her one gown critically. The old skirt she had worn before was beyond salvation, but now the dress the tinker had given her seemed tawdry beside Emily’s neat, finely stitched gowns. Adelina sighed and pursed her lips grimly as she pulled it over her head. She refused to give Martha Langley the satisfaction of hearing her ask for anything. She would sooner wear this one dress until it fell from her back! Adelina thought.
    She was very soon ready. She knocked on Emily’s door and entered. As she turned from her dressing-table, Emily appeared prettier than usual. There was the light of happiness shining in her eyes, a rosy blush to her cheeks. Her gown, though plain and demure, was of good material and fitted her slim figure well. Her soft brown hair shone.
    â€œOh, Adelina – haven’t you any other gown but that one? Oh I’m sorry,” she added swiftly. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
    Adelina smiled ruefully.
    â€œI expect you lost all your clothes on the voyage, did you?” Adelina did not contradict Emily’s kindly invention and the girl hurried on, “If it won’t offend you – there – there are one or two of my gowns we might alter to fit you, though you are a little more – shapely than me.” There was a wistful note in Emily’s voice.
    Despite the poor, faded gown, Adelina was still strikingly lovely with her clear skin, auburn hair and green eyes. Adelina smiled. Emily’s offer held none of the resentment her mother harboured.
    â€œThank you, Emily. That would be sweet of you.”
    Wallis Trent rose from the sofa as the two girls entered the drawing-room. He was, Adelina thought, the tallest man she had ever seen. His hair was jet black and his eyes grey. His presence seemed to fill the room. There was an aura of power and authority about him.
    Mrs Langley made the introductions grudgingly. “ This is a distant cousin, Wallis.” There was a distinct accent upon the description ‘distant’, but there was a fleeting surprise in Wallis’s cool eyes, quickly hidden. He took Adelina’s hand in his and his voice as he greeted her was deep but lacked warmth.
    During the evening Adelina found herself studying Wallis Trent. She noticed every tiny detail about him – a fine-cut tailcoat and a frilled shirt beneath a low-cut waistcoat. His hair was short, but, unlike Lord Lynwood’s, without a trace of curl.
    At the dinner-table, the Reverend Mr Langley and Mrs Langley sat at either end while two places for Wallis and Emily had been set on one side with one place opposite for Adelina.
    Wallis Trent, seated on the right hand of the Vicar, turned to him for conversation. “How is your historical research on the Amberly family progressing, sir?” He asked politely during the soup course.
    â€œOh, admirably, my boy. It really is fascinating. I’m sure you would be interested. Lord Lynwood’s family have a fine record, you know. Oh, of course, there have been a few black sheep …”
    Was it Adelina’s imagination that she saw Wallis’s jaw harden at his words? Perhaps not, for Mr Langley himself seemed suddenly embarrassed and hurried on swiftly.
    â€œA-hem! Did you know that one of Francis’s uncles, his father’s younger brother, fought with Cornwallis in the War of American Independence? Why, Adelina, my dear, this would interest you. He was killed at Yorktown, just before the